ITV Emmerdale's Jeff Hordley lets slip identity of returning Dingle at Zak's funeral

Emmerdale's Jeff Hordley has hinted at who the mystery returning Dingle might be for Zak's poignant farewell.

Tragically, Steve Halliwell, who portrayed the iconic character Zak since 1994, died in December last year at age 77, becoming a beloved figure among fans of the show. The soap has decided to honour the character with an on-screen death, confirmed earlier this week, leaving the Dingle family devastated.

Given Zak's residence in Scotland, characters Cain and Sam, played by actor James Hooton, are set to travel there to retrieve his remains and return him to the village. The sombre occasion of Zak's funeral is bound to take place imminently this week.

Nevertheless, the service will see unexpected drama unfold as a long-lost Dingle makes a surprise appearance, sending ripples through the clan. Cast members have sneakily alluded to the potential arrival ahead of time in various teasers, reports Leeds Live.

In light of the anticipated revelation, Jeff has shared some insights into the awaited return. Joining Lorraine on her show on Wednesday (October 15), Jeff discusses the upcoming scene.

With intrigue, Lorraine comments: "We shall say, there's someone that turns up at the funeral, quite unexpectedly, and I think people will be quite surprised by that."

Jeff hints: "I can tell you, that she is a good friend of some of us in the cast. Zoe Henry has worked with her on stage, William Ash and I have done a play with her."

"So it was really great to welcome this character to the show, and she is very very good indeed," revealing a bit about the enigmatic figures connections with the cast.

Lisa Riley, known for her role as Mandy Dingle, hinted at upcoming drama earlier this month. Speaking to The Sun, she revealed: "There is going to be someone coming from the past who will have repercussions for Mandy and Paddy and Vinnie especially moving forward."

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm