In Monday’s episode of Emmerdale (Monday, October 14) Moira answered the phone to Debbie, who informed her of Zak’s death. With Zak’s funeral taking place this week, will Debbie return to the Dales?
Debbie Dingle left the Dales for Scotland in 2019 and last year she was joined by her grandfather Zak Dingle.
With Debbie being his granddaughter and the pair being so close in his final months, it makes sense that she should be at the funeral – but will she make an appearance?
Moira shared Zak’s death with Cain (Credit: ITV/ Composite EI!)
Zak’s death in Emmerdale
Following actor Steve Halliwell’s death last December, Emmerdale has been leading up on an on-screen funeral for his character Zak Dingle. In recent months, Zak’s ill health has been mentioned, with Cain travelling up to Scotland to see his poorly dad.
In Monday’s episode, Moira was speaking on the phone to Cain and told him to give Debbie and Zak her love – not realising that he was no longer with them.
Shortly after suffering another seizure, Cain surprised Moira by arriving home early. He shared the news that Zak was doing much better and had ordered Cain to return home.
However, while he was in the shower, Cain’s phone started ringing. Moira answered and was told by Debbie that Zak had sadly passed away. Further episodes will see Cain tell the rest of the family and they reminisce about Zak before the funeral takes place at the end of the week.
Debbie is currently in Scotland (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock)
Fans call for Debbie return
From finding out Charity and Cain were her mum and dad to the acid attack on Ross Barton, Debbie has been involved in some pretty hard-hitting storylines, so it’s no surprise that fans want to see her back.
Spoilers tease a surprise guest at Zak’s funeral and fans are praying it’s Debbie. “Would be weird if Debbie didn’t come to the funeral,” one fan said on X, with another adding: “‘We need Debbie back.”
A third fan tagged actress Charley Webb, writing: “Hope it’s @miss_CharleyWebb who returns. Debbie is great,” while a fourth said: “Debbie is my all time favourite Emmerdale character. Having her back even for an episode will be AMAZING.”
Is Charley Webb returning?
In an interview with whattowatch.com last year, Charley spoke about her Emmerdale exit and admitted she had no regrets about leaving.
“It felt like the right time for me personally to make that jump from Emmerdale and I don’t have any regrets about it,” she said. “I’m ambitious to push myself and it’s just about choosing the right projects from now on.”
Also, due to reported behind-the-scenes friction between Charley and the soap, Charley’s return to Emmerdale seems pretty unlikely. But some fans have suggested a recast. “Debbie with a new head. How many heads has Ben Eastenders had so far last count?,” joked one fan.
Since leaving Emmerdale, Charley has appeared in a few TV shows. Most notably in the Yorkshire Ripper drama The Long Shadow, in which she starred in four episodes.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Emmerdale tonight (Monday, October 14) saw Moira Dingle told that she could have her much needed operation tomorrow. After a walk down memory lane with Matty, she decided to go ahead with it. But bad news followed when she answered a call from Debbie informing her of Zak’s passing.
Elsewhere, Amelia continued to see Tom as God’s Gift. Here’s everything that happened in Emmerdale tonight.
Matty convinced his mum to have the operation (Credit: ITV)
Moira received good and bad news
While cooking breakfast, Moira suffered a seizure, which saw her fall forward and burn her hand on the frying pan. Matty was worried about his mum, but relief came when Moira got a phone call from the hospital telling her there had been a cancellation and she can have her operation tomorrow.
Despite this being good news, Moira told Matty she was scared. “It was easier when it was months away,” she said. “It’s like when you arrange a night out, but when it comes to it, you’d rather stop in and stay on the sofa.”
Moira and Matty went for a walk and visited Holly’s tree. They reminisced about Holly and spoke about what her life would be like now. Moira admitted that she was worried that the operation would go wrong and she’d leave her kids without a mum. After Matty told his mum that Holly would want her to do everything she could to get better, Moira resigned herself to having the operation.
“You know I’m a terrible patient, right? Non stop moaning and full of self pity for weeks…” Not much different from normal then…
Matty told his mum to tell Cain about the operation and not keep secrets. Of course, Cain chose that moment to arrive back from Scotland and wanted to know what secrets. Matty covered for his mum by just telling Cain about the seizure Moira had that morning.
Moira had another moment when she asked Matty to check on the cars. “What cars?” he asked, “Cows, you know what I mean,” she responded.
Cain said he had wanted to surprise Moira. He told her Zak was doing a lot better and had bullied him into coming home. When she later tried to tell him about the operation, she backed out again. All thoughts of the operation were erased when she answered a call from Debbie on Cain’s phone while he was in the shower.
She then had the tough job of telling Cain that Zak wasn’t doing a lot better at all, he has died. Sob.
Mack told Billy he’ll help him (Credit: ITV)
Mack kept Billy’s secret in Emmerdale tonight
Billy bumped into Mack in the village, who told him he could get him some work up at the farm. After Billy responded that that wasn’t enough, Mack continued to surprise everyone by being the voice of reason. He told Billy that farm work was better than doing something ‘really, really stupid’ such as illegal boxing. “Whatever they’re paying you, it’s really not worth it,” he said.
Billy confused Mack – and us – by saying he wasn’t doing it for the money, despite the fact that he literally did it for the money last week.
In the Woolpack over a pint, Billy said that fighting is a way to escape his life – struggling with an ill son. “When I’m in there [the ring], there’s nothing else I can think about,” he said. “This is helping me deal with the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. So I’m begging you, please keep this to yourself.”
Later, Mack visited Billy at his house. He told him he’d keep his secret, but wouldn’t let him do it alone. “You need someone looking out for you and for keeping you in shape,” he said.
Mack then quoted Rocky, “You’ll be able to spit nails, kid.” It was completely lost on Billy though, as he is a boxer who has never seen Rocky. Mack spoke for us all when he said: “Wow, OK, we’ve got a lot of work to do then.”
Amelia continues to side with Tom (Credit: ITV)
Amelia continued to be a lovestruck teen
If you didn’t think Amelia could be anymore stupid, you’re wrong.
Tom informed Amelia that he was going to take her on a special date. Cue Amelia getting dressed up ready for a fun afternoon… at the Woolpack. Yes, he took her to the local pub.
Luckily for Tom, Amelia can’t see the wood for the trees, so when Tom spouted some dross about the Woolpack being special for them and that the more time they spend there the more the locals will accept them as a couple, she went all gooey eyed.
“We can go to Leeds if you like, just think it’s way more special here,” he said. “What’s the point in showing you off in a room full of strangers?” Insert vomit emoji. Surely Amelia’s brain will kick into action eventually?
