In the aftermath of Chas (Lucy Pargeter) and Paddy (Dominic Brunt)’s split in Emmerdale, Paddy is in a very dark place indeed as he battles feelings of loneliness and despair. But there’s at least one person who will always have his back, and that’s Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley).

Lisa told us that Mandy and Paddy’s deep friendship will always be a huge factor in their lives.

‘Forever,’ she said. ‘Everyone knows that, the audience know it, me and Dom know it as actors, and the audience love it. They’re best friends for life.’

So when Mandy sees her friend suffering she sets out to help. ‘She just wants to make him aware that no matter what the circumstance, however he’s feeling as in low from the split, she’s got two very sturdy shoulders he can cry on if he needs it,’ Lisa told us.

But when the two of them sit down for a heart to heart, old feelings resurface, as Lisa explained.

‘We go to the back room [of the Woolpack] and they’re on cups of tea and they’re talking and reminiscing and Mandy starts reflecting on how Paul treated her,’ she said, referring to Vinny (Bradley Johnson)’s dad Paul Ashdale (Reece Dinsdale), who was a gambler who abused Vinny mentally and physically.

‘And we talk about how sometimes when we love people, i.e. if he still loves Chas and Mandy still loves Paul, do we forgive them? Do we just carry on?’ Lisa said.

‘We can’t help loving them, we love to love a baddie even if they’ve mistreated us. So it starts with this very reflective conversation. He’s saying that Chas has treated him horrendously and Mandy’s saying how Paul treated her horrifically. The point they’re making is you can’t just switch off love.’

And the same is true for Paddy and Mandy, Lisa revealed.

‘You realise Mandy’s looking at him and there’s moments like where there’s a toy stethoscope and she jokes with him that his heart’s still beating so he’s still fully alive. That’s the first time you see them lock eyes and then they brush it away.’

The conversation becomes nostalgic as the former couple talk about their shared history together and Lisa loved playing these scenes.

‘They just start talking about day trips they had in Blackpool. It’s full nostalgia, Paddy/Mandy and it was so amazing for me and Dom to shoot this, we had a ball,’ she told us.

‘And then their song comes on, which is Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It, and Mandy’s fighting and fighting. They’re locking eyes and Mandy is going, “No.” I think in the back of her head she can also hear the rest of the family going, “Mandy, don’t do it.” But when Tina Turner comes on they think it’s a sign.’

The former couple will act on the potential sign from the universe, as it’s already been confirmed Mandy and Paddy will sleep together – but where will it lead?

Will they become a couple again?

Source: Read Full Article