Emmerdale spoilers tease a huge week for the ITV soap from next Monday onwards, with the death of icon Zak Dingle seeing sad scenes as well as a shocking return

Emmerdale will air emotional scenes next week as well as classic soap drama and some big twists.

The Dingles will be left in turmoil as news from a loved one confirms the devastating passing of matriarch and soap legend Zak Dingle. Actor Steve Halliwell, who played the fan favourite for decades, passed away last December.

In episodes next week the village remembers Zak as his family say goodbye. There’s a shocking return for a character though, but who could it be?

Elsewhere, Will Taylor plots his revenge against Kim Tate with the help of Caleb Miligan. But Caleb has problems at home too, as his wife Ruby Miligan is about to make a huge discovery. Here’s the biggest moments happening in the village next week…

The Dingles will be left in turmoil as news from a loved one confirms the devastating passing of matriarch and soap legend Zak Dingle

Zak Dingle dies

It’s time for the soap to say a sad goodbye to ITV soap legend Zak Dingle, who passes away after illness. In a recent episode Cain Dingle went to visit his dad in Scotland after he was under the weather.

But sadly Debbie Dingle is left confirming the news that Zak has passed away next week, with spoilers detailing the emotional scenes ahead. Debbie makes contact and phones her dad Cain only for Moira to answer the call.

Moira then must break the devastating news to Cain about his beloved father who he’s only just left in Scotland. Soon, it’s up to Cain to inform his shocked and devastated family about Zak’s death, including his siblings Belle and Sam Dingle.

The family rally together to support each other as news of Zak’s sad death spreads around the village, leaving everyone in pieces. Cain and Sam find Belle outside and the trio reminisce about their father, after what has already been a difficult year for the three of them.

They and the rest of the Dingles take comfort in being together, with Sam and Cain deciding to head to Debbie’s in Scotland to bring their father home to the village. Villagers gather on Main Street to wave Sam and Cain off and later in the week it’s Zak’s funeral.

Shock return

It’s been revealed the Dingles are left “shocked” by whoever it is that returns next week. They are linked to the family and turn up after Zak’s death.

Amid viewers speculating it could be Eli Dingle, Cain Dingle actor Jeff Hordley has dropped some hints. As other cast members shared their shock about who was coming back, revealing it’s someone we’ve met before, Jeff teased it could even be someone coming back from the dead.

He spilled: “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?”

Emmerdale will air emotional scenes next week as well as classic soap drama (Image: ITV)

Revenge twist

Will Taylor continues his plan to destroy wife Kim Tate next week after she dumped him after he cheated on her. Since their split they’ve been at war, with her refusing to give him a penny while also appearing to move on.

Will is wanting revenge, and has teamed up with Kim’s enemy Caleb Miligan. While Kim is torn over her feelings for her cheating ex, she has no idea that amid her grief for old friend Zak she’s being played.

Will has told Caleb he wants to bring Kim down, and he wants them to do it sooner rather than later. With the pair vowing to get payback, how far will they go?

Caleb rumbled

Ruby Milligan is left dumbfounded next week as her quest to find out what her dying mother Helen Fox wanted to tell her before her recent death leads to a discovery. She finds out her husband Caleb saw her mum before she died and kept it from her, denying Ruby the chance to say goodbye.

Ruby confronts her husband, so is it all over for the pair? It’s not clear if she finds out he also blackmailed Helen for £100k on her deathbed, so might Caleb be set for a comeuppance?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.