**Emmerdale’s Tearjerking Tribute: Stars in Awe of ‘Heartwarming’ Zak Dingle Funeral Episode!**

Emmerdale stars Karen Blick and Danny Miller have expressed admiration for the upcoming tribute episode honoring the beloved character Zach Dingle, portrayed by the late Steve Hallowell, who passed away last year. The ITV soap recently announced plans to commemorate Zach Dingle with a poignant on-screen funeral, acknowledging Steve’s significant contribution to the show since 1994.

In the fictional world of Emmerdale, Zach has relocated to Scotland, and the village receives the somber news of his passing. Speaking at the Radio Times Soap Awards, Karen Blick, known for her role as Lydia Dingle, shared her emotions upon reading the script: “We knew that everyone at Emmerdale was going to honor and respect the iconic character that Steve played. I read the script yesterday, and it brought tears to my eyes. Audiences are in for something special—it’s heartbreaking yet incredibly heartwarming, a wonderful tribute to Steve and Zach Dingle.”

Danny Miller, portraying Aaron Dingle, also spoke about the impact of Zach’s farewell storyline: “Zach will once again be the heart of the show for a brief period. It will bring the Dingles even closer together, which is fantastic. Emmerdale has always excelled at keeping the Dingles at the core of the show.”

Reflecting on filming such poignant scenes, Danny added, “It affects people differently, but we have all mourned Steve. He was one of the first people I met when I joined Emmerdale—a guiding figure and a support. This tribute is more about celebrating Zach’s life. Steve wouldn’t want us to dwell on sadness; he’d want us to remember him with laughter, and that’s what we hope to achieve.”

Emmerdale’s new producer, Sophie Roper, announced the special episode dedicated to Zach earlier this month, acknowledging the emotional significance for both the cast and viewers: “We will be marking Zach’s passing in the coming months with a funeral that will be incredibly challenging for many people on our show and for our viewers, who have grown to love Zach over the years.”

The Radio Times Soap Awards, held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, saw Emmerdale clinch two awards, with Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) winning Best Comedy Performance and Chris Chittell (Eric Pollard) receiving the Special Recognition Award.