This story gives away things that will happen in tonight’s episode of Emmerdale, which you can watch now on ITVX or tonight on ITV1.
The famous Zak Dingle has returned to Emmerdale before his funeral tomorrow.
The village was filled with strong emotions as family and friends got ready to say goodbye to a much-loved resident. Even Kim Tate (Claire King), who has never liked the rowdy clan, shed a tear!
As we watch, the group says goodbye to both imaginary Zak and actor Steve Halliwell, who died last year. There’s no question that the sadness we see on screen comes from the heart.
Early this week, Cain (Jeff Hordley), who had just come back from Scotland, told everyone in the area about Zak. Zak has been living with his daughter Debbie (Charley Webb).
It was hard for the family to understand the news (Picture: ITV).
When Cain got home, he took a shower while his wife Moira (Natalie J. Robb) called to tell him the bad news.
Then he had the hard job of going to see everyone to tell them Zak had died.
The episode for today showed Chas (Lucy Pargeter) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) wondering when they would hear about the funeral plans.
They had no idea that Cain and his brother Sam (James Hooton), who lived on the other side of the town, had crossed the line to make plans.
They were shocked to learn that their dad wanted to be buried within 48 hours of his death. Because of this, they had to take their dad’s body back to Yorkshire in the back of their trusty (but rusty) 1987 Renault Trafic van.
When Cain gave Lydia (Karen Blick) a letter from Zak, he got emotional. Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) was upset that he hadn’t written her one, too. Cain told his sister that it looked like their dad didn’t know how soon he was going to die.
Another thing that was in Zak’s wallet was a note with directions on how to send him off.
“If I die, I, Zak Dingle, want to be buried at home [Wishing Well Cottage] no later than 48 hours after my death.” It said.
“Where I felt most at peace, not with Shadrach.”
As everyone laughed, Cain read on: “I want a rowan tree planted at my head so the witches don’t bother me.”
“That’ll be a crack at Nellie,” Chas chirped.
Of course, Shadrach Dingle was Zak’s older brother. From 2000 to 2010, actor Andy Devine played the part.
Their relationship was tense, mostly because of the big news that Zak fathered Cain while having an affair with Shadrach’s wife Faith (Gillian Jephcott/Sally Dexter).
Susan Gough, also known as Maggie Tagney, played Nellie, Zak’s first wife. She had five children with him. She showed up in 1995 and 2000, but in between, she took care of her sick father in Ireland.
So, they stopped seeing each other, and Zak got married again.
At the end of the show, everyone raised their glasses again and agreed to start getting ready for a very tough day.
