Emmerdale's Steve Halliwell reveals to Soaplife how Zak is horrified after he's rushed to hospital and the doctors tell him what's wrong with him... Zak hasn't been himself since he beat Cain to within an inch of his life. He's drinking too much, forgetting things and angrily snapping at his family. When he collapses in The Woolpack, he's rushed to hospital and hopes he'll finally find out what's wrong with him. "He wants the doctor to say it's something physical," says Steve. He doesn't want to be told his problem is a mental illness... Is Zak's problem his guilt over beating Cain? "He nearly killed his own son and he can't forget what he did. It doesn't help that it didn't change anything. Cain hasn't changed and Zak's grip on the family is slipping more and more away from him." Is that why he's drinking so much? "The family think he's odd due to drinking too much, but he was odd before he started drinking. He's numbing the way he feels." He keeps getting confused. Does that scare him? "Yes. Zak keeps getting lost around Home Farm – where he was a gamekeeper-come-poacher for years. He should know it backwards, but he keeps losing his way, losing his memory and forgetting things. He doesn't want to face the possibility he's having a nervous breakdown. He's getting depressed and beginning to think he has a physical illness." How worried is he about the effect he's having on his family? "A big chasm is growing between Zak and the family. He's grumpy and snappy and won't talk to them about his problems because he hasn't faced them himself. In one scene you see him talking to himself and saying, 'I'm losing my mind'." Why can't Zak confide in Lisa? "Pride. Mental illness doesn't run in the Dingle family and he considers it a major weakness. Zak's always thought people with mental problems should just get on with it – and now he finds he can't." What happens when he collapses at The Woolpack? "He's feeling faint and thinks everyone's eyes are on him. Then he collapses. Lisa thinks he's had a heart attack and calls an ambulance. He's then rushed to hospital, where he's wired up to a heart monitor. Zak's frightened he is seriously ill, but it's the result of a panic attack. People can think their heart is giving way when actually it's down to mental rather than physical problems." How does Zak feel when the doctor suggests he's had a panic attack? "Zak can't take it. He tells himself that because the medics have said there's nothing physically wrong, he must be OK. He can't tell anyone he's having panic attacks - that would be weak and too much for his macho pride." Does Zak risk pushing Lisa away by his behaviour? "It's possible. She's a very caring woman, but because he's telling her his lies and not opening up to her, it could make her go the other way."
