Emmerdale cast honour iconic character Zak Dingle in 'poignant' funeral scene

Steve Halliwell, known for playing the legendary Zak Dingle in Emmerdale, sadly passed away last December. To honour the on-screen's family patriarch - the soap is running an episode giving the character a proper Yorkshire farewell

The Dingles first joined the Dales in 1994 - as the veritable black sheep of Emmerdale. But now they are not only the soap's largest family - with 11 generations - but they are also celebrating their 30th anniversary. Yet while 15 of them came together for this historic picture, there's someone very important missing: the patriarch himself... Zak Dingle.

Steve Halliwell who played Zak for nearly 30 years sadly passed away aged 77 last December. So the soap has chosen to mark the family's anniversary by bringing everyone together for the funeral of his onscreen alter-ego Zak - followed by a good knees up in the Woolpack, of course. Viewers this week will see the Dingles get the phone call to tell them Zak has passed away while in Scotland and sons Sam (James Hooten) and Cain ( Jeff Hordley ) will go up to bring him home to a proper Yorkshire farewell.

For the cast, filming the scenes have been as much about Steve as they were Zak. Steve's family were even invited to watch the filming. And the stars wanted to do the actor justice - by making sure they also honoured his legendary sense of humour.

Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas, explains: "Working with Steve was like the fun of being in nursery every single day. I can't remember any day that was serious or any day that he ever flew off the handle or was angry about anything. It never felt like a work day with Steve, it was just like having your head teacher in your classroom and they just say 'let's all have fun!'"

Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle, agrees. "Steve, to me, was the funniest man ever!" she confides. "He was a really weird combination of a father figure, best friend, a stand-up comedian and a counsellor. He was everything. It really feels like he lives on because all of us have traits of his; our sense of humour or things we bond over, so every day when we are together, it feels like Steve is still part of the conversation or moment."

This sense of fun is the reason why all of the stars who play Dingle characters made sure laughter was at the heart of filming the funeral. Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain, says: "There's really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed. But off camera as well – and Steve would have enjoyed this, because Steve always liked to have a giggle behind the camera – we made sure we had some laughs as well. What I’m trying to say is that the mood wasn't just downbeat, we were making sure that we were having a laugh, and Steve wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

But it wasn't just the fantastic fun they had together that made Steve so special. His love of music was, says Lisa Riley, also magical. And it's the reason why she is so pleased it's been incorporated into his on-screen send-off next week. Lisa, known to millions as Mandy, says: "When you think of Steve Halliwell and the character of Zak, you always think of his love of music. So, the team has brilliantly incorporated his music into this episode. Zak's love of music and the nostalgia are all there for the viewers to see."

She was also pleased the crew all had close ties to Steve as well. "Peter Kerry who has written the script, was part of the development team of the Dingles all those years ago," she explains. "[And] Jeff Naylor, our director, directed Steve Halliwell and Zak's first ever episode! So you've got all that thrown in the mix, it's so nostalgic! So for us, as a family, it was obviously the biggest blessing and we're so happy that it all happened in this way."

Steve's alter-ego Zak led the Dingle family through their fair share of drama and chaos over the past three decades but despite this, they, both the characters and the actors, remain incredibly close-knit. Emma Atkins, who plays Charity, sums up why being a member of Emmerdale's famous family is so special by saying: "Being a Dingle means everything. As soon as I found out I was going for the role of a Dingle. I worked so hard to get the part, it was like I manifested being a Dingle. When you hear about families in soaps you think of the Dingles, they really are part of the tapestry that makes up Emmerdale."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads