Emmerdale unveiled a dramatic twist on Thursday night with the return of Dingle family member Tina Dingle.
The Dingle clan was dealt a devastating blow on Tuesday evening when they learned of the passing of their patriarch, Zak Dingle.
Steve Halliwell, who portrayed Zak, tragically passed away last December at 77. Since 1994, the actor had been bringing the beloved character Zak to life, quickly becoming a favourite among viewers.
In the wake of Steve's passing, Emmerdale has woven an emotional death storyline for the much-admired actor's character, culminating in an emotional funeral aired on Thursday's episode.
However, during the private family gathering, Zak's daughter and long-lost relative Tina, played by Samantha Power, made a surprise appearance at the funeral, stunning the family, reports Leeds Live.
Tina initially graced Emmerdale in 1994 but departed two years later in 1996. Jacqueline Pirie originally played the character, but actress Samantha has now taken over the role.
Television fans will recognise actress Samantha from her numerous roles over the years. Samantha has featured in Little Britain, Brassic, and even rival soap Coronation Street.
From 2004 to 2006, the actress portrayed Jane in Little Britain. Additionally, Samantha played Emma Baxter in Corrie in 1995 before joining the soap in 2015 as Talisa Grady.
Samantha graced our screens as Simone Booth in Ackley Bridge from 2017 to 2021. She's more recently been captivating audiences as Donna in the acclaimed Sky comedy series Brassic, a role she took on in 2023.
She also shared her connections with several Emmerdale cast members, saying: "I was lucky that I had worked with some of the cast and crew before! I worked with Zoe Henry (Rhona) at the West Yorkshire Playhouse (now Leeds Playhouse), and I worked with Jeff Hordley (Cain) and Will Ash (Caleb) at Bolton Octagon!
"I worked with Ruth on Sound on Brassic Series 6 and Warren and Si on props on Ackley Bridge and Clare Makeup designer on a BBC Sitcom years ago, so it was lovely to have lots of familiar faces around when I started."
Emmerdale continues on weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV and ITV X, with hour-long episodes on Thursdays.
