Emmerdale spoilers follow from Wednesday's episode (October 16), which is available to watch now on streaming service ITVX but hasn't yet aired on ITV1.
Emmerdale has updated fans on Debbie Dingle as her family's emotional week of episodes continues.
The Dingles are taking centre stage in tear-jerking scenes this week as they mourn the loss of their beloved patriarch Zak.
Debbie has been mentioned throughout the storyline, as Zak was living with her in Scotland before he passed away.
Although she didn't appear on screen, it was Debbie who contacted the family to break the news that Zak had died.
Related: 7 huge Emmerdale spoilers for next week
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While some fans had wondered whether Debbie would subsequently make a shock return for Zak's funeral, this appeared to be ruled out in Wednesday's episode as Moira Dingle delivered some news.
Moira had been talking to her husband Cain over the phone, following his decision to travel to Scotland to bring Zak's body back to the village.
During the chat, Cain shared Debbie's intention to stay away from Zak's emotional send-off.
Moira told her son Matty: "She's told Cain that she can't face it. She got so close to Zak while he was living there, she wants to remember him in her own way.
"It's hit her hard. Only now, Cain's got to sort everything out, like he's not got enough on his plate."
Related: Emmerdale's Kim Tate breaks down over Zak's death in emotional scene
Debbie bowed out as an Emmerdale regular in 2019, but later returned for a guest stint which ran between late 2020 and early 2021.
Thursday's hour-long Emmerdale episode will see the Dingles gather for Zak's funeral, with a long-lost relative turning up to surprise everyone on the day.
The storyline has been written in as a tribute to Emmerdale legend Steve Halliwell, who passed away last December at the age of 77. He'd played Zak since 1994.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
