Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley teases shock return from the dead for Zak Dingle’s emotional funeral episode
EMMERDALE’S Jeff Hordley hints at a surprising return from the dead during Zak Dingle’s emotional funeral episode.
The actor, 54, has revealed what it was like to film Zak Dingle’s funeral scenes, ahead of the ITV soap’s 30 year celebration of the Dingles.
Next week starts with Moira, who has a seizure whilst cooking breakfast.
She receives news of an available operation slot the next day.
Cain returns home from Scotland unexpectedly and Moira avoids telling him her operation news.
As Cain goes for a shower Moira answers a call from Debbie – revealing the tragic news Zak has passed away.
Cain informs the family about Zak’s death – it’s a sad day for the Dingles and the village at large.
The bereft family take comfort in being with each other and soon Cain and Sam find Belle outside and the trio reminisce about their father, all knocked for six by his passing.
Soon the villagers gather on Main Street to wave Sam and Cain off as they poignantly leave for Scotland to bring Zak home.
Thanks to Chas the Woolpack becomes a space for mourning.
Meanwhile, Matty questions Moira’s decision to delay her operation.
Later at Wishing Well, the Dingles gather and raise a glass to Zak’s memory.
On the day of the funeral, a long-lost relative appears at the graveside, shocking the family. But who is it?
Cain Dingle actor, Jeff Hordley, has teased what’s to come for the Dingles as they hear the devastating news that “nobody was expecting.”
He began: “I think that’s why it’s so immediate for Cain, and so shocking – it’s like seeing someone in the morning, isn’t it?
“And then in the afternoon, they’re gone, and he’s trying to process it.
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
“It will have been a huge comfort, especially when it’s a sudden death. But if you’ve seen someone just before, then it can make it easier.”
He revealed there will be a dedicated episode to Zak, which was intense to film.
Jeff said: “We just stay up one night and talk about what’s going on in their lives, and relate it all to Zak, and talk about Zak as well.
“It’s a really lovely episode. It reminded me a lot of the lockdown two hander episodes that we had where it’s just characters talking. It’s a bit like doing a play, it’s quite intense.”
Revealing details about the funeral, he added: “Sam and Cain go up to Scotland to bring Zak home, and the funeral takes place very soon after.
“The funeral has got Dingles written all over it. That’s all I can tell you, really. If you could say shotgun wedding or shotgun funeral, you’d kind of get a picture of what it’s like.
“There’s really poignant moments in it… 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.”
Jeff teased that the long-lost relative could be “someone you might know.
“They’re not going to make things go smoothly for the Dingles. Could it be someone back from the dead?”
Meanwhile, Moira is keeping her operation date a secret from Cain.
Jeff said: “She keeps it to herself. The sense behind it is that she knows that Cain’s got so much on his plate with the funeral that she doesn’t want to burden him with it.
“So she makes a massive sacrifice for herself to make sure that Cain can get through this day smoothly.”
He concluded that he is “very thankful to be a Dingle.”
As Emmerdale celebrates 30 years of the Dingles, Jeff said: “Being a Dingle for me, is a source of immense pride. It’s something that I still pinch myself when I think about.
“I’m kind of part of this institutional amazing family that’s part of the Emmerdale fabric. So, yeah, I just feel very honoured and very proud.”
Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.