Lisa Riley is set to join 12 celebrities heading into the Australian jungle this year.
Earlier this week, it was officially announced that Emmerdale star Lisa Riley will be bringing her infectious energy and cheerful personality to the challenging Australian jungle. The 49-year-old is one of 12 celebrities trading their luxurious lifestyles for tough eating trials and sleeping rough on ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Lisa first captured attention in 1995 as the spirited Mandy Dingle, arriving for her cousin Tina Dingle’s wedding. Her unforgettable performance quickly made her a fan favourite, and three decades later, Lisa remains a cherished member of the show.
Over the years, Lisa has experienced significant transformations, including a remarkable weight loss, shedding eight dress sizes—from a size 28 down to a size 12 in just one year—losing an incredible 12 stone. In 2018, she discussed her journey on This Morning, revealing that she eliminated certain food groups, including alcohol and pasta, while focusing on the effects of her diet. At the time, she also shared one of her indulgences, saying: “My weakness is crisps—that’s the one thing I find difficult to resist.”
Lisa Riley made her Emmerdale debut in 1995 and quickly won over viewers with her lively charm at Luke and Tina’s wedding.
Lisa Riley spoke about her weight loss, admitting: “Alcohol was my go-to comfort. A glass of Malbec I adored would often be followed the next day by indulgent food, like bread soaked in butter.”
Lisa shared that her weight loss journey came with challenges, as she had to cope with painful folds of loose skin, which together weighed over 1.5 stone.
At her largest, Lisa wore a size 28 and admitted that her weight surged following her mother’s cancer diagnosis in 2000.
She feels that this period also marked the start of her turning to food for comfort.
Lisa explained: “I landed Emmerdale, and around the same time my mum was diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Over those 11 years, I just kept gaining more and more weight. Was it a deep sense that she might not make it?
“I also got caught up in the Emmerdale party lifestyle. I rarely cooked; it was all convenience foods and microwave meals. I simply got accustomed to being the bigger girl on TV.”
In her chat with the Irish Mirror, Lisa said: “Being bigger didn’t matter. I was accepted, and people appreciated that about me. I hadn’t given in to the pressures to look a certain way.”
Yet she admitted to one regret, adding: “My mum was always honest with me. We’d watch shows like Cracker and Prime Suspect, and I’d say, ‘I’d give anything to play Jane Tennison, Mum.’
“And she would tell me bluntly, ‘you’d never get that part because you’re too fat.’ Now I wish she could see that I could take on roles like that today.”
During her 2012 stint on Strictly Come Dancing, Lisa experienced weight loss thanks to the demanding dance rehearsals.
Her late professional partner, Robin Windsor, revealed that she began her transformation by giving up alcohol.
“The first step she took was to cut out drinking. Seeing the pounds drop from that motivated her to continue. Now, she genuinely enjoys staying fit and values her overall wellbeing.”
In 2018, Robin told Hello: “Everyone assumed she’d be the funny contestant because of her size.
“But she was determined to show that you don’t need to be a particular size to dance.
“Watching her journey over the past two years and all the weight she’s lost has been incredible.”
After losing an impressive 12 stone, Lisa was left with sagging skin that caused discomfort, prompting her to undergo surgery to remove the excess.
In her ITV documentary Baggy Body Club, which focused on her surgery journey, she said: “I was horrified by what I saw in the mirror; it was awful. I was used to seeing my heavier self, but this loose skin was something new, it hurt, and it overshadowed all the hard work I had done.”
The Emmerdale actress showcased her post-surgery transformation in the documentary, revealing that the removed skin weighed 1.5 stone.
Lisa underwent two separate procedures – the first being a tummy tuck, which resulted in both vertical and horizontal scars on her abdomen, along with surgery to eliminate loose skin from her thighs.
The second procedure involved a breast lift and the removal of excess skin from her arms.
Following seven months of recovery, Lisa expressed her delight with her new look, saying: “I’d never been able to wear sexy lingerie before; it was always practical, mum-style bras and large knickers. Now I can wear cute, sexy sets.”
Lisa is expected to share more about her weight loss journey as she enters the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
Before her debut, she admitted: “Rats terrify me completely. But cockroaches—if they end up crawling into my ears or other places, that’s a nightmare. I definitely don’t want to return to England with a cockroach somewhere it shouldn’t be.”
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