Elsewhere in Emmerdale tonight…
Dawn visited Home Farm, initially to see Kim. But when Kim wasn’t there, she eventually confided in her dad that money was tight. Will agreed to find £5,000 in order to get her a new car.
While doing some plumbing work at Liam’s house, Sam got emotional talking about Samson. Liam tried to reassure Sam, telling him he was a good dad. Later, feeling cheered up, Sam told Liam he was taking Belle snaring – yes, us neither…
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
Fans of Emmerdale believe newcomer Jade is hiding her true identity and is in fact related to two other village residents.
Last week, actor and musician Twinnie-Lee Moore made her first appearance as ruthless boxing promoter Jade. Jade arrived in the village to encourage – or rather demand – Billy to fight again.
However, cynical viewers don’t believe that Jade is her real name and have been speculating over who she really could be.
Jade put pressure on Billy to keep fighting (Credit: ITV)
Jade arrives in Emmerdale
In recent weeks, fans have seen Billy get involved in the world of unlicensed boxing and hide the secret from wife Dawn, who thinks the money he’s made from it has been pulled off trees.
In Friday’s episode, ruthless boxing promoter Jade arrived in the village much to Billy’s horror. As she wound down the window of her car, Billy asked what she was doing there – meaning they’d already met.
After telling him she was impressed with his home setting, she gave him a veiled threat by saying: “Obviously got a lot to lose.”
Jade told Billy she wanted to see more of him in the ring just as Dawn arrived to ask if everything was OK. Jade responded: “It would be if Billy would do as I ask.”
Billy covered by saying she was a potential client. Jade went along with the story and said she was in the market for a PT and had heard how good Billy is. Later, Billy told Mack that Jade is the one who runs all the fights, but he was determined not to get involved anymore given his current injuries.
However, he soon changed his mind when he got ripped off buying a new car and Dawn commented about everything going wrong for them. Dawn encouraged him to call the ‘posh client from this morning’ and so that’s what he did. But what does Jade have in store for him? And do her ties to the village go further than Billy?
Could Ruby and Caleb be Jade’s parents? (Credit: ITV)
Fans rumble Jade’s true identity
Last month, it was revealed that Caleb Milligan and his wife Ruby had a daughter. Caleb went to visit wife Ruby’s dying mother in the hospital. During a heated exchange, Helen asked Caleb if he had seen anything of Stephanie. Caleb was furious at the question and told Helen not to mention his kids.
When he arrived in Emmerdale, Caleb did mention kids – but we only met Nicky. Nicky, himself, also mentioned having a sister. Though we should remember he also told a bunch of lies including the fact that his mum was dead. Which, as we know, she’s very much alive.
Aside from that, nothing else is known about the mysterious Miligan daughter. But fans have been speculating that Jade could be Stephanie.
“Just a thought, I know Caleb and Ruby have a daughter called Stephanie, but suppose Jade isn’t her real name – but Jade is Stephanie?!” wrote one fan on X, with a second fan writing: “Wouldn’t surprise me if she’s related to Caleb and Ruby.”
Fans on Reddit were also on board this theory, with one viewer writing: “Could she be Caleb and Ruby’s estranged daughter? Using the name Jade as an alias… Both Caleb and Ruby have ruthless streaks, and what we’ve seen from Jade so far is that she seems ruthless.”
Another fan agreed, adding: “I actually thought the same thing. They suddenly have a daughter, and then this new chick turns up.”
Jade arrived in the village last week (Credit: ITV)
Twinnie-Lee Moore on new role
Speaking about being back on screen, Former Hollyoaks star Twinnie said: “My life has been a bit crazy recently juggling music and acting with lots of back and forth between Nashville and Yorkshire but I’ve been loving it!
“I’ve loved being back on screen, especially as the show is shot in Yorkshire. Being able to be home with family and go to work on such an iconic show has been nothing short of amazing! The whole team has been so welcoming and really supportive.
“My character is so much fun to play and I can’t wait to see how the audience reacts to her.”
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Zak Dingle was a mainstay in Emmerdale for nearly 30 years following his introduction to the soap in 1994.
Originally a boxing hardman, Zak evolved into a loving family man and the nation cried with him when he discovered his wife Lisa had died in her chair following their second wedding.
Sadly, actor Steve Halliwell passed away last December and Emmerdale producers have made clear their intentions to give him an on-screen send off.
As that looks like it will soon play out, we take a look at Zak Dingle’s best moments.
Zak fought Ned Glover in one of his first scenes (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Zak’s arrival
Zak Dingle arrived in Emmerdale in October 1994 and immediately started feuding with the locals.
Previously a bare-knuckle boxer, Zak challenged Ned Glover to a bare-knuckle fistfight, which he lost.
He also started a feud with local family the McAllisters, who he blamed for his son Ben’s death a few months prior.
Zak was initially only supposed to be in a few episodes, but he made such a mark that Steve Halliwell was asked to stay on. The rest, as they say, is history.
Belle was a Christmas surprise (Credit: ITV)
Meeting Lisa and Belle
Zak met Lisa in 1996 and the two were instantly smitten. They married in 1998 and later that year at Christmas, Lisa gave birth to Belle. It was a big surprise as Lisa hadn’t even known she was pregnant.
Zak and Lisa’s relationship was far from plain sailing – who can forget Joanie taking Zak away from Lisa for a while? – but they always found their way back to each other.
Zak and Lisa remarried before her death (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Zak Dingle: Losing Lisa
While not a good moment, we did get to witness some of Halliwell’s best acting as Zak lost his soulmate, Lisa.
In 2019, Lisa was diagnosed with a heart condition and was given only a short amount of time left to live. They decided to re-marry, but the marriage was a short one.
Following the wedding, Lisa returned home to change out of her dress. Zak later found her, apparently asleep on the sofa. However, when Zak tried to wake up his new bride, he realised that she had passed away. Sobs.
Losing Lisa hit Zak hard (Credit: ITV)
Butch’s death
Zak suffered a lot of sorrow during his time in the Dales. One of the earlier moments saw his son Butch killed when a lorry crashed into the vehicle he was travelling in.
Zak later discovered that his mechanic wife Lisa had worked on the lorry before it crashed and the couple were briefly torn apart as the grieving father blamed her for Butch’s death.
Zak was devastated by Butch’s passing (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Zak Dingle: Diagnosed with cancer
In 2001, Zak was diagnosed with testicular cancer, but he refused to have treatment.
This resulted in the family kidnapping him in bid to make him see sense. Zak eventually went to hospital and made a full recovery.
There was a touching scene years later in 2016 when Zak’s cancer was revisited. Knowing Zak had previously fought testicular cancer, David Metcalfe turned to him for some advice after he was told that he’d have to lose a testicle as part of his own battle against cancer.
