ITV Emmerdale Tina Dingle actress Jacqueline Pirie now nearly 30 years after quitting soap

Emmerdale is preparing to say goodbye to Zak Dingle (played by Steve Halliwell) this week after the character's death was confirmed in a heart-wrenching scene on Monday (October 14).

The devastating news left his son Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) with the difficult task of informing his siblings and other family members about their father's passing. A poignant montage accompanied by classical music showed Cain breaking the news to Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Sam (James Hooton) that their father had died at his home in Scotland earlier that day.

The Dingles are now organising a funeral in the Dales to bid farewell to their patriarch. However, there is another Dingle who has yet to learn about her father's death - Tina.

Jacqueline Pirie, now known as Chadwick, played the role of Tina Dingle on the popular ITV soap from 1994 to 1996, and fans still remember her cunning character fondly.

Tina is the daughter of Zak and his wife Nellie Dingle (Sandra Gough) and she first appeared in the village in December 1994, reports Leeds Live.

Known for being brash, intelligent, and scheming, Tina considered herself an outsider among the Dingles. But, when she secured a job at Home Farm working for Frank Tate (Norman Bowler), she attempted to adopt a more glamorous lifestyle.

Her most memorable storyline occurred in 1995 when she planned to wed Luke McAllister (Noah Huntley) after claiming that she was pregnant with his child.

However, the plot took a tragic turn when Luke discovered their relationship and pregnancy was a sham, part of a twisted revenge scheme, and he was killed in a van crash. Tina left the village in 1996.

Two years on, Jacqueline returned to our screens, making her debut in Coronation Street. For five years, she portrayed Linda Sykes, becoming a Weatherfield favourite.

The factory worker character is best remembered for her passionate affair with Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) before she exited the soap in 2001.

So where is Jacqueline now?

Born in Scotland, Jacqueline, 50, moved to Birmingham as a young girl and later shot to fame on the ITV soap as Tina Dingle.

These days, however, she has traded the spotlight for a quieter life as an author. The mother-of-two is married to Simon Chadwick and they live in Canada with their family.

Now based in Vancouver, the former soap star goes by the name Jacqueline Chadwick and has made a name for herself writing successful crime novels. She has penned three thriller books: In The Still, Briefly Maiden, and Silent Sisters.

All the books revolve around her ex-pat character Ali Dalglish, a former forensic psychologist turned housewife who finds herself tangled up in murder cases.

Jacqueline has also ventured into business, establishing successful drama schools including the Jacqueline Chadwick Academy of Performing Arts.