ITV Emmerdale legend shares plans for special episode dedicated to Zak Dingle

Lisa Riley has shared details of the special Emmerdale episode that has been filmed in memory of Steve Halliwell, who famously played fan favourite Zak Dingle in the ITV soap

Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley has shared details about the forthcoming emotional tribute to Zak Dingle, following the unexpected death of actor Steve Halliwell. The renowned TV actor sadly passed away on December 15 last year, and ITV soap bosses have confirmed that a special episode will be broadcast to honour the iconic character.

Lisa Riley, who portrays Mandy Dingle in the show, appeared on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday (August 15) to discuss Mandy’s impending wedding to Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt. However, the conversation later shifted to the soap’s homage to Zak.

Presenter Ranvir Singh asked: “There’s a tribute to Zak Dingle coming up isn’t there?” To which Lisa responded: “Yeah, we started shooting the memorial episode Monday just gone and our beloved Steve Halliwell, who was like my father for years on the show and taught me so much, we’re doing dedicated episode to him and he deserves it.

**Lisa Riley has opened up on the special memorial episode for Steve Halliwell on Lorraine** (Image: (Image: ITV))

“He is the ultimate icon of Emmerdale and the king of the Dingle family. He deserves everything and more and we’ll do him proud.”

Lisa’s appearance on Lorraine occurred less than 24 hours after her co-star Dominic appeared on Loose Women and discussed their close bond off-screen.

Dominic revealed to the panel that he fabricated a story to persuade Lisa to return to the village after the actress decided to take a hiatus from the soap between 2001 and 2019.

While on the panel, Denise Welsh quizzed Dominic with: “Of course, as well as Paddy and Mandy, you and the lovely Lisa are great friends in real life. Of course you are, and when she left for a time you tried to lure her back but you told her a little porky to her didn’t you to get her back? “, reports the Express.

**Lisa said Steve “was like my father”** (Image: ITV)

In response, Dominic confessed: “Yeah, I just told an outright lie. She said: ‘Is it still full on? ‘ I think we were filming two or three episodes at the point when she left and I was like ‘It’s calm and you can be busy and then can go quiet’ and then two years on, she was going ‘you lied to me’. I just wanted her back because I really missed her.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm