July 11th 2024.
As the Loose Women panel welcomed Emmerdale actor James Hooton onto the show, he couldn't help but get emotional as he spoke about the recent passing of his co-star, Steve Halliwell. James, who portrays Sam Dingle on the popular ITV soap, shared his fond memories of Steve, who had played his on-screen father Zak Dingle for an incredible 29 years.
Sadly, Steve passed away at the age of 77 in December after battling an illness. And while his absence has been deeply felt by the Emmerdale cast and crew, they are planning to give him a respectful on-screen send-off. James revealed that they will be filming scenes next month that will address Zak's passing.
It was evident from James' voice that Steve's passing has hit him hard. He continued, "Obviously, Steve passed away at the back end of last year, with his funeral early this year. So, I don't know how much the story unfolds at the moment, but I think it's going to be a really respectful passing of a really iconic Emmerdale character."
When host Christine Lampard mentioned that the cast must be feeling the impact of Steve's death, James agreed and added, "Absolutely. He was a good friend of mine." Following Steve's death, his family released a statement saying that he had peacefully passed away with his loved ones by his side. They also shared that he had a great sense of humor and was an amazing father and grandfather.
Emmerdale also paid tribute to Steve, acknowledging his significant contribution to the show as the proud defender and head of the Dingle family. They also requested privacy for his family during this difficult time.
Zak Dingle, played by Steve, first appeared on Emmerdale in 1994 and became a fan favorite. Over the years, he was involved in countless storylines, from the birth of his daughter Belle to the shocking reveal that he was behind the attack on his own son Cain. His relationship with on-screen wife Lisa, played by Jane Cox, was also a highlight of the show. Fans were devastated when Lisa was killed off in 2019, and Zak's appearances on the show became less frequent.
Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Steve continued to make appearances on Emmerdale until his final one in June last year. The show's fans and cast will always remember him with fondness, and his legacy will live on through his iconic character, Zak Dingle.
On a lighter note, James also shared some funny behind-the-scenes stories about Steve, whom he described as a "wonderful, generous, and funny man." And as the interview came to an end, James urged viewers to get in touch with their soap or TV stories, videos, or pictures, as the show would love to hear from them. So don't be shy and join the conversation by leaving a comment below. And remember to tune in to Loose Women on weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, followed by Emmerdale at 7.30pm.
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