Emmerdale boss Sophie Roper has given insight into “explosive” storylines happening on the ITV soap this summer

, including a tribute to the legendary Zak Dingle, a new Sugden joining the village and a “fun” wedding.

The ITV producer recently replaced Kate Brooks as she began to work alongside Laura Shaw.

Speaking at a press day on Monday, the soap boss told Express.co.uk she has been involved in the soap for eight years now and has “lived and breathed” the show. Sophie said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to produce and see the vision of ideas from the very start, all the way through. It’s a really exciting opportunity for me.”

She added: “We’ve got some brilliant storylines hitting at the moment. Lots of drama in the Dales that you’re already watching on screen and we are continuing to see as we go through the summer and into the New Year. We are very much keeping Emmerdale on top form.

“We have lots happening. Lots of brilliant and different stories with different tones and genres of stories. Lots to keep our viewers interested for the next few months.”

Emmerdale will remember Zak Dingle (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale legend Steve Halliwell passed away in December, however his character Zak Dingle has not yet departed from the soap. While he has not appeared on screen since June last year, Zak, the character has been mentioned several times.

Addressing Zak’s departure from the ITV soap, Sophie said: “The Dingles have been at the heart of our show for 30 years now and will continue to be so. As many of you will know, we lost Steve recently. [Who played Zak Dingle.]

“We’re going to be marking the iconic Zak Dingle character and his passing in the coming months. It will be very difficult for a lot of people who worked with him on the show and obviously for a lot of our viewers who have grown to love Zak. It will be a fitting tribute to such an iconic character.”

Mandy and Paddy are set for a big day (Image: ITV)

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Sophie teased: “Elsewhere in the Dingle world, we have Mandy and Paddy building towards a wedding. It is Mandy and Paddy so that’s going to be filled with fun. We’ve had Mandy’s dress made in house by one of our dress makers. It’s going to be very Mandy, it’s going to be very big and very fun.”

Oliver will join as John Sugden (Image: ITV)

Sophie explained: “We’ve got some returning and new faces coming into the show over the next few months.”

She added: “I’m pleased to confirm we will have Oliver Farnworth joining us in casting. He’s coming into the show as a new Sugden.

The Sugdens, just like the Dingles, are an iconic family group in Emmerdale and we’re keen to cement them back into the show. Oliver is a brilliant new addition. He’s incredibly talented and we’re really looking forward to welcoming him.

“He’s going to bring lots of drama to the Dales, which I’m going to keep quite tight-lipped about for now.”

Speaking at an Emmerdale press day, explaining the relationship between John and Victoria, Oliver told Express.co.uk: “There was a dalliance with Jack Sugden and then John was obviously the result of that. This is the first time we’re meeting him. He’s never been spoken of and Victoria (played by Isabel Hodgins) had no idea she has a half-brother.”

John is brought into the soap as Barbara has died and he attends her funeral but when his van breaks down he finds himself stuck in the village. Oliver said that the character was described as “enigmatic”, adding: “There’s a lot to him and a lot of stuff in the initial character breakdown that wasn’t necessarily revealed because obviously we can’t give too much away too quickly.