EMMERDALE will air devastating scenes as the village bids farewell to the legendary character Zak Dingle in tonight’s episode.
The actor played by Steve Halliwell had been a part of the Emmerdale drama for 29 years. Get the lowdown on his iconic on-screen family.
Zak Dingle
Zak Dingle was the head of the Dingle family and has been portrayed by Steve Halliwell since his debut on the ITV soap.
The actor hadn’t been seen in the Yorkshire-based program for several weeks after his on-screen alter ego ignited fears for his health in early 2023.
Zak’s final scene as the beloved character was actually broadcasted on June 27, 2023, when the storyline moved Zak to Scotland to live with his Debbie Dingle.
In an episode aired on Monday, October 14, 2024 it will be revealed that the on-screen character of Zak Dingle died.
The news of Zak’s death will be delivered to his daughter-in-law Moira Dingle in a phone call from his granddaughter Debbie.
In the heartbreaking episode, fans see Moira break the news to the rest of the Dingles.
Cain was left in utter shock by her message as she relayed Debbie’s sad news.
Soap fans were also left devastated to bid a very final farewell to Emmerdale’s beloved character.
Steve Halliwell, who played the character of Zak for 29 years, died on December 15, 2023.
He was reported to have drawn his last breath peacefully, surrounded by his family, following an intense health battle.
Shortly after his passing, Steve’s loved ones issued a statement shown on ITV’s official website.
“He was making us laugh to the end”, Steve’s family said.
“The most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him.”
Steve’s loved ones paid tribute to staff at St James’s Hospital in Leeds and Wheatfield Hospice “for their love and kindness in his final days.”
“He didn’t want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived”, the statement also reads.
The soap star, was known for his roles in other popular soaps such as Cracker, Heartbeat and Coronation Street, leaves behind his daughter, Charlotte Halliwell.
In December 2023, Emmerdale paid tribute to Steve.
“It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that Steve Halliwell, our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away.”
“All our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones through this very difficult time, and we’d request that their privacy is respected as they grieve for his loss.”
“Steve will forever be synonymous with Emmerdale. The proud defender and head of the Dingle family. Heart and humour in all he did, it has been and always will be impossible not to smile when you think of him.”
As viewers will know, Zak’s character was the father of multiple children, who are mostly well-known in the eponymous village – Nathan, Butch, Ben, Cain, Sam, Tina and Belle Dingle.
Born to Peg and Jebediah Dingle, Zak also has five siblings – Shadrach, Albert, Zebediah, Ezra and Caleb Dingle – as well as two nieces named Chas and Mandy and a nephew called Marlon.
He made his first appearance in the show in Episode 1914 which was aired on October 20, 1994.
Zak’s love life has been nothing short of chaotic as he initially tied the knot with Nellie Lynch in 1970 before marrying Lisa Clegg and Joanie Wright.
In 2019, three years after his marriage with Joanie, Zak rekindled a romance with Lisa who passed away in May that same year.
Zak has somewhat mellowed in recent years and lives between Scotland and the village as he keeps in touch with his granddaughter Debbie.
Shadrach Dingle
As mentioned above, Shadrach was Zak’s older brother and first appeared in the village in 2000.
Born in 1948, he was portrayed by the late Andy Devine and was once married to Faith Dingle who gave birth to a son named Cain.
Shadrach believed Cain was his son but it later transpired that his brother Zak was the father after a fling with Faith.
Faith and Shadrach then welcomed a daughter they named Chas.
Years later, it was revealed that Shadrach had fathered another daughter with Shirley Pascoe – Gennie Walker who had been adopted by fellow Dales resident Brenda Walker at an early age.
Shadrach’s picture-perfect family was destroyed by his violent drunken behaviour which left both of his children and his then-wife traumatised.
Much like Zak and other members of his family, Shadrach became involved in plenty of dramatic storylines which made him reach the status of soap legend.
His main character traits included laziness, selfishness, hypocrisy but he still managed to surprise his loved by offering them support in troubled times.
Shadrach died in July, 2010, when he drowned whilst attempting to retrieve some beer cans floating away in a river.
He also suffered from alcohol-induced liver disease.
Faith Dingle
Played by two different actresses, Faith Dingle first rocked up Emmerdale in late 2000.
The scheming mother of Cain and Chas Dingle, Faith had some troubled times in the village as she was known for her underhanded tactics and frequent lying.
