ITV Emmerdale fans 'work out' Zak Dingle's secret love child - and it's not Lydia

Lydia and Sam Dingle
-Credit: (Image: ITV)


Emmerdale fans seem to think that the late Zak Dingle (played by Steve Halliwell) had a secret love child - and that she's already in the village.

In emotional scenes on Friday night, Cain Dingle (played by Jeff Horley) finally opened up to his siblings Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Sam (James Hooton).

The trio stayed up all night as they spoke about their fondest memories of their father and how Cain is now the "head of the family."

However, the day before, the Dingles gathered together to bid a proper farewell to Zak at his funeral. The matriarch had a set of requests about his send-off and that he wanted to be buried at home.

Zak also wanted to be driven through the village one last time before he was laid to rest surrounded by his loved ones.

However, much to the Dingle's horror, an unwelcome face gatecrashed the funeral and demanded that she was Zak's daughter too and wanted a share of the house.

Tina Dingle (Samantha Power) showed up with all guns blazing and told her family she was going to take everything.

Zak Dingle in Emmerdale
Zak Dingle in Emmerdale -Credit:ITV

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During this moment, Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) stepped in and explained Zak did have a will, and she was in possession of it.

She shouted at Tina: "Slag off my Sam again, and you'll wish you'd never been born, and as for the house, Zak did make a will, and he had me look after it.

"That letter that Cain gave me in the house, so he has left the place to Sam, Belle, and Cain."

However, following the episode, fans question why Lydia would have a letter from Zak. And while some think she could be the Dingle stalwart's love child, others have shared their own wild theories about it.

Tina Dingle gatecrashed Zak's funeral
Tina Dingle gatecrashed Zak's funeral -Credit:ITV

One fan, taking to a Facebook fan page, suggested Ruby Milligan (Beth Cordingly) could be Zak's secret daughter. After all, fans know nothing about Ruby's history or who her father could be.

They wrote: "I think Ruby is Zak's love child, that's why Ruby's mum didn't want her with Caleb."

Another shared: "I think it's Caleb's wife who is the secret daughter hence why her mum wanted to see and talk with her before she passed."

Ruby Milligan-Fox in Emmerdale
Ruby Milligan-Fox in Emmerdale -Credit:ITV

A third added: "A love child that's already in the program comes to light, and Belle is shocked."

"Yes, that would totally make sense," someone else penned.

More recently, Ruby discovered her mother had died and that her own husband Caleb Millian (Will Ash) had blackmailed her for £100k the day before.

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV.