The late, great Zak Dingle took his final journey through Emmerdale
village last night for his funeral and was laid to rest at home. The episode was moving and
emotional as friends and family gathered to say their final farewells to the soap icon.
It comes after actor Steve Halliwell died in December 2023. Emmerdale waited to pay tribute to the man who was so synonymous with the ITV soap.
However, although the scenes were beautifully written and played out – and it was quite right that only the Dingles were around his graveside as he was buried, we – along with other viewers – were left wondering: where exactly was everyone?
Zak’s funeral in Emmerdale
The whole week has been a tribute to Zak as we first learned the news he had died on Monday and then Cain and Sam brought his body home on Wednesday. It was revealed he wanted to be buried within 48 hours. So that’s what the Dingles did.
On Thursday October 17, Cain and Sam drove Zak’s body in the rusty old van to the village. Some of the residents gathered to pay their respects and even PC Swirling made an appearance. Which is more than can be said for a lot of the village. But more on that later.
Zak’s coffin was then carried into the pub for one last pint, where memories were shared and stories swapped. Fair play to the production team here, they made the Woolpack seem far far busier than it actually was!
After a good-old sing song in the Woolie, Zak was drummed up the road to his final resting place. The Dingles gathered around his graveside and Tina Dingle then arrived to cause trouble. The less said about that, the better.
Cain couldn’t cope with giving a speech and rushed off, but Belle stepped up with a lovely touch of burying Zak with Lisa’s ashes so they could be together.
It was, all in all, a beautiful, perfect tribute to the character – and the actor – so many loved. Every single Dingle played their part and gave loving and subtle performances (except Tina, obviously!)
But there was just one thing missing: people. Where was everybody?
Those missing from Zak’s funeral in Emmerdale
Let’s start with the family – the Dingles are huge, but so many of them weren’t there. We get the plot device of Zak wanting to be buried within 48 hours meaning people couldn’t get there in time, but what about the ones who do live in the village? And more importantly those actually related?!
Where was Mack? He’s Charity’s husband, Moira’s brother and basically a Dingle in all-but name. And given he’s involved in just about every single other storyline, why was he not there for this? Too busy helping Billy train for his boring boxing matches maybe?
Marlon’s wife Rhona was also absent, along with kids April and Leo. Vanessa could probably have coped at the vets for a couple of hours on her own, no?
Moira’s son Matty didn’t make an appearance, nor did his wife Amy. Neither Kyle nor Isaac were there to say goodbye to their grandad.
Don’t even get us started on Debbie not turning up – if ever a recast was called for, this was the time. Nate was at least mentioned as was Ryan, but their excuses were poor.
Others in the village also didn’t bother. Nicola, who said she was going to pay her respects, didn’t. Will, who couldn’t even put his plotting against Kim aside for one hour to attend the Woolpack revelries and nod his head. Victoria Sugden didn’t show, Laurel, Charles (although Zak had stipulated no vicars!), Jimmy, Liam to support best friend Cain, Manpreet, Jai. The list goes on.
All of these people have lived beside Zak in the village for a number of years, some have been family through marriage, and yet did any of them pay their respects? Nope.
Faith’s funeral
When Faith died and Liv left us days later in October 2023, they were given a joint funeral. And in an Emmerdale first, the entire adult cast lined the village as their bodies processed through.
Yes, this was done in the 50th anniversary year, so it required something special. However, did the great Zak Dingle not warrant the same treatment? Surely the entire village should have turned out for him as well?
In this 30th year of the Dingles, it seems only right that everyone should celebrate them – and bid their farewells. So why were so many people missing?
Fans also felt the absences with many asking on social media: “Where was Rhona, Mack, Matty….?”
Another wrote: “Although this episode was sad and had tears in my eyes I’m not ashamed to say, but I felt there was a lack of farewell respect to the legend Steve Halliwell.”
“I think someone as iconic as Zak Dingle, and for an actor who gave such longevity to the soap, he deserved something more special. I was expecting more returns like Delilah Dingle, Emily Dingle, Bernice, Kathy. Rhona, Mack and Matty weren’t even there,” added one more.
The Dingles that were there did Zak proud!
Despite the surprisingly poor turn out, there is no denying the Dingles that were there did Zak proud. They made sure he got the send off he deserved and wanted.
The writers pitched each moment and line perfectly and the scenes around the grave were just lovely (minus Tina’s interruption). It was classic Dingle.
It was just a shame more people didn’t turn out to see it.
