Emmerdale fans were left emotional on Thursday night, 5 June, as long-time cast member Jeff Hordley was seen struggling to hold back tears after the In Memoriam segment at the British Soap Awards. The star-studded ceremony took place at London’s Hackney Empire on Saturday, 31 May and aired five days later.
The ceremony honoured soap icons who have sadly passed away during the In Memoriam segment of the evening, which was accompanied by a live piano instrumental. Among the stars who were remembered were Meg Johnson, Kenneth Cope, Anita Carey, and finally Emmerdale legend Steve Halliwell, who played Zak Dingle.
Steve, who passed away in December 2023 at 77, won the hearts of millions as the headstrong Dingle patriarch over nearly 30 years. Debuting on Emmerdale in 1994, he graced our telly screens in over 2,400 episodes.
As the final frame of the tribute featuring Halliwell faded out, the cameras turned to Jeff Hordley, who plays Zak’s son Cain Dingle. Jeff couldn’t hide his raw emotion, holding back tears, which sparked an outpouring of love from viewers at home.
One viewer wrote: “Aww, you could see at the end there seeing Steve affected Jeff”, while another said: “Broke me that Steve Halliwell with Jeff Hordley”, reports the Mirror.
Another person commented: “Awww Jeff was getting emotional watching Steve Halliwell clip. #Emmerdale #britishsoapawards.”
In a statement released in 2023, Steve Halliwell’s family announced that he had passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
The family said: “He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him. We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn’t want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived.”
ITV also paid a heartfelt tribute, stating: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that Steve Halliwell, our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away. All our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones through this very difficult time, and we’d request that their privacy is respected as they grieve for his loss.
“Steve will forever be synonymous with Emmerdale. The proud defender and head of the Dingle family. Heart and humour in all he did, it has been and always will be impossible not to smile when you think of him.”
Beyond his iconic role as Zak Dingle in Emmerdale, Halliwell appeared in various other shows, including Coronation Street, Heartbeat, All Creatures Great and Small, and Cracker.