Cain discovered Zak was his real dad (Credit: ITV)
Cain discovers the truth
Bad boy Cain was initially introduced to the show as Zak’s nephew, but it was later revealed that Zak and his brother’s wife Faith had had an affair and Zak was in fact Cain’s dad.
This truth came out during a heated argument between the pair. The two went on to have a strained relationship. This came to a head in 2011 when Cain was viciously attacked and left for dead. Zak was later revealed to be the culprit.
Zak suffered from mental illness (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Zak Dingle: Nervous breakdown
Following his attack on Cain, Zak suffered with depression. He hit the bottle and became erratic and paranoid.
One episode saw him kill some chickens after he convinced himself there was something wrong with them. Another occasion saw him wandering the Moors while seeing visions of his dead son Butch.
He also became convinced that his cancer had returned. It later became apparent that he was suffering a nervous breakdown and he was sectioned. Halliwell was praised by fans for his emotional portrayal during this storyline.
Steve Halliwell passed away last year (Credit: ITV)
Final scene
Zak’s final episode aired in June 2023. During a light-hearted scene, Zak was shown beeping the horn on his mobility scooter as Dan Spencer, who was working at the garage, called him Evel Knievel.
Dan then asked him how many buses he’d driven over lately, with Zak joking that the potholes were enough of a challenge. Dan remarked that it was nice to see Zak out and about.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Zak Dingle was a mainstay in Emmerdale for almost 30 years. As the head of the Dingle clan, he was involved in some huge storylines during his time in the village.
During his life, Zak fathered seven children – though we didn’t meet them all – and married three different women. He was originally introduced as a boxing hardman, but soon evolved into a loving family man.
With Zak’s on-screen funeral taking place this week, here’s the lowdown on everything Zak Dingle.
Zak Dingle’s arrival in Emmerdale
Zak Dingle arrived in Emmerdale in October 1994 and immediately got on the wrong side of the locals. Having previously been a bare-knuckle boxer, Zak challenged old adversary Ned Glover to a bare-knuckle fight, which he went on to lose.
The Dingle family also started a feud with the McAllister family after holding them responsible for the death of Zak’s son, Ben. Ben was actually the first member of the Dingle family to appear in Emmerdale (August 1994). During a fight with Luke McAllister, Ben died of a heart defect, but the Dingles continued to blame Luke.
Zak was initially only supposed to be in a few episodes, but he made such a mark that actor Steve Halliwell was asked to stay on. The rest, as they say, is history.
Divorce from Nellie and meeting Lisa
Nellie was Zak’s first wife and the mother of five of his children – Nathan, Butch, Ben, Sam and Tina. She arrived at the start of 1995 and left at the end of the year to care for her father in Ireland.
Zak met Lisa in 1996 and the couple were instantly smitten. After divorcing Nellie, Zak married Lisa in 1998. That Christmas the pair got a present in the form of a baby, who they named Belle. It was a big surprise as Lisa hadn’t even known she was pregnant!
Nellie returned in 2000 and attempted to win Zak back, but he was not for turning.
Cain and Zak ended on good terms (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock)
Relationship with Cain
Cain Dingle arrived in 2000 to attend the funeral of his ‘cousin’ Butch. But it was later revealed that Butch was actually his half brother.
Zak had a tempestuous relationship with Cain and during a heated argument in 2001, Zak revealed to Cain that he was his dad following an affair with Cain’s mum, Faith.
Cain and Zak went on to have a strained relationship. This came to a head in 2011 when Cain was viciously attacked and left for dead. Zak was later revealed to be the culprit. Zak and Cain’s relationship improved over the years, and, aside from Debbie, Cain was the last of the Dingles to see Zak alive. He is also the one to break the news of Zak’s passing to the rest of the family.
Zak’s health issues
In 2001, Zak was diagnosed with testicular cancer, but he refused to have treatment. His family eventually made him see sense and he went to hospital, eventually making a full recovery.
Years later, following this incident with Cain in 2011, Zak’s mental health took centre stage. Feeling guilty for attacking his son, Zak struggled to cope. He suffered from bouts of depression and hit the bottle hard.
He later became erratic and paranoid. After a vet gave his chickens a full bill of health, Zak convinced himself that something was wrong with them and he killed them. He also saw visions of his dead son Butch and became convinced that his cancer had returned. When it became obvious that a nervous breakdown was taking place, Zak was sectioned.
The storyline and Halliwell himself were praised by fans, who responded well to seeing an emotional side to Zak. The soap also received praise for covering the issue of male mental illness.
Lisa and Zak were a much-loved couple (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Joanie and losing Lisa
Zak and Lisa’s relationship wasn’t always rock solid, but they always found their way back to each other.
In 2000, Zak’s son Butch was killed when a lorry crashed into the bus he was travelling in. Zak initially blamed mechanic Lisa after he discovered that she had worked on the vehicle before it crashed. But he eventually relented.
The marriage collapsed completely in 2015 when Zak started a relationship with their lodger Joanie. Lisa and Zak divorced in 2016 and Zak married Joanie. The marriage was short-lived, however, due to Zak remaining close to his ex. Joanie then suffered a cardiac arrest and died in early 2017.
Lisa and Zak reunited in 2018. But there was no happy ever after as just a year later, Lisa was diagnosed with a heart condition and was given only a short amount of time left to live. The couple decided to re-marry, in what was an emotional occasion all round.
Following the wedding, Lisa returned home to change out of her dress after it became covered in mud. Zak went to find her and found her asleep on the sofa, but when he tried to wake her up he realised that she had passed away.
Steve Halliwell played the legendary character (Credit: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock )
Who played Zak Dingle?
Steve Halliwell played Zak from his first appearance in October 1994 until his final appearance in June 2023. One of his final scenes saw Zak beeping the horn on his mobility scooter as Dan Spencer, who was working at the garage, called him Evel Knievel. Zak then headed off to live in Scotland with Debbie.
In December 2023, it was announced that Steve Halliwell had sadly passed away at the age of 77. In a statement, the soap said: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that Steve Halliwell, our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away.
“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.
“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.”
Prior to Emmerdale, Halliwell had a long-standing role in The Practice, as well as making appearances in the likes of Coronation Street, Heartbeat and Cracker.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
In classic Emmerdale spoilers, airing on ITV3 on Monday October 14, guilty Alan tries to make amends to daughter Steph after not believing her about Terence. These episodes first aired on February 24 and 26, 2006.
Elsewhere, when antifreeze from their development contaminates the Sugdens’ water supply, Daz is eager to play detective – landing himself in trouble with the King brothers.
Meanwhile, Tom keeps a secret from Matthew, and Pearl takes a big risk.
