Emmerdale’s Zak Dingle exit plot after Steve Halliwell’s death – as long-lost relative returns

Emmerdale is set to air emotional scenes for Zak Dingle’s funeral after the death of Steve Halliwell as the cast tease the return of ‘someone we may know’

Emotions will be running high next week in Emmerdale, as fans get ready to bid goodbye to legend, Zak Dingle, following the death of actor Steve Halliwell, who passed away at the age of 77 last year.

In upcoming episodes set to air next week, the news of Zak’s death is to be delivered to his daughter-in-law Moira Dingle in a phone call from his granddaughter Debbie while his son Cain is taking a shower. Cain will then pass on the announcement to the Dingle family and he will reminisce with his siblings Sam and Belle Dingle about their father.

**Emmerdale is set to air emotional scenes for Zak Dingle’s funeral** (Image: PA)

Before receiving the news about Zak’s death, Moira has a seizure and then learns that an operation slot has become available, but she avoids telling her husband Cain while he is grieving.

Villagers will gather on Main Street to wave Cain and Sam off as they leave for Scotland to bring Zak home while the Woolpack pub becomes a space for mourning. Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain said he could not say much about the funeral but that it has “got Dingles written all over it”.

The soap will be celebrating 30 years of the iconic Dingle family, who first appeared on screens in 1994, and are now the show’s largest family, with multiple generations of members.

**Steve played the character of Zak for almost three decades** (Image: ITV)

Speaking on the atmosphere on set, Jeff said: “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,” adding that Steve ‘would have loved it that way’.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a soap event if there wasn’t a surprise twist, as Emmerdale have confirmed that a long lost relative of Zak’s is set to return. Asked about the surprise arrival at the funeral, Jeff replied: “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?”

Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle in the soap recently also teased the surprise return, who will have ‘repercussions for Mandy, Paddy and Vinnie’. “We filmed Steve’s memorial episode which goes out soon and it’s incredible,” she told The Sun.

“So so emotional. Tears all round. Really lovely though and for all us Dingles to be there. It was emotional to film but there is going to be someone coming from the past who will have repercussions for Mandy and Paddy and Vinnie especially moving forward.”