Entertainment

Mandy Dingle returns to Emmerdale after 18 years

The character left the village in 2001.
The character left the village in 2001. The character left the village in 2001.

Emmerdale viewers could barely contain their excitement as Mandy Dingle returned to the village after 18 years.

The barmaid, who as last seen in Emmerdale in 2001, popped up on the ITV soap on Monday.

And her comeback promises to bring drama, as it turns out Mandy (Lisa Riley) has a son whose dad could well be Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), who has moved on with Chas (Lucy Pargeter).

Fans were thrilled to see the character return.

“Absolutely LOVE having Mandy back x #Emmerdale,” said fellow soap star Sally Ann Matthews.

“Lisa is absolutely stealing this scene! Feels like she never left,” said another.

“Mandy Dingle is back, and there has already been hair pulling in the street. YAS,” said one.

Another posted: “I love seeing Mandy Dingle back on screen its like she hasn’t even been away.”

Riley played Mandy in Emmerdale from 1995 until 2001 and has also appeared in Fat Friends, Waterloo Road and Three Girls.

She is also regularly seen as a panellist on Loose Women, and has also recently shed 12 stone in weight.

Emmerdale continues on ITV.