It’s the day we knew was coming following the death of actor Steve

Halliwell last year – it’s the onscreen death of his character and Emmerdale legend, Zak Dingle.

While Steve sadly passed away in 2023 at the age of 77 having

played Zak for 30 years, his onscreen counterpart has continued on in Scotland with granddaughter Debbie (Charley Webb).

Actor Steve died last year

But sadly, having recently suffered ill health and breathing problems, Zak is set to succumb to illness and leave a gaping hole in his family.

Cain (Jeff Hordley) has been off visiting his dad in Scotland, but satisfied that he’s ok, he returns home. A tragic decision. Just prior to his return, wife Moira (Natalie J Robb) suffers yet another seizure and is lucky enough to be given an operation for the next day, but before she can tell Cain, she takes a call from Debbie – Zak has died.

Moira decides now is not the time to tell Cain about her op as she relays to him Debbie’s sad news.

It’s Cain’s job to break the news to the rest of the family, and the closeknit group are brought together in their shared grief. With everything that’s going on with the court case and Tom (James Chase), Belle (Eden Taylor Draper) takes the loss of her dad the hardest.

Cain and Sam (James Hooton) find her outside and the thr

The villagers gather on Main Street to see Sam and Cain off as they set off on their voyage to bring Zak home.

The day of the funeral rolls around and it’s the maudlin affair everyone expects it to be, but as the Dingles are lost in their grief, an unexpected relative appears at the graveyard and leaves everyone in utter disbelief. Who’s back?

‘There’s really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed’, actor Jeff Hordley said.

Emmerdale cast pay tribute to Steve Halliwell and Zak Dingle

Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley reflects on filming the funeral episode:

‘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.

‘Because when we do get together as a group, we do make sure that it’s fun to film. What I’m trying to say is that the mood wasn’t just downbeat, we were making sure that we were having a laugh, and Steve wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.’

Mandy Dingle actress Lisa Riley said:

‘The best part for us, as the Dingle family, was the way that this went through production. From Laura (Shaw), our producer, who’s known us for years, grown up with us, and then Peter Kerry who has written the script, who was part of the development team of the Dingles  all those years ago. Finally, Jeff Naylor, our director, directed Steve Halliwell and Zak’s first ever episode! So you’ve got all that thrown in the mix, it’s so nostalgic! So for us, as a family, it was obviously the biggest blessing and we’re so happy that it all happened in this way.’

‘Also, when you think of Steve Halliwell and the character of Zak, you always think of his love of music. So the team has brilliantly incorporated his music into this episode. Zak’s love of music and the nostalgia are all there for the viewers to see.’

Lucy Pargeter aka Chas Dingle:

‘Working with Steve was like the fun of being in nursery every single day. I can’t remember any day that was serious or any day that he ever flew off the handle or was angry about anything. It never felt like a work day with Steve, it was just like having your head teacher in your classroom and they just say ‘let’s all have fun!”’

Sam Dingle star James Hooton:

‘I have so many brilliant memories of Zak. I used to like the really silly, unbelievable stuff that we did back in the 90s. One memory is of a crying Elvis doll that the Dingles tried to convince people was like a crying Mary Magdalene sort of thing. It was a doll that they’d stolen from a second-hand clothes shop and they were using it to make money.

‘Another hilarious story that springs to mind is when they tried to send Butch into orbit, the most unbelievable storyline at that time but we always tried to do it with pathos and believability. It used to make us laugh so much that sometimes it became difficult to get through a scene.’

Belle Dingle star Eden Taylor-Draper reflects:

‘Steve, to me, was the funniest man ever! He was a really weird combination of a father figure, best friend, a standup comedian and a counsellor. He was everything. It really feels like he lives on because all of us have traits of his; our sense of humour or things we bond over, so everyday when we are together, it feels like Steve is still part of the conversation or moment.’

‘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. Because when we do get together as a group, we do make sure that it’s fun to film.

‘What I’m trying to say is that the mood wasn’t just downbeat, we were making sure that we were having a laugh, and Steve wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.’