There’s joy ahead for Mandy Dingle as she prepares to marry her Prince Charming, Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt). But just across the village, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) is desperate to escape her marriage and the clutches of her abusive husband, Tom King (James Chase).
Actress Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, can’t believe the difference between the relationships and tells us just how proud she is of her co-star. “We’ve just had Belle and Tom’s wedding, which is very different from Paddy and Mandy’s,” says Lisa. “As a show, it’s incredible that we’ve taken a wedding with Belle and Tom that should be glorious but as it’s played out since then, it’s been horrific, and it’s only getting worse. “I’m the proudest aunt to Eden, I get emotional about it,” continues Lisa.
Lisa adds, “I remember when we filmed the dinner party episode, I spoke with Eden, and those days were hard for her. After day two of filming the dinner party, we went back to the dressing room and I gave her a hug and said ‘do you have any idea how proud I am of you?’ She’s just incredible, I love her. “Eden deals with it brilliantly too, and it’s hard, long days playing that emotion.
We’re all messing around on set and she has to stay quiet in the corner. I want her to win everything, and I will be her biggest cheerleader.” The Dingles have been a focus of lots of topical storylines, from Marlon Dingle’s (Mark Charnock) stroke to Lydia Dingle’s (Karen Blick) sexual abuse, and Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) being diagnosed with breast cancer. “The proudest part of being in Emmerdale for me is when we nail a storyline that hopefully helps people and awareness.
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