Emmerdale: Lisa Dingle dies after marrying Zak
It's been over half a decade since Lisa Dingle, played by Jane Cox, graced the Dales. The actress is renowned for her 23-year portrayal of Lisa on Emmerdale before the beloved character exited the show in 2019.
Lisa, as the head of the Dingle family, was known for her kindness and resilience, particularly when confronted with difficult circumstances. She was married to Zak Dingle (played by Steve Halliwell), whose death is currently being depicted on the ITV soap.
Throughout their lengthy marriage, Lisa and Zak faced numerous challenges, but Zak's affair with Joanie Wright (Denise Black) marked the end of their union.
The couple are also parents to Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), whose birth came as a surprise as Lisa was unaware she was pregnant.
However, in 2019, Jane Cox decided it was time to retire Lisa Dingle's character, leaving Emmerdale permanently, reports Leeds Live.
In heart-wrenching scenes, Lisa disclosed to Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) that she had been diagnosed with a terminal heart condition called amyloidosis. After returning from Scotland, she shared the news with the rest of her family.
Despite their past, Lisa and Zak managed to rekindle their love and planned to remarry. However, in a tragic turn of events, Lisa passed away on their wedding day.
Jane, now 71, was 67 when she felt it was the right time to leave the soap, driven by a sense that life had more to offer.
In a candid chat with The Mirror, she expressed: "I know if I hadn't have left now I never would. Life is such an exciting thing, you never know what is around the corner.
"It was a big decision but I know it is the right thing. It is completely life-changing. But I decided I wanted to do different things."
Reflecting on personal events that shaped her outlook, Jane added: "My mum died a couple of years ago, so it does make you think a lot about the big things in life. As you get older life feels shorter although of course I am going to live to 150!"
Having bid farewell to the show in October 2019, Jane has embarked on a new chapter, pursuing reflexology studies, as per Inside Soap.
However, she's not closed the door on acting, saying, "I'm available for acting roles, but at the moment I'm just chilling which is a luxury for me."
Shutting down speculation in a discussion with Digital Spy, Jane clarified her stance on reality TV fame: "I don't consider [myself] to be a celebrity in that way."
The fictional village of Emmerdale will soon pause to remember Lisa Dingle during the episode airing on Thursday (October 17), as they say goodbye to Zak Dingle. The storyline serves as a touching homage to Steve Halliwell who passed away in December 2023.
