October 9th 2024.
This week in Emmerdale, the residents are facing a life-changing week filled with emotions as they mourn the loss of Zak Dingle and welcome back an old face. It's been quite a tough time for everyone since the passing of actor Steve Halliwell last December, and his character Zak has been living in Scotland with his daughter Debbie. She recently revealed that Zak's health had taken a turn for the worse, which had Cain very worried. In fact, he even decided to leave the village to go see his father.
But next week, Cain surprisingly returns home earlier than expected. This takes Moira by surprise, especially since she was just told about an available operation slot moments before her husband's arrival. As Cain heads for a shower, Moira receives a call from Debbie and breaks the heartbreaking news that Zak has passed away.
The news of Zak's passing spreads quickly, and it's up to Cain to visit each member of the family and tell them the sad news. Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain, shared his thoughts on his character's reaction to the sudden death of his father. He explained, "It comes as a bit of a shock, especially since he had just seen Zak that morning. Zak had told him to go and everything would be fine. Cain had promised not to do too much, as Zak's doctor had advised him to rest. That's why it hits Cain so hard and so suddenly. It's like seeing someone in the morning and then losing them in the afternoon. He's trying to process it all."
After Cain breaks the news to the family, they all gather on Main Street to say goodbye to Zak as Cain and Sam head to Scotland to bring him home. The Dingle family pays tribute to both Steve Halliwell and his beloved character Zak. Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, speaks about the amazing production team behind this episode, including producer Laura, writer Peter Kerry, and director Jeff Naylor, who directed Zak's first ever episode. She also mentions how they incorporated Zak's love for music into the episode, making it even more special.
The rest of the Dingle family also shares their memories of working with Steve and the fun they had on set. Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas Dingle, described it as being in nursery every day because Steve was always making them laugh. James Hooton, who plays Sam Dingle, recalls some of the silly and unbelievable storylines they had with Zak, but they always made sure to add a touch of believability to them. Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle Dingle, remembers Steve as the funniest man ever and how he was like a father figure, best friend, and a stand-up comedian all in one.
As for the funeral, Jeff shared a sneak peek, saying, "The funeral has got Dingles written all over it. That's all I can tell you, really. If you could say shotgun wedding or shotgun funeral, you'd kind of get a picture of what it's like." He also mentioned that they made sure to have some laughs on set, just like Steve would have wanted.
And for all the soap fans out there, don't forget to join Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community for the latest spoilers, interviews, and must-watch videos. On the day of the funeral, there's a surprise appearance from a long-lost relative that will shake things up for the Dingle family. Jeff hinted, "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?" We'll have to wait and see!
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