Alan feels terrible for not believing Steph sooner (Credit: ITV)
Alan tries to make amends to Steph
In the wake of his injury, Alan feels terrible about not believing Steph. He worries that maybe he did know about Terence’s abuse but could have buried it in the back of his mind.
Hoping to make amends, he tells Steph he wants her to be joint owner of the B&B. Sickened that he thinks he can buy her back, Steph rejects his offer.
Afterwards, she tells the police that she’s decided to drop the charges against Terence. The police are concerned when they are unable to find and question Terence. Covering for his absence, Betty and Alan claim he’s run off. When the police ask him about the injury to his head, Alan tells them that he took a fall.
Later, Betty visits Steph and tells her that her father needs her, begging her not to let Alan. And, when Robert turns up at the B&B with her statement to sign, Steph is thrown. She tells him that she’s decided to drop the charges against Terence.
In the Woolpack, Adam tries to cheer Steph up, reminding her that Terence has gone for good. Looking to the future, Steph starts to reconsider Alan’s B&B offer.
Daz and Jasmine find themselves in hot water (Credit: ITV)
Jasmine and Daz play detective
Hari tells the Sugdens that their water supply has been contaminated with antifreeze. He assures Andy and Jack that there will be a thorough investigation of how the water came to be contaminated.
When he tells them that they’ll be looking upstream, Jack notes that the Kings’ development is in that direction. Overhearing, Daz decides to play detective. Enlisting Jasmine, the pair pay a visit to the Kings’ development, where they find some rusty barrels.
Believing the barrels to be the root of the Sugdens’ problem, Daz takes a picture on his phone. However, Jimmy and Matthew catch him and Jasmine, and march them both into a portacabin – where Matthew destroys the phone.
Terrified, Daz and Jasmine flee. Meanwhile, Matthew asks Jimmy about the antifreeze, who claims that he asked for it to be moved ages ago. Fuming, Matthew forces Jimmy to move the evidence.
Back at the farm, Jack is angry as the Kings get off Scot-free. Convinced that the Kings were responsible, he and Andy show an environmental officer around. Meanwhile, dejected Daz is convinced that he’s spoiled the family’s chance to nail the Kings. Jasmine convinces him to tell Andy what happened.
Later, at the Kings’ development, the environmental officer questions Matthew and Jimmy, who give him a tour of the site. The officer is suspicious as he notes signs of disturbance at the ditch, but the brothers feign innocence. The officer takes samples from the ditch away for testing.
Back at the farm, a furious Jack tells Andy and Daz that the officer doesn’t hold much hope. Convinced that the Kings have gotten away with it, Jack confronts Matthew in the pub, demanding he tells the truth. Jack is left helpless as an unruffled Matthew denies all knowledge.
Also in classic Emmerdale spoilers
Hoping to visit her grandchildren in Hong Kong, Pearl decides to invest in the stock market.
Matthew wakes up with Lynda, who tells him that she’s happy to have her cake and eat it. Elsewhere, Sadie reaches out to Tom about her horse, Cossack. An angry Tom tells her that he wants her and the horse out of their lives for good – telling her that she needs to move Cossack as soon as possible. When Edna asks if they should tell Matthew that Sadie will be visiting, Tom suggests it’s best that his son remains in the dark.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Tonight’s Emmerdale spoilers see Moira Dingle tell Cain that dad Zak has died. Cain learns the terrible news just as Moira decides to keep a secret from him – that she’s gotten a date for her operation. What will she decide to do?
Elsewhere, Billy tells Mack that he’s got another fight booked. Begging Mack to keep his secret, he’s left shocked when his friend agrees to help out.
Meanwhile, loved-up Tom and Amelia put on a show of their relationship for the punters of the Woolpack. Does Tom have everyone fooled?
Moira tells Cain that Zak has died in Emmerdale spoilers
1. Moira gets a date for her operation
Moira suffers a seizure while cooking. After coming to, she receives news of an available operation slot the next day. However, she decides to keep it a secret from Cain.
2. Cain learns that Zak has died
Then, as Cain goes for a shower, Moira answers a call from Debbie. Debbie tells her that Zak has passed away. How will Cain react to the heartbreaking news that his dad has died?
Billy tells Mack that he’s booked another fight (Credit: ITV)
Billy continues keeping secrets in Emmerdale spoilers
3. Billy begs Mack to keep a secret
Billy tells Mack he’s going to have to take on another fight. He begs Mack to keep it a secret.
Mack agrees not to say anything – and tells Billy that he wants to help him train.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Emmerdale must be a dangerous place to live given the amount of folk who’ve met an unfortunate end. Over the years, there’s been murders, death by misadventure and falling victim to freak accidents and natural disasters.
But we always remember those who were killed off in sensational style, or had a heartbreaking goodbye.
Here are 14 of the most memorable deaths to have occurred in Emmerdale…
Dave looks dishy even on his deathbed (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale deaths: Dave Glover
Dave Glover was the heartthrob of Emmerdale back in the mid 90s. The floppy-haired farmhand was also something of a ladies man, but Dave’s fateful error was falling for Kim Tate. The frisky pair had an affair behind Kim’s husband Frank’s back. Then Kim got pregnant and didn’t know who the father was.
Baby James was born in 1996, and Dave believed he was the boy’s daddy (it later turned out James was Frank’s). The lovers decided to run away together, but never got that far after a fire broke out in Home Farm.
Dave battled through the flames to save James, and was able to pass the tot through a window. Unfortunately, Dave was not so lucky. He succumbed to his injures on Boxing Day, 1996.
Kim was heartbroken and blamed Frank for Dave’s death. But she didn’t have to wait long for her husband to slip off the mortal coil…
Kim looked on in delight as Frank suffered a fatal heart attack (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale deaths: Frank Tate
Frank’s dramatic death at the hands of wife Kim, remains one of the greatest exits in soap history. It was 1997, and the year the Tates marriage really turned toxic.
The wealthy haulage boss had tried to have Kim killed as revenge for her affair with Dave Glover. She responded by hatching a plan to fake her death and have Frank framed for murder.
Frank was sent to prison for a while, but then Kim turned up at Home Farm very much alive. The shock of seeing his supposedly dead wife caused Frank (who already had a dodgy ticker) to suffer a fatal heart attack.
He passed away on the living room of Home Farm, while cold-hearted Kim watched on, refusing to call for help. As a final insult, Kim whipped out her compact mirror to check Frank had stopped breathing before reapplying her make up!
Rachel became Graham Clark’s second victim (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Rachel Hughes
Poor Rachel was never a good judge when it came to men. There was her marriage to Chris Tate, her affair with Jack Sugden, and her failure to realise she was dating a killer.
