Emmerdale's producer drops hints about the Bartons

Emmerdale's John Barton could reunite with his adulterous wife Moira, the soap's producer Stuart Blackburn has hinted.

The farmer - played by James Thornton, who has announced he will be leaving Emmerdale - was devastated when he found out Moira (Natalie J Robb) had an affair with village bad boy Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), but the couple may get back together in coming months.

"John's been through hell and back. There's a long way to go, but I think there's a real chance for them. They're going to find happiness - trouble is, it might just be a brief and fleeting moment," Stuart told the soap's official website.

The producer also has big plans for the Dingles, who were pivotal to the ITV1 show's Judgement Day storyline, when Cain was left for dead by a mystery attacker.

"The Dingles are going to be facing their biggest challenges of their lives. Things have been tough for them, but they are going to get a whole lot tougher," teases Stuart.

"They're going to be facing things they don't understand and they have not come across before. We're going to push them right to the wire."

There will also be some excitement for Jimmy King (Nick Miles) and his wife Nicola (Nicola Wheeler).

"There are some great adventures coming up for Jimmy and Nicola. There are going to be a couple of surprises coming up and maybe a wee blast from the past to stir things up a little bit," continued the producer.