Emmerdale have offered a fresh update on the absence of Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) at her grandfather Zak’s funeral.
As viewers know, the villagers are mourning the loss of the Dingle legend this week, which sadly mirrors the real life passing of actor Steve Halliwell last year.
Earlier in the week, Cain (Jeff Hordley) made an early return to the village after visiting dad Zak in Scotland – where the stalwart has been living off-screen with Debbie for some time.
Later, Moira (Natalie J Robb) received an upsetting call from Debbie, who told her that Zak had passed away.
She explained to her husband that, according to Debbie, the patriarch had the ‘best morning ever’ poaching and had nodded off with a smile on his face.
The whole family then gathered at Wishing Well Cottage to share their memories, as Charity (Emma Atkins) was desperately trying to reach her grieving daughter in Scotland.
Tonight’s episode revealed that she was struggling more than anyone else, as she was the one who found his body.
Cain and Sam (James Hooton) had driven back up North to bring their dad home, and Moira explained to son Matty (Ash Palmisciano) that Debbie won’t be attending the funeral because she ‘can’t face it’ – and would prefer to remember him how he was.
She was worried how this would make Cain feel, as he needed supporters to rally around him.
When the brothers returned, they revealed that they’d had to return his casket to Yorkshire in the back of the trusty Dingle van, as Zak wanted to be buried within 48 hours of his death.
Cain also revealed his dad’s instructions for the ceremony, including being laid to rest on Wishing Well farmland with a rowan tree planted at his head – to warn off ex-wife Nellie!
Now that we know Debbie won’t be returning to the village, it’s left us wondering just who the mystery face is that arrives at the graveside in tomorrow’s episode.
Let’s face it, it could be absolutely any of them – they’re a big clan!
