Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley leaves fans in ‘bits’ with emotional Soap Awards reaction

Emmerdale fans were left deeply moved on Thursday night (June 5) as long-time cast member Jeff Hordley struggled to hold back tears during a powerful tribute at the British Soap Awards. The star-studded ceremony took place at London’s Hackney Empire on Saturday (May 31), and aired five days later, with fans eagerly tuning in to witness the highs and lows of the evening.

One of the night’s most poignant moments came during the In Memoriam segment, as the ceremony honoured soap icons who have sadly passed away. Among the stars who were remembered were Meg Johnson, Kenneth Cope, Anita Carey, and finally Emmerdale legend Steve Halliwell, who played Zak Dingle.

Steve, who died in December 2023 at the age of 77, starred as the much-loved patriarch of the Dingle family for nearly three decades.

After first appearing in the ITV soap in 1994, he went on to be featured in more than 2,400 episodes of Emmerdale. His tribute featured a moving montage of his work, which was accompanied by a live piano instrumental.

As Halliwell’s final clip played, cameras panned to Jeff Hordley, who plays Zak’s son Cain Dingle. The Oldham-born actor was visibly emotional and looked as if he was struggling not to cry, which prompted a heartfelt reaction from fans on social media.

One viewer wrote: “Aww, you could see at the end there seeing Steve affected Jeff.” Another affected fan added: “Broke me that Steve Halliwell with Jeff Hordley.”

The Zak Dingle star died in December 2023(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Steve Halliwell died peacefully with people who loved him by his side, according to a statement released by his family in 2023.

They said: “He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for.”

ITV also released a touching tribute at the time, saying: “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.”

Outside of Emmerdale, Halliwell had acting credits in Coronation Street, Heartbeat, All Creatures Great and Small, and Cracker. However, it was Zak Dingle that he is primarily remembered for.

He previously opened up about his family’s financial hardships during his childhood, admitting that his mum couldn’t even afford to buy him a bacon sandwich.

Steve shared: “When I first went on this walk there was a small café in the woods known as Nab’s Wife (a corruption of the area originally known as Nab’s Wharfe), where you could get a refreshing cup of tea and a Mars bar. You could also get a bacon butty, but we never had enough money for such ‘luxuries’. On one occasion I persuaded mum to give Clive and me enough money for a bacon butty each, but when we got to the café it was all boarded up and, sadly, never reopened.”

He was homeless and even imprisoned for “wandering” under the Vagrancy Act early on in his adult life before he went on to find solace in acting and made a name for himself as the formidable head of the Dingle family.