Her relationship with her children was fragile due to her abandoning them with their violent father Shadrach and she tried her best to build bridges during her years in Emmerdale.
She most notably pushed Kim Tate off a balcony and donated a whopping amount of money to help Sarah Sugden in her health battle.
In 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.
After leaving the Dales out of fear Kim would get revenge on her in 2019, Faith returned in early 2021.
One year later, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and chose not to fight it, welcoming death whilst making some last happy memories with her family.
Faith ended her life in October, 2022, ready to die on her own terms.
She drew her last breath in her son Cain’s arms, making it clear their troubled past had long been forgotten.
Cain Dingle
Perhaps one of the most well-known Dingles, Cain has been portrayed by actor Jeff Hordley since his first appearance in March, 2000.
The ultimate Dales bad boy, Cain has tormented and beaten his way through the village, committing many crimes from kidnap to arson.
Hot-tempered and prone to physical violence, he has never shied away from a fight with his opponents and engaged in multiple feuds over the years.
His most recent rivalry was with businessman Al Chapman and ended in the death of the latter.
He was also famously embroiled in an explosive feud with the Tate family, the Dingles’ primary rivals in Emmerdale.
A local hardman, he is also the father of Debbie Dingle, Kyle Winchester, Isaac Dingle and Nate Robinson with his love life being just as tumultuous as his biological father Zak’s.
Cain has had multiple relationships and flings in Emmerdale including with his cousin Charity and late policewoman Harriet Finch.
However, he finally settled down and chose Moira Barton as his wife and the pair tied the knot in 2014.
Despite his tough exterior, Cain has shown he is ready for anything in the name of family.
In a gut-wrenching storyline, Cain supported his nephew Aaron Livesy after discovering he had been sexually abused by his father Gordon as a child.
As mentioned above, he also managed to repair his broken relationship with Faith, holding her close to him as she passed away.
Caleb Milligan
Faith dropped a bombshell from beyond the grave in late 2022 as it was revealed, months after her death, that she’d had a secret son.
Played by former Waterloo Road star Will Ash, Caleb initially arrived in the village on Christmas Day 2022 and approached his half-sister Chas Dingle who was paying a visit to Faith’s grave.
It was then revealed that Cain already knew about Caleb’s existence as the pair had met during their younger years.
Born in 1976 while Faith was in prison, Caleb was also revealed to be the illegitimate son of Frank Tate.
Not much is known about his life prior to his time in the village but in an attempt to get his hands on the Tate family fortune, Caleb was willing to betray and dupe anybody that stood in his way.
He notably enlisted his gay son Nicky’s help for his scheme but this ended up backfiring on him.
The Dingles have learned to forgive him and he made his entry into the clan official by drinking from the family welly boot.
Chas Dingle
Born Chastity Dingle in 1978, “Chas” first arrived in Emmerdale in 2002 dressed as a nun to celebrate her cousin Marlon’s stag night.
She is portrayed by Lucy Pargeter.
As mentioned above, she is the daughter of Faith and Shadrach Dingle and the mother of Aaron Livesy, Grace Dingle and Eve Dingle.
An Emmerdale legend, much like her brother Cain, Chas is also the former co-owner of The Woolpack and was the pub’s landlady for over a decade until she was finally forced to sell in early 2022.
She has since been the Woolpack bar manager as her cousin Charity took over ownership of the venue with her son Ryan Stocks.
Chas has been involved in many high-profile storylines in her 21 years in Emmerdale.
These include her ill-fated relationships with Carl King and Cameron Murray and being a bystander to Robert Sugden’s shooting.
She also suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to the accumulation of these events.
In early 2018, during her romance with Paddy Kirk, she found out she was pregnant and, despite wanting an abortion, she came round to the idea of being a mother.
Sadly, at the twenty week scan, Chas found out her baby, whom she named Grace, suffered from Bilateral renal agenesis.
Grace died in Chas’ arms shortly after her birth and, the following year, the couple welcomed their miracle baby, Eve.
Chas and Paddy have been separated for less than a year after the village vet found out she had cheated on him with the late Al Chapman.
Belle Dingle
Tinkerbelle “Belle” Dingle was born on Christmas Day 1998 in a pigsty in Wishing Well Cottage to Zak and Lisa.
The latter had no idea she was pregnant and she is the only child of the couple.
