Zak Dingle

Infobox Emmerdale character 2


name=Zak Dingle
portrayer=Steve Halliwell
years=1994–
born= 19 January 1952
death=
home=Wishing Well Cottage
occupation=Unemployed
family=Dingle family
father = Jedediah Dingle
mother = Peg Dingle
brothers = Shadrach Dingle
Albert Dingle
Caleb Dingle
Ezra Dingle
Zebediah Dingle
spouse = Nellie Lynch (-1998)
Lisa Clegg (1998–)
sons = Nathan Dingle
Ben Dingle
Butch Dingle
Cain Dingle
Sam Dingle
daughters = Tina Dingle
Belle Dingle
grandfathers = Jonah Dingle
granddaughters = Debbie Dingle
grandson = Samson Dingle
great granddaughters = Sarah Dingle
uncles = Bert Dingle
nephews = Marlon Dingle
Eli Dingle
nieces = Mandy Dingle
Chas Dingle
Lilith Dingle
Delilah Dingle
Genesis Walker
great nephews = Aaron Livesy
Luke Dingle
Matthew Dingle
Mark Dingle
great nieces = Jon Dingle
cousins = Obadiah Dingle
1st cousin once = Charity Tate
2nd cousin = Debbie Dingle
Noah Tate
2nd cousin once = Sarah Dingle
first= 20 October 1994
last=
creator=Mervyn Watson

Zachariah "Zak" Bartholomew Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera "Emmerdale" played by Steve Halliwell.

About Zak

Zak first appeared on the show in 1994 having a fight with Bernard McAllister over his son Luke allegedly causing the death of Ben, Zak's son.

As the head of the troublesome Dingle clan, Zak is no stranger to drama. His first wife Nellie left him and he saw two of his sons, Ben and Butch, die in tragic circumstances.

But Zak soldiers on, ever hopeful that the Dingle family can overcome all obstacles.

In 1996 many of Zak’s prayers were answered when he met Lisa Clegg. The voluptuous pig farmer was instantly smitten with him and, after a few hiccups, the couple finally married in 1998.

That Christmas the couple got an especially welcome Christmas present when Lisa - who had no idea she was pregnant - gave birth to their daughter Belle.

In 2000, Zak and Lisa’s marriage was put to its toughest test yet when his ex-wife Nellie returned to the Village.

With tensions between the trio rising, Lisa moved out. Then tragedy struck when Zak’s son Butch was killed in a bus crash.

Since Lisa had mended the bus before it was declared roadworthy, Zak blamed her for the accident and it looked like the marriage was over for good. But Zak couldn’t let go that easily and an uneasy truce was declared - largely for the sake of Belle. In 2001, Zak has the uneasy task of telling violent Cain that he was his real father. After some violent words, the two men accepted the situation and a bond developed between them.

Zak’s health took a turn for the worse a few months later when he discovered he has testicular cancer. Zak's illness ensured he got all his problems in perspective and his marriage was put firmly back on track.

But any domestic harmony that was to be had was shattered when Zak’s horrible mother Peg came to stay. Zak blames Peg for the death of his father, Jed, believing she murdered him. When the truth is revealed that Zak’s dad deserted them, a truce is declared and, when Peg leaves the village, there’s a better understanding between them. Zak shocked his family when he disappeared to Chile in search of the Dingle fortune.

While he was away, Lisa became close to Eddie Hope and it looked as if Zak may had lost his wife for good. But Lisa still loved the old scoundrel and, on his return, they reconciled.

In 2005, Zak was saddened when his son Sam left Emmerdale to start a new life with his girlfriend Alice Wilson in Norfolk. Losing Sam made Zak more protective of the other members of his family.

When it was revealed that his granddaughter Debbie had been sleeping with Andy Sugden, Zak hit the roof - and Andy! The fling came back to haunt them when Debbie gives birth to baby Sarah Dingle nine months later, having concealed her pregnancy from everyone.

Like the rest of the family, Zak was delighted that baby Sarah is safe and well and welcomed her into the fold. However, Debbie couldn’t cope with being a mum and despite Zak’s best efforts to get through to her, he’s devastated when she gives up the baby into the care of Emily Kirk who subsequently disappeared.

With Debbie gone, Zak was thrown into a new crisis when Sam arrived back in Emmerdale and told him he’s also about to be a father.

Tragedy struck when Sam’s fiancée Alice is diagnosed with cancer and the family rallied round as the couple try to come to terms with the situation.

Under Zak’s guidance, Sam gave Alice all the support she could wish for and the couple were delighted when baby Samson was born.

Their happiness was short lived though, as Alice was told her illness just as she was preparing to marry Sam. The entire family were devastated by the diagnosis but Zak was determined to see Sam through the tough times ahead.

He also had a friendship with Rosemary King, who was devious and manipulative, he took her at face value at first, but left her when she confessed to him that she poisoned Perdita Hyde-Sinclair) and when he found out the real thing.

In the episode aired 29 May 2008 Zak resigned as gamekeeper of Home Farm after Eli broke lots of advertising material for Matthew King's Press Launch, at a cost of £1500.

External links

* [http://www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=3682 Zak Dingle] at itv.com