JEFF Hordley is a happy man. His beloved Manchester City will be back in the Premiership next season and he's getting ready to play one of his dream roles.

The Oldham-born actor will be known to most people as Emmerdale's Cain Dingle. As the soap's lovable rogue he's had his fair share of affairs of the heart.

Now the passion is to become far more serious, as he plays Jean in Miss Julie which opens at Bolton's Octagon Theatre next Thursday.

Continuing the Emmerdale theme, his co-star will be Anna Brecon, the man-eating Lady Tara from the soap.

"Obviously I know Anna from the set when she was in Emmerdale but we never had any scenes together," said Jeff during a break in rehearsals.

"But the fact that we know each other does make things easier, particularly for this play."

Miss Julie is a powerful play about sexual and class tensions where the aristocratic Miss Julie is attracted to her father's valet.

"The chemistry between us has to be right for the play to work," said Jeff.

To prepare for this demanding role -- "there are so many long speeches, I'm not used to that" -- Jeff is taking holiday leave from the soap.

"When we start the play I'll be back at work on the set of Emmerdale during the day, then heading for Bolton for a performance in the evening," he said.

"It'll be hard work but well worth it.

"I love doing theatre and this is a fantastic challenge for me as an actor. When I was at drama school we were asked what roles we would really like to play and this was one of them."

Although he has read a few parts during theatre workshops, Jeff has never peformed at the Octagon before.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "We will have a very very good set and although the play is traditionally staged, the set design is a little left field which I think the audience will enjoy."

Miss Julie will run at the Octagon until May 11.

At the end of the run, Jeff will be able to get back to the 'day job' without having to cross the Pennines every night.

He is contracted to be in Emmerdale until the end of the year.

"I will have been in the show for two-and-a-half years and my contract will be reviewed on both sides. We'll see what happens then," he said.

Jeff is clearly someone who likes to keep busy.

He has worked on a number of radio plays and most Saturdays -- after the football, of course -- he can be found DJ-ing at a club in Manchester.

"I like diversity," he said. "I have been so lucky that there has been a constant stream of work.

"It has saved me from the sofa and a diet of daytime TV.

"As an actor all you can hope for is to keep busy."

With his latest 'holiday job', Jeff's certainly doing that!

Miss Julie is at Bolton Octagon from April 18 to May 11. Contact the box office on 01204 520661.