Rachel began a romance with teacher, Graham Clark and thought she’d met the one. They even planned to marry. But what Rachel didn’t realise was that Graham had murdered his first wife and made it look like suicide.
The sinister truth finally dawned on Rachel while the couple were out walking in the Dales on May 11, 1999. She confronted Graham over her suspicions and a row ensued. Graham couldn’t allow his dark secret to be revealed, so he decided Rachel had to be silenced. He pushed her over a cliff and Jack later found her lifeless body.
Graham got his comeuppance when he was killed in a car crash a year later.
Sarah Sugden met a fiery end (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Sarah Sugden
Jack Sugden’s second wife, Sarah met a horrific end when she was burnt alive in a barn explosion.
At the time of Sarah’s death she and Jack were separated after she’d left him for 19-year-old, Richie Carter. But Sarah soon realised the grass wasn’t greener.
The Sugden family farm was also in peril. Faced with losing his home, Sarah and Jack’s son Andy decided to burn down one of their barns for the insurance money.
He carried out his foolish plan and doused the barn with petrol. But what Andy didn’t realise is that Sarah and Richie were hiding behind the hay bales having crisis talks about their future.
The blaze quickly took hold, and while Richie was able to flee the flames, Sarah wasn’t so fortunate. She went out in a massive fireball.
Chris went to great lengths to get revenge on Charity (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Chris Tate
Cunning Chris Tate masterminded every detail of his death, which occurred on September 17, 2003.
After discovering he had an inoperable brain tumour, Chris spied an opportunity for revenge. He plotted to end his own life and frame his estranged wife, Charity Dingle, for murder in the process.
Having made all the arrangements, Chris set his plan in motion. He lured Charity to Home Farm on the pretence of discussing their divorce, before downing a glass of whisky, laced with poison.
Seconds later, Chris carked it, and just as he’d intended Charity was sent down for murder. She was later able to prove her innocence, which must have had Chris turning in his grave.
Tricia was the victim of a freak storm (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale deaths: Tricia Dingle
Bubbly barmaid Tricia was a victim of a terrible storm that struck the village on New Year’s Eve 2003.
Tricia was making her way over to The Woolpack when a bolt of lightening struck the pub. This caused an upstairs window to shatter and the pub’s chimney came crashing down on top of Tricia.
She was rushed to hospital, where she was kept on life support for a week. Heartbroken Marlon Dingle kept vigil at his wife’s bedside, but her injuries were not survivable and she went into cardiac arrest.
Tricia’s organs were donated to charity, which provided her loved ones with a small comfort.
The death of Alice was devastating (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Alice Dingle
Alice’s passing on July 31, 2006Â was one the saddest days in Emmerdale history.
The previous year, Alice had been diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with son, Samson. She refused doctor’s advice to have an abortion and waited until Samson was born to start chemotherapy.
Unfortunately the treatment was not effective and Alice was told she was terminally ill. As her illness progressed, Alice decided she wanted to die on her own terms. But she was too weak to take her own life.
In the end, her husband Sam helped Alice on her way by administering an overdose of morphine. She slipped away peacefully in his arms at Wishing Well Cottage moments later.
Bigamous Mark Wylde lived by the sword and died by the bullet (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Mark Wylde
Mark Wylde had it all – wealth, good looks, a beautiful family… oh and a secret wife and son he’d never told anyone about.
It turned out Mark was, in fact, Daniel Lamb. 20 years previously he had abandoned his pregnant wife, Faye and moved to France under a new identity. This meant his second marriage, to wife Natasha, was bigamous.
Natasha was sickened to discover the truth, but there was worse to come when their daughter, Maisie, revealed she’d been sleeping with Faye’s son, Ryan. Mark was forced to admit Maisie and Ryan were half-siblings, and unsurprisingly no one took the news well.
Disowned by his family, Mark decided to end it all. He wrote a suicide note and headed out to the woods with a shotgun. But Natasha wasn’t far behind. Refusing to let Mark to take the coward’s way out, she took the weapon out of his hands and fired a bullet into chest, killing him instantly. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, eh?
Cameron went out on a murderous rampage, but ended up killing himself (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale deaths: Cameron Murray
Serial killer Cameron’s reign of terror came to a spectacular end on October 17, 2013.
Cam had been imprisoned for the murders of Carl King, Alex Moss and Gennie Walker, but he escaped and went on the run. With scores to settle, Cameron made his way back to the village in the middle of a torrential rainstorm.
Armed with a shotgun, Cameron held a number terrified locals hostage at The Woolpack. These included his former lovers, Debbie Dingle and Chas Dingle.
The siege ended down in the pub’s flooded cellar as Cameron attempted to drown Chas, Debbie and Marlon. Sadly (for him), Cameron grabbed hold of a live lightbulb and was electrocuted to death. Did no one ever teach him water and electricity don’t mix?
Katie died after catching Robron in a passionate clinch (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Katie Sugden
Katie’s death was a case of manslaughter at the hands of her brother-in-law and arch-nemesis, Robert Sugden.
The pair had been secret lovers back in the day, but their romance had turned sour. When Robert returned to the village in 2014, he embarked on an affair with Aaron Dingle.
Katie threatened to wreck Robert’s wedding day by exposing his adultery, but he refused to let her leave. When Katie tried to make her escape, Robert pushed her over and the barn’s floor gave way. She crashed through two storeys of wood and glass and was killed on impact.
Robert and Aaron then disposed of any incriminating evidence so it looked as if Katie had died by accident. Which she did. Sort of.
Val’s death was as extra as the lady herself (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Val Pollard
A character as iconic as Val deserved an unforgettable exit. And that’s what she got.
The fifth Mrs Pollard was one of the unlucky victims of the village fete disaster in 2015. Val was trapped inside a mirror maze alongside sister Diane Sugden after a helicopter crash caused the amusement to collapse.
Diane was safely rescued from the wreckage, but the emergency crew could not reach Val. As she lay there unable to move, Val could see a jagged shard of glass hanging above her. She lit a cigarette in a final act of defiance and declared “I’m Val” as the glass fell and impaled her.
A few days after her gruesome death, Val appeared as a ghost to say one last goodbye to husband, Eric.
Moira discovered her daughter Holly dead in bed (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale deaths: Holly Barton
Holly’s death from a drug overdose was one of those OMG moments fans will never forget.
September 26, 2016 started out as just another ordinary day at Butlers Farm. Moira took a cup of tea up to Holly, who was in bed after a night out. At first Moira thought her daughter was just asleep, but sadly she wasn’t. Holly had succumbed to a fatal heroin overdose and it was too late to save her.
What made Holly’s death particularly shocking was that it hadn’t been announced actress Sophie Powles was leaving the soap. So no one knew until the episode aired that Holly was being killed off.
