Sally Dexter Reacts to Surprise Emmerdale Return Years After Faith Dingle’s Death
Emmerdale fans were stunned this week as Sally Dexter made an unexpected return as Faith Dingle, more than three years after her character’s emotional death. The beloved actress reprised her role in Wednesday night’s special standalone episode — and she admits she was just as surprised as the viewers to find herself back in the Dales.
“I’m Dead! How Are They Going to Get Me Back?”
Faith Dingle’s heartbreaking exit in 2022 remains one of Emmerdale’s most memorable storylines, with the feisty matriarch choosing to end her battle with terminal breast cancer on her own terms. So when Dexter got the call to return, she couldn’t quite believe it.
“They’ve thrown me in prison with Robert,” Sally laughed. “It’s a flashback episode and it’s delightful to be back doing it. Well, first of all, I thought, ‘How are they going to get me back? I’m dead! I’ve been dead, I think it’s about two years, so I had no idea what was coming.’”
The episode followed Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) during his time away from the Dales, with Faith appearing to him in a powerful flashback — encouraging him to appeal against his murder charge.
Returning Home to the Dales
Despite Faith’s fate, Sally revealed that stepping back onto the Emmerdale set felt like coming home.
“It’s been really enjoyable. It’s lovely coming back. It’s a bit like going back to a school you used to attend, or an old house you lived in. It feels very, very homely. They’re such a lovely bunch of people here, all of them, crew and cast included.”
Her warmth for the team shines through, and fans were quick to echo her sentiment online — celebrating Faith’s brief but emotional return to the series.
Could Faith’s “Cousin Hope” Be Next?
When asked about the possibility of another comeback, Dexter was quick to joke about reinventing herself for the Dales.
“I’ve been practising my Australian accent, in case they decide a cousin suddenly appears called Hope. And I’d put in for a blonde wig if they did!”
While Faith’s death makes a full-time return unlikely, Sally’s humor and enthusiasm prove that her spirit — much like Faith’s — remains impossible to extinguish.
Looking Back on Faith’s Farewell
When she departed in 2022, Sally admitted that filming Faith’s final scenes left her deeply emotional.
“Almost immediately after we started, I began thinking, ‘Why did I think this was such a good idea?’ It made me profoundly sad. But then again, leaving something you love is always going to be like that, and Faith loved life.”
That love for life — and for the village she called home — made Faith one of Emmerdale’s most unforgettable characters. And judging by this week’s special episode, she remains a guiding force for the Dingles, even beyond the grave.