This article contains spoilers for tonight’s episode of Emmerdale, which airs tonight on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.
The legendary Zak Dingle has arrived back in Emmerdale ahead of his funeral tomorrow.
Emotions were running high in the village, as family and friends prepared to say goodbye to a much-loved resident – even Kim Tate (Claire King) managed to shed a tear, and she’s never been a fan of the rowdy clan!
It’s without a doubt that the grief we’re seen on-screen right now comes from the heart, as the cast are not only saying goodbye to fictional Zak, but also actor Steve Halliwell who passed away last year.
News first reached the area earlier in the week, when Cain (Jeff Hordley) arrived back from Scotland where Zak has been living with his daughter Debbie (Charley Webb).
With Cain back at home, he jumped in the shower whilst wife Moira (Natalie J Robb) took the bad news over the phone.
He then had the difficult job of visiting everyone to inform them of Zak’s passing.
In today’s episode, Chas (Lucy Pargeter) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) wondered when they would hear news about the funeral plans.
Little did they know, on the other side of the village, Cain and brother Sam (James Hooton) had travelled across the border to make arrangements.
They were surprised to hear that their dad wanted burying within 48 hours of his death, so had to transport his body back to Yorkshire in the back of the trusty (and rusty) old 1987 Renault Trafic van.
The whole family gathered in Wishing Well to raise a glass (Picture: ITV)
Once inside Wishing Well Cottage, the whole family gathered to raise a glass to the patriarch.
Cain welled up as he presented Lydia (Karen Blick) with a letter from Zak, and Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) was upset to hear that he hadn’t composed one for her. Cain explained to his sister that it seemed their dad didn’t realise how imminent his death was.
There was also a note inside of Zak’s wallet detailing the instructions for his send off.
‘In the event of my passing, I, Zak Dingle, want to be buried at home [Wishing Well Cottage] strictly within 48 hours of my passing’ it read.
‘Where I was happiest, not next to Shadrach.’
As everyone laughed, Cain continued to read: ‘[I want] a rowan tree planted at my head, so I’m not bothered by the witches.’
Chas chirped: ‘That’ll be a crack at Nellie.’
Shadrach Dingle was off course Zak’s elder brother, played by actor Andy Devine between 2000 and 2010.
The siblings had a complicated relationship – mostly sparked by the huge revelation that Zak fathered Cain when having an affair with Shadrach’s wife Faith (Gillian Jephcott/Sally Dexter).
Nellie (Sandra Gough/Maggie Tagney) was Zak’s first wife, and mother to five of his children. She appeared in 1995 and 2000, and spent the intervening years caring for her sick father in Ireland.
As a result, the two grew apart and Zak remarried.
At the end of the episode, everyone raised a glass once again, before agreeing to start preparations for a very difficult day ahead.