Since 2005, Belle has been portrayed by Eden Taylor-Draper.
A quiet young child, she soon became more rebellious and played truant while asking her uncle Shadrach to cover for her.
At eight years old, Belle was tested as one of the cleverest 2% of children her age which paved the way for a promising future for her.
However, her parents’ financial woes often stood in the way of her dreams.
She became close friends with Amy Wyatt and supported her while she was pregnant with Kyle.
Her friendship with Gemma Andrews turned into a deadly rivalry as they fought over Sean Spencer’s attention.
Gemma died after being pushed by Belle and hitting her head on a rock.
Belle was sent to prison for manslaughter and her sentence was reduced to a year.
When she returned to Emmerdale, it became clear she was suffering from an ill mental health and she was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia.
After a string of failed romances, most notably with serial killer Lachlan White and a married Jamie Tate, Belle seemed to have found her prince charming in the form of Thomas King.
The pair dated during their adolescence but Tom left the village for Saudi Arabia.
He returned after a decade of absence and they rekindled their romance.
Charity Dingle
The daughter of Zak Dingle’s cousin Obadiah and his late wife Kathleen, Charity arrived in the village in 2000, alongside Cain and her uncle Shadrach.
The trio rocked up the village to attend Butch’s funeral and Charity settled down in Emmerdale, embarking on a relationship with Chris Tate while simultaneously having an affair with his sister Zoe.
Portrayed by Emma Atkins, she is the mother of Debbie, Noah and Moses Dingle and has a long lost son, Ryan Stocks, with whom she bonded when he arrived in the village in 2018.
She is also the adoptive mother of Johnny Woodfield.
Her main storylines include finding out that Debbie, who was Paddy and Emily Kirk’s foster child, was her biological daughter, born during a one night stand with her cousin Cain when they were both teenagers.
Charity’s chaotic life in the Dales has also included a stint in prison and a past with prostitution.
During her time in the village she was not only romantically involved with Chris Tate, the father of her son Noah, but also with King patriarch Tom King, Jai Sharma, Declan Macey and Vanessa Woodfield.
In most recent months, she was married to Mackenzie Boyd but he cheated on her with Chloe Harris and fathered her baby Reuben.
Super Soap Week spoilers teased an explosive end to the love triangle for October, 2023.
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Debbie Dingle
Deborah “Debbie” Dingle is the only daughter of Charity and Cain Dingle but she was initially introduced as Paddy and Emily Kirk’s foster daughter.
She is the mother of Sarah Sugden, whom she gave birth to during her adolescence, and Jack Sugden who were both fathered by Andy Sugden.
She is also the half-sister of Ryan Stocks, Nate Robinson, Noah Dingle, Kyle Winchester, Moses Dingle, Isaac Dingle and Johnny Woodfield.
Debbie has been portrayed by Charley Webb since her Emmerdale debut.
After her teen pregnancy storyline, Debbie embarked on a romantic relationship with her pal Jasmine Thomas as she feuded with her own father Cain before becoming involved with serial killer Cameron Murray.
Her daughter Sarah encountered some serious health issues which made another dramatic storyline for Debbie.
Debbie also had relationships with Pete and Ross Barton before leaving for Jersey.
When she returned, she dated Joe Tate, another ill-fated romance, and moved away to Scotland in 2019 when she found out her grandmother Lisa had left her and aunt Belle a garage.
She made a brief return to Emmerdale in late 2020 for Chas and Paddy’s wedding and was revealed to be Al Chapman’s mystery woman with whom he had been cheating on his then-girlfriend Priya Sharma.
Many fans have called for Charley Webb to reprise her role – but will she ever go through with it?
Sam Dingle
James Hooton joined the Emmerdale line-up as Samuel Jonah Dingle in 1995 and the latter was one of the first Dingles to appear in the Dales.
Sam was introduced to viewers as the son of Zak and Nellie Dingle after his release from a young offenders institute, but this didn’t stop him from being involved in several dodgy schemes with his family over the years.
In 2005, Sam was thrown in one of his biggest storylines as he embarked on a relationship with Alice Wilson.
Alice gave birth to their son Noah in early 2006 and they tied the knot after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Sam helped Alice end her life by giving her a lethal dose of morphine and the rest of the Dingle family tried to help him cover everything up.
Since then, Sam learned to cope with being a single father and tried to move on from Alice with Rachel Breckle and Megan Macey.
