Emmerdale Zak Dingle’s letter to Lydia ‘exposed’ in love child twist – but fans feel uneasy

Emmerdale fans have been left feeling uneasy after ‘rumbling’ the reason Zak Dingle gave Lydia a letter, following his death

Emmerdale viewers have been gripped by a creeping sense of unease, as they’ve ‘sussed out’ the chilling reason behind Zak Dingle slipping Lydia a letter before his tragic demise.

In a poignant storyline shaking the Dales this week, Emmerdale’s venerable Zak Dingle (played by Steve Halliwell) met with an untimely off-screen exit. In reality, actor Steve Halliwell departed our world last December at the age of 77.

Following Steve’s real-life passing, the soap’s scriptwriters have crafted an exit narrative for the character. The sorrowful tidings of Zak’s death were relayed this week, plunging the Dingle family into depths of despair.

Zak had settled in Scotland; hence, Cain (portrayed by Jeff Hordley) and Sam (acted by James Hooton) undertook the sombre journey to retrieve his body, ushering him back to the homestead. After, the entire Dingle household gathered at Wishing Well cottage to mourn the profound loss together.

Amidst the overwhelming grief, Cain disclosed that Zak left a letter expressly for Lydia (Karen Blick), his daughter-in-law. While Lydia withheld from opening it then and there, her discretion sparked puzzlement not only in Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper), Zak’s biological daughter, but also echoed among the fans, reports Leeds Live.

Viewers are now taken aback by a potential bombshell plot twist. With rumours swirling about Zak having another child secretively, fans are starting to wonder if that child could indeed be Lydia, intriguingly the recipient of Zak’s letter.

Lydia first stepped foot in the series in 2016, going on to marry Sam, Zak’s offspring, come 2020 thus becoming an indisputable Dingle. Visitors to an Emmerdale fan group on Facebook voiced their bewilderment, with one user articulating: “I don’t understand why Lydia got a letter but Belle didn’t?” Someone chimed in with a pithy remark: “Love child maybe.”

Another added, not quite pleased, “I really hope not,” coupled with a sequence of queasy emojis. A different viewer speculated: “A love child that’s already in the program comes to light and Belle is shocked.”

It’s time to say goodbye as Zak’s farewell scenes are set to land on screens this week. Cain star Jeff Hordley dropped by ITV’s Lorraine on Wednesday (October 16) to spill the beans on what devotees can gear up for.

“It was poignant and really well written. A tribute to a dear friend Steve. We did have some laughs as well. He liked to joke on set, so as much as it was poignant when the cameras were rolling, we were telling stories of Steve throughout the week we shot it,” he dished out.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm