ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
Emmerdale viewers were left stunned as the identity of the returning Dingle family member was finally unveiled, and she looks entirely different.
This week in the Dales, soap icon Zak Dingle, played by Steve Halliwell, passed away off-screen following the real-life death of actor Steve in December last year at the age of 77.
In response to Steve's passing, the soap's creators have incorporated a death storyline. The Dingle family was left devastated when Zak's death was confirmed this week.
A poignant montage saw classical music playing as Cain (Jeff Hordley) informed Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Sam (James Hooton) that their father had died earlier that morning at his home in Scotland.
As Zak resided in Scotland, Cain and Sam journeyed there to retrieve his body and bring him back to the village. Zak's funeral took place during Thursday's episode (October 17).
READ MORE: Emmerdale's Ruby makes life-changing decision as death mystery exposed
Zak's funeral took place this week (Image: ITV)However, the plot took a dramatic twist when a long-lost relative appeared at the graveside, leaving the Dingle family in shock.
The identity of the returning Dingle was kept under wraps from fans until the latest episode, where it was revealed to be Tina Dingle, Zak's daughter, reports Leeds Live.
Following a memorial at the Woolpack, the Dingles brought Zak's coffin back to Dingle land for burial, as per his wishes. However, the burial was interrupted by the arrival of Sam, Cain and Belle's sister, Tina.
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Tina's character has undergone a significant transformation since she was last seen by viewers in 1996. Jacqueline Pirie is no longer portraying Tina; Samantha Power has stepped into the role.
Audiences didn't hold back their reactions to Tina's dramatic comeback. On X, previously known as Twitter, a fan exclaimed: "Just watched Zak's funeral episode. The big return was brilliant - one I didn't see coming. A proper traditional Dingle funeral. Happy 30th Anniversary to the Dingle."
Another viewer expressed their surprise: "Couldn't believe who it was when I saw them. They've been in another drama before which I also loved."
window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241015.min.js"The character has been recast (Image: ITV)And a third commented: "Seen it wow wasn't expecting that return at all it's a good one though."
On Reddit, another fan shared their excitement: "As for THE return, I'm really, really happy about it. It's long overdue. There's so much potential to mine there. I do kind of wish it was the OG, but you can't have everything I guess."
Samantha Power, the new face of Tina, has an impressive acting resume with roles in Brassic and BBC's Doctors. She's also graced the screen in Channel 5's Cold Call, led by Sally Lindsay, and made appearances in Coronation Street and Holby City.
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
ITV Emmerdale Dingle return revealed - but fans left saying 'you can't have everything'
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