Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale, is set to swap the ITV soap for the jungle as she takes on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! next month.
Lisa Riley is taking a break from Emmerdale as she heads into the jungle for this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Since her debut as Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale in 1995, Lisa has become a much-loved fixture on the ITV soap.
Famous for her vibrant personality, infectious energy, and big heart, Mandy has been central to some of the show’s most memorable storylines over the past 30 years.
These include her stormy romance with Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) and the shocking revelation that she had adopted her son Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) while involved with Vinny’s abusive father, Paul Ashdale (Reece Dinsdale).
Away from the spotlight of Emmerdale, 49-year-old Lisa Riley has faced her own personal challenges, making the life-changing choice to transform her lifestyle and lose an impressive 12 stone over 18 months.
Rather than turning to quick-fix solutions, Lisa embraced a healthier approach, swapping unhealthy foods for nutritious alternatives and committing to regular workouts at the gym.
Over this period, the Bury-born star slimmed down from a size 28 to a trim size 12.
However, her intense weight-loss journey came with its challenges, as Lisa had to contend with more than 1.5 stone of excess skin, according to The Mirror.
Speaking about the discomfort, she explained: “When you’re on a weight-loss journey, food becomes the enemy, and you have to go to the gym, you have to keep moving.
“But the movement became extremely painful. It rubbed, it got red, and it was difficult to keep clean between the folds.”
In her 2017 documentary Lisa Riley’s Baggy Body Club, the star tearfully admitted that her new body had left her feeling “revolted” by her own reflection after losing weight.
The ITV special documented Lisa’s brave decision to undergo surgery to remove her excess skin, a procedure many people opt for each year.
Opening up about her apprehensions, Lisa revealed that fear nearly prevented her from going through with the operation.
“The night before the surgery, I was terrified. Everyone thought I might back out. I kept thinking that in 11 hours, I could be dead. I might not wake up,” she admitted.
The star continued, “Could I have lived with the loose skin for the rest of my life? Yes, but I wouldn’t have been happy.”
Interestingly, although many see it as a cosmetic procedure, Lisa viewed her surgery differently.
“I don’t feel like I’ve had cosmetic surgery; I’ve just fixed what I put on myself,” she explained.
Earlier this year, Lisa spoke about the loss of her beloved mother, Cath, who died from secondary breast cancer in 2012 at just 58.
She courageously told The Mirror: “Mum went far too soon. I had to grow up very quickly. Losing her was devastating because I suddenly had to manage everything on my own, and in this industry, that’s not easy.
“I realised she was more than just my support in my career—she was more than my mother, she was my best friend. All of a sudden, she was gone. I had to navigate life on my own. But she taught me strength. She gave me that fire.”
The loss of her mother has also influenced Lisa’s decision not to marry her long-term partner, Al, with whom she has been together for 11 years.
She explained: “We’re already married, but not officially. Honestly, I couldn’t face the big day without my mum there. Why would I put myself through that?
“Al lost his mum not long ago, and he has no parents. Thank goodness I still have my dad. But we’re not kids – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We’ll be 11 years together this June.”
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