Case Study: Yorkshire Funeral Streaming for Emmerdale Actor Steve Halliwell

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Written By Shaun Foulds

Background

In 2024, I had the privilege of providing funeral live streaming for the funeral of Steve Halliwell, beloved actor best known for his role as Zak Dingle in Emmerdale. Steve’s career on the long-running soap spanned from 1994 to 2023, and his impact on television, his colleagues, and his fans was profound.

Held in Yorkshire, the funeral was attended by close family, friends, and colleagues from the entertainment world. The family’s wish was to ensure that those unable to attend in person could still take part in the farewell. They asked for a professional live stream so relatives, friends, and fans across the world could join the service in real time.

Challenge

High-profile funerals like Steve’s bring their own unique challenges:

  • Large global audience: Hundreds of people were expected to join live from multiple countries. The stream needed to be stable and flawless.

  • High-profile presence: Colleagues from Emmerdale and members of the press meant that discretion and professionalism were vital.

  • Cultural detail: The family requested specific tributes, including music that reflected Steve’s career. These moments had to be captured clearly for online viewers.

  • Balance of intimacy and scale: The service combined private family grief with public tributes, so my filming approach needed to honour both.

Approach

Multi-camera setup

For this service, I set up two cameras inside the chapel and one outside:

  • Wide-angle camera to capture the chapel, congregation, and overall atmosphere.

  • Close camera for tributes, readings, and key family moments.

This allowed me to switch seamlessly between perspectives, giving online viewers a complete sense of the day.

Audio

I placed microphones on the minister, at the lectern, near the brass band, and within the chapel for ambient sound. This ensured clear coverage of readings, tributes, and music — including the special performance of the Emmerdale theme tune as Steve’s coffin was carried in.

Connectivity

To guarantee stability, I used four bonded 4G/5G internet connections, ensuring hundreds of global viewers could join without interruption.

The Service

The service was both deeply moving and celebratory, reflecting Steve’s life as an actor, colleague, and family man.

  • Arrival: The coffin was carried into the chapel to the sound of a brass band performing the Emmerdale theme music — a poignant tribute that immediately connected those present to Steve’s legacy on screen.

  • Tributes: Friends, family, and colleagues shared personal stories. Fellow Emmerdale actors remembered the warmth, humour, and professionalism that Steve brought to the set for nearly 30 years.

  • Family reflections: Steve’s children and grandchildren paid their own tributes, remembering him as “the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for.”

  • Readings and prayers: Scripture and poems added spiritual depth, while music provided an uplifting element to the farewell.

The Finale

The service concluded with prayers and a blessing before the coffin was carried out. The cameras captured both the solemnity of the moment and the collective respect of those in attendance.

For the online audience, the transitions between cameras provided a seamless, respectful view of the farewell. The combination of personal tributes, music, and atmosphere allowed viewers worldwide to feel present and connected.

Outcome

The family received:

  • A full HD recording of the entire service.

  • A private live stream link available for 12 months.

  • A downloadable copy for permanent keeping.

The live stream was watched by hundreds of viewers across the UK, Europe, North America, and beyond. For many, it was their only opportunity to say goodbye to someone who had been a fixture in their lives for decades.

The feedback from the family and viewers highlighted how much comfort it brought them to know that Steve’s farewell had been shared so widely. The inclusion of the Emmerdale theme, alongside heartfelt personal tributes, made it a truly unique and fitting goodbye.

FAQs About Streaming High-Profile Funerals in Yorkshire

  • Yes. We have extensive experience streaming funerals where public figures, celebrities, or community leaders are involved. We balance the need for coverage with discretion.

  • By using bonded internet connections, we ensure stability for hundreds of viewers worldwide. Whether people are watching from Yorkshire or overseas, the stream is clear and uninterrupted.

  • We use multiple cameras to balance intimacy and scale — focusing on personal tributes while also showing the larger atmosphere.

  • Yes. We place microphones at key points, ensuring performances — such as the brass band playing the Emmerdale theme — are heard with clarity.

  • Yes. We regularly provide funeral streaming in Yorkshire and throughout the UK.

Why Choose Us for Funeral Streaming in Yorkshire

This funeral for Steve Halliwell showed how live streaming can unite families, friends, and fans worldwide. With over 2,500 funerals’ worth of experience, we specialise in handling both intimate and large-scale services, capturing every detail with respect and care.

➡️ Learn more about our services:

Contact us on 07772 509101

Shaun Foulds

I’m a Videographer and Photographer travelling the UK Streaming Funerals and Photographing Weddings. I huge contrast between the two but as a storyteller I’m passionate about capturing all the moments life throws at us. 

https://www.ukfuneralvideoservices.com
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