But it wasn’t until he met Lydia Hart, who later became his wife, that he finally found his balance.
Marlon Dingle
Marlon Sebastian Dingle is portrayed by Mark Charnock and is the son of Albert and Delilah Dingle.
Making his first appearance in the village in 1996, he is the brother of Eli Dingle, the husband of Rhona Goskirk and the father of April Windsor and Leo Goskirk.
Most of Marlon’s storylines have been centred around his love life, particularly in his early years in Emmerdale as he became Tricia Stokes’ widower.
During his time in the Dales, Marlon was married to Donna Windsor (2006), Laurel Thomas (2014) and Jessie Grant (2019) before eventually tying the knot with Rhona Goskirk.
He is well-known for being an outcast of the Dingle family as well as for his close friendship with Paddy Kirk.
In 2022, he was involved in a hard-hitting storyline as he suffered a horrific stroke which he has struggled to recover from since.
Mandy Dingle
Played by Lisa Riley, Amanda Rose “Mandy” Dingle is another Dingle cousin that can’t be forgotten.
She is the daughter of Caleb and Vera-Lynn Dingle and a mother figure to Vinny Dingle who she raised as her own after his father Paul Ashdale left them.
Mandy was once married to her cousin Butch Dingle in 1998 before tying the knot with Paddy Kirk a year later – the pair have rekindled their bond in 2023 as the vet battled depression.
While she once worked as a barmaid in The Woolpack, Mandy evolved and became the owner of her beauty salon, Pampa Manda.
Vinny Dingle
As mentioned above, Vinny (born Vincent) was raised by Mandy Dingle as her son when his father Paul Ashdale left them and nothing is known about his biological mother.
Vinny is played by Bradley Johnson and first showed up in Emmerdale in 2019.
In 2020, during lockdown, Vinny got to know Liv Flaherty as they played Animal Crossing together.
He also was able to know his father Paul but he was revealed to be abusive and died in a barn explosion in 2021.
Liv and Vinny soon began to date and tied the knot in 2022, while navigating through her asexual lifestyle.
However, their marriage ended in tragedy as Liv was crushed by a caravan in a storm.
Nellie Dingle
Zak’s ex-wife is Nellie Dingle, the mother of some of his existing and missing children on the show.
These include Nathan and Tina, and while Nathan has never appeared Tina did between 1994 and 1996 with many calls for her to return.
The duo, as well as Zak’s late children Ben and Butch Dingle who both died on the show, are the siblings of Cain, Belle and Sam.
Zebediah Dingle
Zebediah is the father of Del Dingle, Job Dingle and Lilith Dingle.
Lilith herself has sons named Luke, Matthew, Mark and Jon Dingle, and they all appeared at some point in the early 2000s.
Neither Del or Lilith are in the village.
Caleb Dingle
Up next is Caleb Dingle – father of Mandy Dingle, and partner of Vera-Lynn Dingle. He appeared in the show in 2000.
Caleb Dingle was played by actor Mike Kelly. He previously had a part in Coronation Street and played Malcolm Mostyn in Yorkshire nostalgic drama Heartbeat.
Albert Dingle
Zak’s brother Albert Dingle is married to Delilah Snr, and is the father of Marlon Dingle and former resident Eli Dingle who left in 2010.
Albert appeared between 1995 and 1997, before returning for a visit in 2004.
Bobby Knutt played Albert Dingle. The former star of The Bill and Benidorm died aged 71 in 2017.
Elvis Dingle
Elvis Dingle is the cousin of Zak and the husband of Marilyn Dingle.
The couple – who have two sons, Brando and Daniel – briefly appeared on the show in 2002 and 2004.
Other Dingle family members
It is unknown where the following family members fit in the tree:
- Tallulah Dingle
- Dave Dingle
- Tubby Dingle
- Josiah Dingle
- Uncle Heather Dingle
- Hamish Dingle
- Maud Dingle
- Crocodile Dingle
- Wendy Dingle
- Jed Dingle
- Donald Dingle
- Cracco Dingle
- Giuseppe Dingle
- Charlene Dingle
- Mantha Dingle
- Lazarus Dingle
- Eliakim Dingle
- Nat Dingle
- Molly Dingle
- Mick Dingle
- Levi Dingle
- Goliath Dingle
- Bob Dingle
