Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has been engaged to musician Al for four years but the couple have decided against getting married for a very sad and personal reason

Lisa Riley, best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, has shared the deeply personal reasons why she and her American fiance Al have chosen not to get married. The couple, who have been engaged for four years, have both experienced the devastating loss of their mothers, which has significantly impacted their decision about marriage.

In an emotional conversation, Lisa said: “We don’t want to change anything. Both of us talk about it all the time and feel as long as we’re happy we don’t need rings on our fingers. We’ve lost both our mums. And when it comes to things like weddings, you do it for the other people.

“I’m never going to change my name, so really, what would be different? And I wouldn’t be able to wear a wedding band very much because I’ve always got Mandy’s jewellery on.”

Lisa Riley and fiance Al (Image: Lisa Riley)

“Plus, I’ve always said I’m not the kind of girl who wants a big flouncy day with a horse and carriage.”

Al’s mother passed away from cancer aged 79 in 2022, while Lisa’s mother Cath died after a breast cancer battle 12 years ago.

Mandy’s storyline previously saw her grapple with her aunt Faith’s terminal breast cancer diagnosis – made all the more poignant by Lisa’s personal loss.

Speaking at the time, Lisa opened up about the soap’s collaboration with Breast Cancer Now, the charity she represents as an ambassador. She shared: “Emmerdale have been working with the charity I’m an ambassador for, Breast Cancer Now, they’re helping with advice for Sally as well. There’s a storyline going on soon, where I think my fellow cast members saw me go a bit insular.

“I can’t give much away, but I thought Sally [Dexter] nailed exactly what happens in palliative care, and I’ve seen that for real. We are doing what Faith is going through complete justice. I can’t shout from the rooftop enough how important it is for women to check, so this could end up saving people’s lives.”

Reflecting on her own experience, Lisa admitted returning to set sooner than she should have after a family bereavement. Despite choosing to come back early, she realised she needed more time off.

She praised her workplace, saying, “Work were phenomenal. They gave me so much leave and couldn’t have been more incredible in how they dealt with me.”

Lisa Riley at the British Academy Television Awards at The Royal Festival Hall in 2018 (Image: No credit)

“They knew that I went through personal trauma seeing somebody I loved like a mother going through a hell of a lot with her treatment. Being me, I came back to work four days between her passing and the funeral, and I shouldn’t have. I would go to do a take and everybody could see I’d been crying.”

She added: “Playing Mandy is so full on, I can’t be upset doing it. So after the funeral the executives gave me the time off. It wasn’t just a case of what I’m going through but I had to be there for Al as well, as he needed my support.”

Not much is known about Lisa’s 54 year old partner, who she has kept out of the limelight since they first met through mutual friends in 2014. It was four years before they were pictured together and even now, she has kept her American fiancé’s full name a secret.

Lisa first appeared on screen as Mandy in 1995 but left the village six years later after unsuccessfully trying to win back former husband Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt).

A firm favourite with fans, viewers were ecstatic when she returned in 2019. Now, there’s joy ahead for the character as she prepares to marry her Prince Charming, Paddy, once again.

The ITV comedy Fat Friends was set in a slimming club (Image: ITV1)

Between her time on Emmerdale, Lisa thrived on other projects like taking a leading role in Kay Mellor’s Fat Friends, appearing in the BAFTA-winning BBC One drama Three Girls, and even hitting the dance floor to come fifth in Strictly 2012.

This month also marks another landmark for Lisa – her nine-year anniversary of giving up alcohol. Speaking about her sobriety, she said: “I’m like Cinderella these days always home before midnight.

“But I’m really proud of that. It’s the life I want to lead because I like this me, it’s so much better than the other me. One thing I do know for sure is that there’s no chance I could play Mandy hungover. I have to be top notch.”

Emmerdale is on every weekday at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX