{"id":54266,"date":"2024-07-03T12:16:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T10:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2066448"},"modified":"2024-07-03T13:26:12","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T11:26:12","slug":"emmerdale-confirms-touching-tribute-to-steve-halliwell-with-zak-dingle-death","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/emmerdale-confirms-touching-tribute-to-steve-halliwell-with-zak-dingle-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Emmerdale confirms touching tribute to Steve Halliwell with Zak Dingle death"},"content":{"rendered":"

The soap will pay tribute to Halliwell as fans will see a funeral take place for Zak. <\/p>

By James Hibbs\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 03 July 2024 at 10:16 AM<\/p>

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One of Emmerdale<\/a>\u2018s most iconic characters, Zak Dingle, is set to get a send off and tribute later this year after beloved actor Steve Halliwell died<\/a> at the end of last year.<\/p>\n

Speaking with The Sun<\/a> and other press, producer Sophie Roper confirmed that the character, who had been seen on the show since 1994, would be laid to rest in the coming months in a funeral service.<\/p>\n

Roper said: \u201cThe Dingles have been at the heart of our show for 30 years now and will continue to be so. And as many of you will know, of course, we lost Steve recently\u2026 So we\u2019re going to be marking Zak\u2019s passing, [the] iconic Zak Dingle character, in the coming months with a Dingle funeral<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It will be] so very difficult for a lot of people who work on the show and, obviously, for a lot of our viewers who have grown and loved Zak for many, many years. But it will be a hugely fitting tribute to such an iconic character coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Halliwell passed away in December 2023, and last appeared on the soap in June of that year.<\/p>\n

\"Steve\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Steve Halliwell<\/span><\/figcaption> Jeff Spicer\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

At the time of his death, John Whiston, managing director of continuing drama and head of ITV in the north, said in a statement: \u201cSteve Halliwell was one of those rare human beings who was as wonderful off screen as on.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo millions of Emmerdale viewers, he was the brawny but crafty Dingle patriarch who led the clan with a strong fist and a warm heart. To everyone who worked on Emmerdale, he was a much-loved friend and colleague, the undoubted father of the show, but also its fun, mischievous uncle. We will miss him enormously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n