There’s been no sign of Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale since she headed off to Scotland at the start of 2021.

After almost two decades in the village – off and on – Debbie left a big hole behind. Not to mention her daughter, Sarah.

With the family all gathering this week to bid farewell to Zak, the lack of Debbie has been felt even more keenly.

And though we’re delighted to see the new-look Tina, her reappearance really emphasised Debbie not being there.

Missing Debbie

There’s no way Debbie, devoted as she was to the Dingles, would miss giving Zak the big send-off he deserved.

And there’s no way she would barely take an interest in Sarah, who, let’s not forget, has a life-limiting heart condition.

Or check up on her mum, Charity, after all the dramas and heartaches she’s been through over the last couple of years.

Moving on

Of course it’s tricky when actors want to move on. Charley Webb had played Debbie since she was a teenager and since leaving Emmerdale she’s split from her husband – fellow Dales actor Matthew Wolfenden – and appeared in The Long Shadow on ITV as well as touring in the stage production Quiz alongside Rory Bremner.

But we reckon if Charley doesn’t want to return, then Debbie should be recast.

Recasts can be brilliant

The brilliant thing about soaps is that no one is bigger than the show, and the characters – with a very few exceptions – are always bigger than the actors who play them.

Some iconic soap characters have been recast over the years – Ben Mitchell, Robert Sugden, Nick Tilsley. Some recasts are so successful that you forget anyone else ever played the part. Barbara Windsor wasn’t the first person to play Peggy Mitchell. And Danny Miller’s not the first Aaron Dingle!

And though some haven’t been as successful as others – Michelle Fowler, for one – there’s never any harm in giving it a go.

Endless possibilities

Bringing Debbie – and son Jack, who’s now 12 – back to Emmerdale makes so much sense and opens up so many doors.

With John Sugden in the village now, it would be nice to see Sarah and Jack explore their Sugden side! Victoria is Sarah’s aunt, but they hardly ever even speak!

Plus Ross Barton is coming back to Emmerdale. Ross and Debbie had a steamy affair in the run-up to her wedding to his brother, Pete.

That history is too good to waste!

And there’s Debbie’s links to the Tates after her ill-fated romance with Joe Tate. Heck, we’d recast him too if actor Ned Porteous didn’t want to return.

The possibilities are endless. Debbie is such a strong character and such an important part of Emmerdale that we want to see her return!

And the sooner the better!