Emmerdale fans all ask same question over 'missing' Dingle family member

Emmerdale viewers have been left scratching their heads over the absence of a certain character following the demise of Zak Dingle, portrayed by Steve Halliwell. The village was rocked last week when Moira Dingle, played by Natalie Robb, received the heartbreaking news that Zak had passed away at his home in Scotland.

In reality, actor Steve sadly died in December of the previous year at the age of 77. As a result of Steve's passing, soap chiefs confirmed a final storyline for the iconic character, leaving fans teary-eyed.

Zak's death brought the Dingle's past back to life as Tina, now played by Samantha Power, returned after nearly three decades with two shocking revelations.

In a dramatic confrontation, she claimed her share of her father's estate and revealed to Mandy, played by Lisa Riley, that she is Vinny Dingle's real mother, a role taken on by Bradley Johnson.

Since the funeral, Cain has been grappling with the loss of his father Zak. The mechanic has now assumed the role of the head of the Dingle family and donned his father's signature flat cap on Monday (October 21), symbolising his new position as the family's patriarch.

However, viewers are puzzled as to why Nathan Dingle, Zak's eldest son, did not make an appearance at the funeral. Nathan, the offspring of Zak and Nellie Dingle, played by Sandra Gough, has never been seen on-screen but has been referenced throughout the years, reports .

Emmerdale enthusiasts are abuzz with speculation over the mysterious Nathan Dingle, who was first mentioned by Tina Dingle (Jacqueline Pirie) in the 1990s and later at Butch's (Paul Loughran) funeral. It appears Nathan has severed ties with the Dingles, leaving his current location a mystery.

A curious fan took to Reddit to inquire: "Is Nathan Cain's brother ever gonna turn up in the village?"

Another fan responded: "He was only ever mentioned, not seen, and I think the last time his name was spoken was way back in the nineties. I honestly think he's been erased from existence."

Meanwhile, another chimed in with enthusiasm: "I hope so!! The show could do with a few more Dingles to fill up the village!!"

One viewer clarified family ties: "He's actually Sam and Tina's brother. He's only Cain's half-brother."

A second pondered the potential for drama: "Are they ever gonna cast Nathan Dingle Cain's brother to turn up seeing as he's never been onscreen as well that could be a good storyline to pursue for em and it'd have a lot of potential".

There's even a theory floating around that Nathan may no longer be alive: "It seems he died and writers have definitely forgot he existed."

The question remains: Will the truth about Nathan Dingle ever come to light for Emmerdale fans?

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV and ITVX