EMMERDALE fans have been left in tears and unable to stop crying after the death of a soap legend today.
The ITV soap said goodbye to Dingle patriarch Zak Dingle in today’s episode with news reaching the village from Scotland.
Cain Dingle had to tell the family about Zak’s tragic death in Emmerdale tonight[/caption]
Chas was left utterly devastated by the loss of her uncle[/caption]
Even ice queen Kim Tate was left in tears at the news[/caption]
Viewers watched last night as Moira received an upsetting phone call from Debbie and was forced to tell Cain that Zak had died.
“Debbie phoned,” she said adding: “I’m so sorry darling but it’s Zak, he’s died.”
And tonight Cain was bereft by his dad’s death – having only seen him that morning before travelling back home.
“I saw him this morning and he promised he’d take it easy,” Cain said.
Moira told him: “He told Debbie it was the best morning ever and then he nodded off in his chair with a big grin on his face and when she went to wake him she couldn’t.”
A devastated Cain realised he had to tell the rest of the family and he wanted to do it face to face.
He went to find Belle and Sam to tell them the news and found them setting snares in memory fo Zak, with Belle revealing her plans to tell her dad what has been happening to her.
An emotional montage then played with Cain visiting the other members of the family and breaking the news to them.
His granddaughter Sarah broke down in tears at the news, while Chas struggled to hold it together in the pub.
She was comforted by Liam but sent him away as he tried to comfort her.
And at Home Farm, even Kim Tate broke down in tears as she heard the news from Lydia, having spent years clashing with Zak.
The family all supported each other while Cain and Sam went to make the drive to Scotland to bring Zak’s body back for burial.
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
“Bring him home safely,” said Belle before the brothers drove off.
But fans were in tears with one saying: “Watching tonight’s @emmerdale oh my god so emotional I can’t stop crying. I didn’t know this was coming.. @ITVX #emmerdale”
