Actor Steve Halliwell died last December. In the soap, his character Zak has been living in Scotland with Debbie (Charley Webb), who recently revealed the beloved face had become quite poorly.

Because of how concerned Debbie was on the phone, Cain (Jeff Hordley) decided to leave the village and make his way up there to see his dad.

Next week, Cain returns home unexpectedly. This puts Moira (Natalie J Robb) in somewhat of a spin, as she gets told about an available operation slot moments before her husband gets back.

As Cain goes for a shower, Moira takes a call from Debbie. When he returns, Moira breaks the news that Zak has died.

It’s then up to Cain to visit each member of the family to reveal the news of Zak’s passing.

‘It comes as a bit of a bolt from the blue, especially seeing as he’s just come back from Scotland that morning, I think, and Zak’s kind of told him to go and, you know, it’ll be fine’, Jeff Hordley explained.

‘And he’s promised him that he won’t do too much, because his doctor said for him to rest, because he’s not been well. I think that’s why it’s so immediate for Cain, and so shocking – it’s like seeing someone in the morning, isn’t it? And then in the afternoon, they’re gone, and he’s trying to process it.

‘It will have been a huge comfort [that he’s not long seen his dad], especially when it’s a sudden death. But if you’ve seen someone just before, then it can make it easier.’

After Cain, Sam (James Hooton) and Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) spend time reminiscing about their dad, the villagers gather on Main Street to wave Sam and Cain off, poignantly leaving for Scotland to bring Zak home.

‘There’s really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed. But off camera as well – and Steve would have enjoyed this, because Steve always liked to have a giggle behind the camera – whilst we weren’t rolling, we made sure we had some laughs as well.

‘Because when we do get together as a group, we do make sure that it’s fun to film. What I’m trying to say is that the mood wasn’t just downbeat, we were making sure that we were having a laugh, and Steve wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.’

Mandy Dingle actress Lisa Riley said:

‘The best part for us, as the Dingle family, was the way that this went through production. From Laura (Shaw), our producer, who’s known us for years, grown up with us, and then Peter Kerry who has written the script, who was part of the development team of the Dingles all those years ago. Finally, Jeff Naylor, our director, directed Steve Halliwell and Zak’s first ever episode! So you’ve got all that thrown in the mix, it’s so nostalgic! So for us, as a family, it was obviously the biggest blessing and we’re so happy that it all happened in this way.’

‘Also, when you think of Steve Halliwell and the character of Zak, you always think of his love of music. So the team has brilliantly incorporated his music into this episode. Zak’s love of music and the nostalgia are all there for the viewers to see.’

Lucy Pargeter aka Chas Dingle:

‘Working with Steve was like the fun of being in nursery every single day. I can’t remember any day that was serious or any day that he ever flew off the handle or was angry about anything. It never felt like a work day with Steve, it was just like having your head teacher in your classroom and they just say ‘let’s all have fun!”’

Sam Dingle star James Hooton:

‘I have so many brilliant memories of Zak. I used to like the really silly, unbelievable stuff that we did back in the 90s. One memory is of a crying Elvis doll that the Dingles tried to convince people was like a crying Mary Magdalene sort of thing. It was a doll that they’d stolen from a second-hand clothes shop and they were using it to make money.

‘Another hilarious story that springs to mind is when they tried to send Butch into orbit, the most unbelievable storyline at that time but we always tried to do it with pathos and believability. It used to make us laugh so much that sometimes it became difficult to get through a scene.’

Belle Dingle star Eden Taylor-Draper reflects:

‘Steve, to me, was the funniest man ever! He was a really weird combination of a father figure, best friend, a standup comedian and a counsellor. He was everything. It really feels like he lives on because all of us have traits of his; our sense of humour or things we bond over, so everyday when we are together, it feels like Steve is still part of the conversation or moment.’

Jeff added: ‘Sam and Cain go up to Scotland to bring Zak home, and the funeral takes place very soon after. The funeral has got Dingles written all over it. That’s all I can tell you, really. If you could say shotgun wedding or shotgun funeral, you’d kind of get a picture of what it’s like…

‘There’s really poignant moments in it. And whilst we were filming, we were all focused and giving the script everything it needed. But off camera as well – and Steve would have enjoyed this, because Steve always liked to have a giggle behind the camera – whilst we weren’t rolling, we made sure we had some laughs as well.

‘Because when we do get together as a group, we do make sure that it’s fun to film. What I’m trying to say is that the mood wasn’t just downbeat, we were making sure that we were having a laugh, and Steve wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.’