Emmerdale’s Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) has been growing more and more frustrated by the fact that absolutely no one will trust her to be on her own, but they’ve all got a very good point.
Almost every time she’s left alone, Moira suffers a seizure. The most recent drama saw her get impatient waiting for Mack (Lawrence Robb), so she jumped in the Land Rover to head over to see Belle (Eden Taylor Draper) about Tom’s (James Chase) tablet she’d found.
But unfortunately for Moira, she started suffering an episode, ended up lost in the woods, before sinking to the ground and having a fit.
Luckily Mack found her, but not before the incident wiped her memory – a memory that could have saved Belle from prison.
In the latest drama surrounding the ‘houseguest’, Moira’s cooking breakfast when suddenly she’s overcome once again and hits the deck as another seizure takes hold.
By good fortune, once she comes to Moira learns there is an operation slot available for the next day. Though risky, her problems could all soon be solved. But when Cain (Jeff Hordley) returns home unexpectedly from Scotland, her plans are disrupted. Before she can tell him, they receive a devastating call – Zak (Steve Halliwell) has died.
The Dingles have lost the head of their family and are sent into a spin of grief – giving Moira the perfect excuse not to even mention her operation news. Hiding behind the idea that the family has enough to cope with, she makes a huge and potentially life-threatening decision – to postpone the op.
As Moira hides her deadly secret, the family console each other over their loss. But Matty (Ash Palmisciano) knows what Moira has done and questions her on her decision to delay the op.
While the rest of the Dingles raise a glass to Zak, Moira is hiding the fact that she’s made a decision on behalf of her family that could well kill her.
Will Cain find out and make her change her mind, or could they soon be holding another memorial?
Emmerdale cast pay tribute to Steve Halliwell and Zak Dingle
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.’
‘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’, actor Jeff Hordley explained.
‘So she makes a massive sacrifice for herself to make sure that Cain can get through this day smoothly. 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. I’m very thankful to be a Dingle.’