It was another stroke of genius from the Emmerdale writers, and Natalie J Robb‘s portrayal of Moira’s agony was award-worthy.
Faith’s tragic end broke fan’s hearts (Credit: ITV)
Faith Dingle
Oh Faith. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Cain and Chas’s cancer-stricken mum died.
The Dingle matriarch fought a courageous battle against the disease and made the decision to end her suffering. She made peace with the idea and said her goodbyes to her loved ones.
Faith proceeded to take an overdose of morphine, but was interrupted by Cain’s arrival. He tried to take his mum to hospital, but after realising it was what she wanted, Cain held Faith in his arms until she took her last breath.
It was a highly emotional ending for a dearly loved character.
Evil Al was killed by young Kyle Winchester (Credit: ITV)
Al Chapman
Last, but by no means least was Al Chapman, the character who became Emmerdale’s 100th on-screen death.
Al’s immoral antics made him unpopular with the locals, but it was his affair with married Chas Dingle that proved to be his undoing. Cain discovered Al was the reason Chas had missed their mum Faith’s final moments and wanted revenge.
He lured Al to a barn, where he was waiting with a shotgun to scare him out of the village. But as a violent altercation ensued, Al ended up taking a bullet.
It looked as if Cain was the killer, but flashback scenes it was his 10-year-old son, Kyle who’d actually pulled the trigger. Cain took the rap and served time for the youngster’s crime, but was released when Kyle told the police the truth.
And as for Al? Well perhaps Kyle did us all a favour. Good riddance to bad rubbish!
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
Our Emmerdale review this week was written in our lunch-break, just after double maths… of course, we’re kidding, but didn’t this week’s episodes feel like being back at school?!
After the brilliant, tense drama of Tom and Belle, this week we were served up something even less appetising than school dinners!
We love Heartstopper, and we love Waterloo Road, and that’s why if we wanted teen-style angst and drama we’d watch them instead.
Here’s the lowdown on why we think everyone needs detention in this week’s Emmerdale review.
Kim and Will were making each other jealous (Credit: ITV)
Will and Kim’s teenage games
Oh for heaven’s sake, what on earth is going on here? Kim and Will are very much old enough to know better than these ridiculous games they’re both playing. It is exhausting, frustrating and quite honestly, more than a little boring watching them try to get one up on each other and it’s taking us right back to the days of school discos, and ‘he said, she said’ gossip.
Making each other jealous, Will messing up Kim’s nice house, Kim packing Will’s bags – honestly, could they be any more childish?
We know that both Kim and Will are – how can we put this? – morally challenged. They’ll both go to great lengths to get what they want – and it’s a lot more fun seeing them do that together on a mutual enemy, than taking on each other.
Seriously?! (Credit: ITV)
If it was up to us, we’d send them off on a trip to Dubai or somewhere, and let them regroup and work things out off-screen, so we don’t have to see it. Then we’d welcome them home, tanned, relaxed and back together, ready to take on the baddies of Emmerdale.
Billy’s made some very bad choices (Credit: ITV)
Billy’s boring boxing battles
Meanwhile, behind the bike sheds, Billy’s hiding a huge secret. He’s been taking part in unlicensed boxing matches and getting himself battered in the process. And it’s funny because you’d think this would make Billy and Dawn more interesting, but it actually doesn’t. Probably because it’s all happened off-screen.
Anyway, all it’s done is make us a bit disappointed in Mack and John for being complicit in this whole thing and not telling Billy to grow up and get a proper job. Maybe next week we’ll see them both gathered round Billy shouting “fight, fight, fight!”
Is anything ever really gone forever? (Credit: ITV)
Technophobe Tom in our Emmerdale review
Tom King is apparently a whizz at installing secret cameras, but less clever when it comes to destroying technology. He smashed up the tablet that contains evidence against him with a rock, making it smoke – weird – and seemingly forgetting that nothing’s really gone forever these days.
We’re just hoping little Carl, who was watching his odd uncle out of the window, has been paying attention in computing lessons and knows more about finding files on the cloud than Tom does.
Laurel’s not a regular mum, she’s a cool mum (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale review:Â Sex education
OMG how cringe was Laurel’s chat with Arthur about sex? When she produced a pack of condoms so Arthur could explore his sexuality with older men, we wanted to cry! We were forced to watch the whole excruciating conversation through our fingers.
But when it comes to being a grown-up, Arthur’s been adulting way better than his neighbours this week! He even apologised to John. Very mature!
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Emmerdale has been on our screens since 1972, and has seen thousands of characters come and go over the years. Some stay in the soap for just a short stint, and for others it becomes a forever home.
But who are the soaps’ best ever characters? It’s a hard job, but we’ve whittled it down to 13 of our all time favourites, both past and present. So here they are…
Cain has been delivering us drama since 2000 (Credit: ITV)
Cain Dingle
Emmerdale OG bad boy, Cain is always top of the list. We can’t get enough of the sexy rogue.
Always central to any Dingle drama, Cain is the son of former lovers, Zak and Faith, but grew up thinking Shadrach was his father.
He arrived in 2000 as the black sheep of the family and delighted fans with his corrupt carry on.
Cain has had a lot of romantic entanglements during his 20 plus years in the Dales. These include high-stakes affairs with police officer Angie Reynolds and vicar Harriet Finch and a questionable dalliance with teen Amy Wyatt.
But two relationships have shaped him most. The first being his on/off one with cousin, Charity, and the other his passionate marriage to Moira.
Cain is a father of four, by four different women. He and Charity share daughter Debbie. Nate Robinson is Cain’s long-lost son who came into his life as an adult, Kyle Winchester was the result of his fling with Amy, and he has young Isaac with Moira.
The character is Emmerdale’s answer to the terminator. Seriously, the guy is indestructible! Cain has survived attempts on his life, near drowning and a brain tumour. And he’s endured a few stints in prison, the most recent being when he took the rap for Kyle killing Al Chapman.
It’s certainly been an action-packed two decades, we can’t wait to see what the next bring.
No one messes with Kim Tate and gets away with it (Credit: ITV)
Best Emmerdale characters: Kim Tate
Ruthless, scheming and ever so sexy, Kim is a goddess and we worship at her altar.
The legendary lady of the manor was introduced in December 1989 as Frank Tate’s gold-digging missus. Frank might have had money, but it was excitement Kim craved. Her affair with farmhand Dave Glover gave her that, plus a ‘who’s the daddy’ storyline when Kim gave birth to son James. The tot turned out to be Frank’s, and tragedy struck when Dave was killed in a fire.
