Emmerdale's new producer Sophie Roper has confirmed that the soap will feature the death of Zak Dingle following the sad passing of actor Steve Halliwell last year.

Halliwell played the part of the Dingle patriarch from 1994 until June 2023, when he took time out due to ill health, but in December it was announced that he had died at the age of 77.

On screen, Zak has been staying with granddaughter Debbie (Charley Webb) in Edinburgh, but in future episodes news will reach the village that he has died.

"The Dingles have been at the heart of our show for 30 years now and will continue to be so," Roper told press this week.

"And as many of you will know, of course, we lost Steve recently and so we're going to be marking Zak's passing in the coming months with a Dingle funeral."

"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."

Emmerdale continues weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX.