A perfect end to Zak’s farewell as Sam, Cain and Belle paid a final tribute

Emmerdale tonight was the last farewell to Zak Dingle as Cain, Sam and Belle reminisced over their dad in a near-perfect three-hander episode (with a bit of Lydia thrown in!).

Each Dingle sibling had their issues to air and each needed reassurance from their relatives. But with flashbacks to scenes featuring Steve Halliwell, it felt like a fitting end to the week’s episodes.

Here’s a rundown of Emmerdale tonight, Friday October 18.

Cain confessed

As the revelries continued in the Woolpack, Cain returned to Wishing Well to find Sam and Belle waiting to get through to him. Cain made to leave, but Belle locked them all in. Sam then pulled a bottle of whiskey out of Zak’s secret stash and their evening began.

The three siblings talked and reminisced and Sam said Zak saw Cain as head of the family. Cain insisted it was rubbish and didn’t mean anything. He declared he couldn’t do it and confided Moira had cancelled her operation because she knew he couldn’t cope.

Sam then gave his brother a hug, which Cain did not take too well and called him a fat egg! That Dingle charm, eh?!

Cain said he knows he can’t cope when things get real – he runs or lashes out. But Sam and Belle insisted Cain was the man for the job – Zak knew it, they all knew it.

Sam was sad in Emmerdale tonight

It was Sam’s turn to lament his failures next. He felt he had let Lydia and Samson down and he was a joke. He was sure Zak could have handled it all better than him.

But Cain insisted they couldn’t sit there and pretend Zak could do no wrong. He referenced the time Zak had almost killed him and Belle lost it at Cain for ruining their dad’s memory.

But Cain told how he had forgiven Zak because he knew how sorry he was. He said Zak didn’t always have the answers, but he never stopped trying – and Sam was just like him, a great dad. Belle soon forgave Cain and all was okay again. Phew.

Belle’s fears

Belle also worried about what Zak would have thought about her not getting away from Tom sooner, but Cain assured her Zak thought she was the strongest person he knew.

Then a rendition of the absolute banger Hillbilly Rock will have put a smile on fans’ faces after many felt it was missing from Zak’s send-off episode last night.

Cain eventually read out the speech that he had been unable to give at the graveside due to being overwhelmed by his grief. And in amidst it we were treated to old footage of Zak – when Cain discovered he was his dad, offering comfort to Sam and arguing with teenage Belle. There were also more jovial clips of him with the family, smiling, laughing, joking and of course, fighting – the true Dingle way! Zak was even heard talking about love.

A final decision in Emmerdale tonight

All three of them woke up on the sofa having fallen asleep, with Cain in Zak’s chair – symbolising, perhaps, he had taken up his place as head of the family.

Sam certainly believed so as when they then went to Zak’s grave, Sam placed Zak’s hat on Cain’s head. But Cain took it off (although he plans to keep it!) and decided the three of them should split the head of the family role. Because no one person can ever replace Zak Dingle.