Emmerdale have offered a fresh update on the absence of Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) at her grandfather Zak’s funeral.
As viewers know, the villagers are mourning the loss of the Dingle legend this week, which sadly mirrors the real life passing of actor Steve Halliwell last year.
Debbie can’t attend the funeral (Picture: ITV)
Earlier in the week, Cain (Jeff Hordley) made an early return to the village after visiting dad Zak in Scotland – where the stalwart has been living off-screen with Debbie for some time.
Later, Moira (Natalie J Robb) received an upsetting call from Debbie, who told her that Zak had passed away.
She explained to her husband that, according to Debbie, the patriarch had the ‘best morning ever’ poaching and had nodded off with a smile on his face.
The whole family then gathered at Wishing Well Cottage to share their memories, as Charity (Emma Atkins) was desperately trying to reach her grieving daughter in Scotland.
Tonight’s episode revealed that she was struggling more than anyone else, as she was the one who found his body.
Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley reflects on filming the funeral episode:
‘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 – whilst we weren’t rolling, we made sure we had some laughs as well.
‘Because when we do get together as a group, we do make sure that it’s fun to film. 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.’
Mandy Dingle actress Lisa Riley said:
‘The best part for us, as the Dingle family, was the way that this went through production. From Laura (Shaw), our producer, who’s known us for years, grown up with us, and then Peter Kerry who has written the script, who was part of the development team of the Dingles all those years ago. Finally, 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.’
‘Also, 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.’
Lucy Pargeter aka Chas Dingle:
‘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!”’
Sam Dingle star James Hooton:
‘I have so many brilliant memories of Zak. I used to like the really silly, unbelievable stuff that we did back in the 90s. One memory is of a crying Elvis doll that the Dingles tried to convince people was like a crying Mary Magdalene sort of thing. It was a doll that they’d stolen from a second-hand clothes shop and they were using it to make money.
‘Another hilarious story that springs to mind is when they tried to send Butch into orbit, the most unbelievable storyline at that time but we always tried to do it with pathos and believability. It used to make us laugh so much that sometimes it became difficult to get through a scene.’
Belle Dingle star Eden Taylor-Draper reflects:
‘Steve, to me, was the funniest man ever! He was a really weird combination of a father figure, best friend, a standup 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 everyday when we are together, it feels like Steve is still part of the conversation or moment.’
Cain and Sam (James Hooton) had driven back up North to bring their dad home, and Moira explained to son Matty (Ash Palmisciano) that Debbie won’t be attending the funeral because she ‘can’t face it’ – and would prefer to remember him how he was.
She was worried how this would make Cain feel, as he needed supporters to rally around him.
When the brothers returned, they revealed that they’d had to return his casket to Yorkshire in the back of the trusty Dingle van, as Zak wanted to be buried within 48 hours of his death.
