Emmerdale is set to deliver a heartfelt tribute next week as the Dingle family marks the anniversary of Zak Dingle’s death. The upcoming episodes promise to stir deep emotion as family members reflect on the life of one of the soap’s most beloved figures.

Remembering a Legend

Zak, played by the late Steve Halliwell, was the proud patriarch of the Dingle clan for over three decades. His passing in 2023 left fans and cast members heartbroken. At the time, Halliwell’s family shared a moving statement, saying, “He went to sleep peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end. Family was everything to him.”

In early 2024, Emmerdale honoured the actor with a special storyline that saw the Dingles learn of Zak’s death. Viewers watched as Cain and Sam travelled to Scotland to bring their father home, before the family laid him to rest on Dingle land in an emotional farewell that reunited familiar faces, including Zak’s daughter Tina.

That storyline also delivered a shocking revelation — Tina was revealed to be Vinny Dingle’s biological mother.

The Dingles Struggle to Move On

Next week, the family gathers again to mark a year since Zak’s passing. Sam (James Hooton) and Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) meet at Zak’s grave to remember their father, but the moment is tinged with sadness as one crucial family member is missing.

Cain (Jeff Hordley), still consumed by anger and grief, fails to show up. Having recently returned from a self-destructive mission to find John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Cain is struggling to cope. Instead of facing his emotions, he turns to alcohol, shutting out those closest to him.

When Moira (Natalie J Robb) reminds him of his responsibilities — and the importance of Zak’s anniversary — Cain remains distant, leaving Belle and Sam increasingly worried about his state of mind.

Can the Dingles Heal Their Fractured Family?

As Belle and Sam share their memories of Zak, they’re united in one fear — that Cain’s grief could destroy him if he doesn’t let his family in. Their quiet graveside conversation serves as a touching reminder of Zak’s influence, even in death, as the Dingles try to hold onto the values he instilled in them.

A Subtle Crossover Tease

In a surprising twist, Coronation Street viewers recently spotted a hidden Easter egg that has fans buzzing. A wanted poster for John Sugden appeared in Weatherfield Police Station, hinting that the Emmerdale fugitive could soon surface on the cobbles in a long-rumoured crossover storyline.

If that happens, it would mark a dramatic return for Oliver Farnworth, who previously played Andy Carver on Coronation Street.