Actor Steve Halliwell, who passed away in December at the age of 77, left a lasting impression on Emmerdale as Zak Dingle.
Last month, Steve’s family made this heartfelt announcement about his passing:
With his loved ones at his side, he slept well. Family meant the world to him, and he was keeping us laughing all the way until the end. He was the most wonderful grandpa and father you could ask for.
We would like to express our gratitude to the amazing team at Wheatfield Hospice and St. James Hospital for their compassion and caring during his last days. He just wanted to celebrate a life well spent; he didn’t want sorrow.
Zak is meant to be in Scotland right now in the show he was a major part of for over thirty years, but his family in Emmerdale still thinks about him a lot. The first thing Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) did when she became engaged to Tom King (James Chase) was call her father, who offered her his approval and best wishes.
In the episode that aired on Monday, January 8, Charity (Emma Atkins) was taken aback by a sudden visit from Oscar (Harley Hamilton), her recently found grandchild. She informed him he was going to be in for a treat seeing the patriarch of the Dingle family and gave him a rundown on the other family members he had not yet met.
“Await your encounter with Uncle Zak,” she urged. “We have a character now.”
In the meanwhile, Kim Tate (Claire King) was at the Dingle residence attempting to make peace with Lydia (Karen Blick) by presenting her with an opulent and spacious food box.
This was Will’s (Dean Andrews) idea, and Kim was at a loss for ideas, even though she knew that expensive presents were the last thing Lydia would value.
When Lydia discovered that Kim had lied to her and had been riding the horse that killed rapist Craig Reed (Ben Addis), their previous relationship was shattered.
Though Kim was certain that she was going inside and would remain there until Lydia paid attention, it was obvious that it would take more than a hamper to get past Lydia.
A fight broke out when Kim attempted to remove the pricey food items from the basket, and Lydia violently replaced them. Some food was dropped and fiercely squashed during the altercation, and Lydia then walked out.
Upon her return, she saw Kim, in an unusual sight, squatting on the floor and trying to clean up the mess. Kim’s cleaning method did not please Lydia, who works as a cleaner by profession.
She burst out laughing when she saw the “cloth” Kim had been using.
“I believe you may have been wearing Zak’s old pants,” Lydia said to Kim, who looked at the object she was holding and confirmed Lydia’s suspicions.
“Oh my God,” Kim flinched and threw the object aside.
Instead of finding the ladies with daggers drawn, Zak and Will arrived to find them hopelessly chuckling.
Furthermore, it seems that one of Emmerdale’s most recognisable friendships is back on track because to Zak Dingle’s prompt involvement.
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