After Dave’s demise, Kim’s marriage to Frank collapsed. He tried to have her killed, but Kim took revenge by faking her own death and framing Frank for murder. Her ‘return’ from the dead caused Frank to suffer a fatal heart attack. In shocking scenes, Kim put her compact mirror up to Frank’s mouth to check he’d stopped breathing before reapplying her powder.
Kim’s second husband was Steve Marchant, but that marriage also ended badly. She set him up for a crime she’d committed and fled the village in a helicopter.
Fast forward to 2018 and Kim made a dramatic return. She was thrust straight back into the action after ordering her third hubby Graham Foster to dispose of her step-grandson Joe Tate. Kim also got pushed off a balcony by Faith Dingle.
Kim was reunited with her son, Jamie Tate, and let’s just say the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Just like his mum, Jamie faked his own death.
Now Kim is onto husband number four, Will Taylor, and proved once again she’s not a woman to be messed with. When Will cheated with his ex Queen Kim got her revenge.
Eric Pollard is the king of illegal scams (Credit: ITV)
The village veteran, who’s the longest-serving character in Emmerdale, has been played by actor Chris Chittell for 38 years.
Eric was first introduced in 1986 and was only meant to stay for 12 episodes. But viewers loved his immoral antics, even if the other villagers didn’t.
The former antique dealer’s list of crimes include theft, fraud and even bigamy. Eric has always had an eye for the ladies and has five wives – two of which he was married to at the same time. His second wife, Elizabeth was one of the victims of the 1993 plane crash.
Eric was tracked down by his long-lost son. David, in 2006 and the pair forged a close relationship.
The other most important person in Eric’s life was his fifth wife and soulmate, Val Lambert. Their union was a very popular one, and fans felt Eric’s heartbreak when he lost his ‘Valerie’ in 2015.
He’s also had a relationship with Brenda Walker, who’s played by Chris’s real-life wife, Lesley Dunlop.
Time has certainly mellowed Eric, and he’s been forced to slow down following after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s last year. But there’s still life in the old dog yet, so expect more scams in the future.
Chas in her natural habitat behind the Woolpack bar (Credit: ITV)
Chas Dingle
Who remembers the moment Chas, short for Chastity, arrived in the village dressed as a nun for her cousin Marlon’s stag do? Talk about making an entrance!
A proper chip off the old Dingle block, Chas is the daughter of Faith and Shadrach and sister to Cain.
She’s also mum to Aaron. Chas gave birth to Aaron when she was 14, but the pair have a complicated relationship. Chas abandoned Aaron and was devastated to learn years later he’d been sexually abused by his father, Gordon. The guilt over abandoning her son has never really left her.
Chas has lived in Emmerdale since 2002 and has spent most of those years working at The Woolpack. She went from barmaid to landlady, before she was forced to sell her beloved pub. She’s now holds the position of manager.
Chas’s biggest weakness in life has always been men. She had a tempestuous relationship with Carl King. They almost got married, but Chas jilted Carl at the altar after discovering he’d been sleeping with Eve Jenson.
Then came her ill-fated affairs. First with Cameron Murray, who turned out to be a killer. Then Al Chapman, which resulted in Chas losing it all – including her husband, Paddy.
Fans loved Chas and Paddy together. The couple were dealt a cruel blow with the death of their first daughter Grace in 2018. But little Eve arrived the year after to help heal some of their pain.
Chas is a survivor, and has recently endured a battle against triple negative breast cancer. She underwent a double mastectomy and is currently in remission from the disease. Things are looking up on the love life front too, with a potential romance blossoming between her and Dr Liam Cavanagh.
Paddy’s been saving the village animals since 1997 (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Best Emmerdale characters: Paddy Kirk
Loveable Paddy is one of Emmerdale’s most cherished characters. He was introduced to viewers in 1997 as a locum vet.
Paddy is the son of Barbara and Bear Wolf, a former wrestler, who Paddy was estranged from until adulthood. He has a daughter, Eve, from his marriage to ex-wife Chas Dingle. He’s also been a father figure to Chas’s son, Aaron, over the years.
In 2024, Paddy married wife Mandy Dingle – for a second time, and his fifth in total. He and Mandy got hitched first time round in 1999, but split soon afterwards. Paddy’s also gone down the aisle with Emily Dingle, Rhona Goskirk, and of course, Chas. He’s also had a couple of extramarital affairs, with postmistress Viv Hope and teaching assistant Tess Harris. Don’t be fooled by the bumbling nature – Paddy can be a naughty boy when he wants to!
Paddy’s most enduring relationship is his bromance with best mate, Marlon Dingle. The pair’s silly antics have given viewers a lot of laughs over the years.
There have been incredibly sad times too. Paddy’s world was shattered by the loss of his daughter, Grace, who passed away moments after she was born. He also endured a battle with depression after his marriage split from Chas and contemplated ending his life.
Supported by his loved ones, Paddy found a way through, and his future is looking bright once more.
Charity Dingle is a classic Emmerdale icon (Credit: ITV)
Charity Dingle
Landlady Charity has been at the centre of the action in Emmerdale since 2000, except when she took a break from the village between 2005-2009.
Feisty and fearless, Charity’s life story is one hell of a read!
As a young teen she spent time on the streets working as a prostitute. During that dark period Charity was groomed and abused by corrupt cop DI Bails, which resulted in her falling pregnant at 14.
Charity’s second child, Debbie, was the product of a fling with her cousin, Cain. Charity and Cain’s on/off love affair has been central to the soap and provided one of its most popular partnerships. They’re also famed for their illegal scams. Charity is a mistress of disguise and loves a wig!
Charity has had four husbands. Her first marriage to Chris Tate ended with him committing suicide and framing her for murder. Husband number two, Declan Macey tried to have her killed, and her third marriage to Jai Sharma also turned sour. Vanessa Woodfield almost became Charity’s fourth spouse, but she then fell for Mackenzie Boyd.
Charity and Mack have weathered a few storms – including him fathering a baby behind her back, and her stabbing him, but they remain together.
These days, Charity is landlady of The Woolpack, which she co-owns with son, Ryan Stocks. She’s also mum to Noah and Moses, as well as grandmother to Sarah and Jack Sugden.
Sometimes Aaron is moody, other times he’s only a little bit moody (Credit: ITV)
Aaron Dingle
Aaron is one of the most complex and compelling characters Emmerdale has ever had.
He’s the son of Chas Dingle and Gordon Livesey. Chas gave birth to Aaron when she was only 14 and placed him into care. He had a difficult upbringing and suffered abuse at the hands of his father.
Aaron came to live in the village permanently in 2008 and was a troublemaker from the word go.
Early on, Aaron realised he fancied boys. After coming out to his family, Aaron fell for builder Jackson Walsh. But tragedy struck when Jackson was paralysed in a horrific accident, and Aaron helped him die.
