October 7th 2024.
Next week, Emmerdale will honor the memory of a true soap legend. Jeff Hordley, who portrays Cain Dingle on the show, has given us a sneak peek into what we can expect at Zak Dingle's funeral. The Dingle family will come together to say their final goodbyes to their patriarch, who passed away off-screen in Scotland. This farewell to the iconic character comes after the passing of actor Steve Halliwell in December, at the age of 77.
As the Dingles mourn their loss, they are in for a surprise when a long-lost relative shows up at the graveside. Jeff hints at the identity of this unexpected attendee, saying, "It's someone you might know. They're not going to make things go smoothly for the Dingles. Could it be someone back from the dead?" This mystery guest adds to the emotional rollercoaster that the Dingles are already experiencing.
Zak's funeral will take place after his sons Cain and Sam travel to Scotland to bring his body back home. Jeff describes the funeral as a true Dingle affair, with all the chaos and drama that the family is known for. "If you could say shotgun wedding or shotgun funeral, you'd kind of get a picture of what it's like," he says.
The cast of Emmerdale has also paid their respects to both Steve Halliwell and his character, Zak Dingle. Jeff reflects on filming the funeral episode, saying, "There's really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed. But off camera as well – and Steve would have enjoyed this, because Steve always liked to have a giggle behind the camera – whilst we weren't rolling, we made sure we had some laughs as well."
Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, shares her experience of filming this emotional episode. She mentions how the production team, who have known and worked with the Dingle family for years, made this a truly special and nostalgic experience. She also reveals that Zak's love for music has been incorporated into the episode, adding to the nostalgia for viewers.
Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas Dingle, fondly remembers working with Steve Halliwell, saying, "Working with Steve was like the fun of being in nursery every single day." She adds that he was like a head teacher who just wanted everyone to have fun.
James Hooton, who portrays Sam Dingle, recalls some of the most unbelievable and hilarious storylines from the 90s, which always involved Zak Dingle. He explains how they always tried to make these absurd storylines believable and filled with emotion.
Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle Dingle, remembers Steve as the funniest man ever. She describes him as a father figure, best friend, stand-up comedian, and counsellor all in one. She also mentions that Steve's presence is still felt on set, as the Dingles continue to bond over things that he loved.
As the Dingles are rocked by the news of Zak's death, the cast did their best to keep the mood light on set, as that is what Steve would have wanted. Jeff explains, "There's really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed. But off camera as well – and Steve would have enjoyed this, because Steve always liked to have a giggle behind the camera – whilst we weren't rolling, we made sure we had some laughs as well."
Throughout his time on the show, Steve's character Zak Dingle has been involved in countless storylines, from the birth of his daughter Belle to the death of his son Butch in a bus crash. His character was also known for his loving relationship with his on-screen wife Lisa, played by Jane Cox. After the Covid-19 pandemic, Zak's appearances on the show became less frequent, with his final appearance airing in June last year.
Emmerdale will pay tribute to Zak Dingle starting on Monday, October 14th at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. If you have any soap or TV stories, videos, or pictures, feel free to share them with us. We love hearing from our community, so leave a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
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