By some miracle, Aaron and Robert got married. They split for good after Robert was jailed for murder.
Aaron moved on with Ben Tucker, but he was bumped off by serial killer Meena Julta. Shortly afterwards, Aaron left the village for a new life abroad.
He made a brief return the following year, but tragedy struck again he lost his half-sister Liv Flaherty in Emmerdale’s 50th anniversary storm.
Aaron’s now back in the Dales for good. His time now is mainly spent masterminding illegal activities with partner-in-crime/best mate Mackenzie Boyd. And there’s also a new man on scene in the form of former army medic, John Sugden, who just happens to be Robert’s brother.
Has Aaron met ‘the one’? Only time will tell…
Val Pollard was a true one-off (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Best Emmerdale characters: Val Pollard
Vivacious Val Pollard left us nearly ten years ago, but her memory lives on.
The gobby Geordie was Eric Pollard’s fifth wife, and Diane Sugden’s younger sister. She had to two children, Sharon and Paul. Val’s son Paul was the product of her affair with Diane’s husband, Rodney Blackstock.
Val, or Valerie as Eric often used to call her, was larger than life and had a penchant for causing trouble. Her and Eric were both as bad as each other, aka the perfect match.
The couple married in 2008 and purchased The Grange B&B, which they ran together. They took teen tearaway Amy Wyatt (now Barton) under their wing and ended up adopting her.
Val and Eric’s marriage hit the rocks after she cheated on him on holiday in Portugal and contracted HIV. The couple reconciled, but Val got in trouble with the police for committing fraud.
She planned to fake her own death, but didn’t get that far after becoming one of the victims in the 2015 helicopter crash. Val met a grisly end when she was impaled by a shard of glass. She rose from the dead a few days later and appeared as a ghost to say goodbye to Eric.
An unforgettable character, who’s truly missed.
We miss Andy Sugden (Credit: ITV)
Andy Sugden
Andy wasn’t born into the Sugden brood, but was adopted by his best friend Robert’s parents Jack and Sarah in 2000. Their act of kindness gave Andy hope of a stable future, but life turned out to be anything but.
First Andy accidentally killed Sarah after setting fire to a barn at the family farm, not realising she was inside. Then came the discovery that Robert had been sleeping with his wife, Katie. Andy decided to shoot Robert in revenge, but accidentally pulled the trigger on Jack, nearly killing him.
Andy fathered a daughter, Sarah, with next partner Debbie Dingle. They also went on to have a son, Jack, seven years later.
His second marriage to Jo Stiles saw Andy turn into a violent abuser. And when Jo found the courage to leave him, Andy suffered a complete mental breakdown.
Andy and Katie remarried, but she died weeks later after a confrontation with Robert. Andy then arranged for Ross Barton to shoot Robert (what’s his obsession with guns?) – but his brother survived.
20 years in the village came to a dramatic end for Andy after his vengeful ex Chrissie White framed him for a crime he didn’t commit. Andy went on the run and as far as we know is still running.
Bring him back, please!
Moira has made her mark on the village (Credit: ITV)
Moira Dingle
Feisty farmer Moira is another one of Emmerdale’s power-houses and the woman who finally tamed Cain Dingle.
Moira and Cain are one of soaps’ most adored couples. Their love story started as a steamy affair but has gone the distance. They have survived betrayals on both sides, including Moira’s fling with Cain’s son, Nate. Well, they don’t call her Mucky Moira for nothing!
Moira arrived in the village with her first husband, and childhood sweetheart, John Barton, and their kids Adam, Holly and Hannah (now Matty). Her affair with Cain finished her marriage and Moira was heartbroken when John died in a car crash. Tragedy struck again in 2016 when Holly died of a heroin overdose.
Moira’s other memorable moments include her pushing her sister-in-law and nemesis Emma Barton to her death off a viaduct, and giving birth to baby Isaac without knowing she was pregnant.
The past few months have been particularly brutal for Moira after being diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour. We’re keeping everything crossed she makes it through because we need Moira in our lives.
Best Emmerdale characters: Zak Dingle
Zak was the patriarch of the most iconic family in Emmerdale – the Dingles – for almost 30 years.
A pig farmer by trade and former bare-knuckle boxer, Zak arrived in the village in October, 1994. Zak’s first wife was Nellie Lynch, and they had five kids. Their four sons were Nathan, Sam, Butch and Ben. Zak and Nellie also had a daughter, Tina.
Zak also fathered son Cain during an affair with his brother’s wife, Faith.
After Zak and Nellie divorced, Zak found love again with Lisa Clegg. They welcomed daughter, Belle into their lives on Christmas Day 1998 after Lisa (who didn’t know she was pregnant) gave birth in a pigsty.
Zak had a disastrous third marriage to Joanie Wright, which left fans in uproar over his betrayal of Lisa. But thankfully the Emmerdale writers saw the error of their ways and reunited Zak and Lisa. They remained together until her death in May 2019.
After losing his Lisa, Zak was a bit of a lost soul, although remained fiercely protective of his family.
Actor Steve Halliwell, who played Zak for three decades, passed away in December 2023. Zak was quickly written out and viewers were told he was visiting family in Scotland.
Zak’s family are soon to receive the sad news he’s passed away. The Dingles bring him home and lay Zak to rest in the village.
Seth and Betty were the beating heart of Emmerdale village (Credit: ITV)
Betty Eagleton
Lovely Betty was the heart and soul of the village during her 21 years there.
She had a habit of being nosey and interfering, but Betty always meant well. She was a friend to many.
Betty came to the Dales in 1994 and discovered her former partner, Seth Armstrong was living there. The golden couple rekindled their romance and hosted a 1940s theme night for the villagers.
They remained together until Seth died on an airplane travelling back from Australia. Betty brought his body back to Emmerdale and had him buried in the woods surrounding Home Farm.
Betty remained in the village for several years after Seth’s passing and dealt with the loss of other dear friends, including Alan Turner. She went to live in Australia with new partner Reuben Archibald in 2015.
Sadly actress Paula Tilbrook died in December 2019, but Betty remains alive and well.
Seth Armstrong
We can’t have Betty, without her lovely Seth. He was one of Emmerdale’s all time greats. Seth first appeared on screen in 1978. He was a temporary character to begin with, but was popular with the fans. By 1980, Seth was a full time regular.
After Seth’s wife, Meg, passed away, he went on to rekindle his relationship with former flame, Betty.
He also landed his dream job as a gamekeeper. When Seth wasn’t working at Home Farm he could usually be found supping a pint in the Woolie.
Seth was written out of the show in 2003 and his character was killed off two years later.
We like to think Seth is sitting on a cloud, beer in hand, watching the drama continue in his beloved village.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
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