Emmerdale fans are convinced that the Dingle family is set to get a whole lot bigger as the ITV soap seemingly confirmed that someone from the family’s past is set to make a return

Emmerdale’s latest episodes seem to hint that the iconic Dingle clan is set to expand.

Soap icon Mandy (played by Lisa Riley) and Paddy (Dominic Brunt) have just re-tied the knot, a whopping 24 years after their original nuptials. But in true soap drama style, the wedding was nearly axed at the last minute when Paddy binned it off after uncovering Mandy’s saucy secret side gig.

Mandy’s been wrestling with money woes of late and has kept her financial struggles from Paddy. She turned to being a financial dominatrix – only for Paddy’s dad Bear (Joshua Richards) to stumble upon her secret.

Despite the hiccup, Mandy and Paddy made up and got hitched, much to the joy of Emmerdale residents and viewers alike. Yet, it was a heartfelt exchange between Mandy and her lad Vinny (Bradley Johnson) that really got tongues wagging, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Before heading to the altar, Mandy faced questions about her mum Vera-Lynn Dingle – notably her no-show at the wedding. Vinny said to her: “Paddy’s going to get the best wife and I’ve got the best mum.”He then asked: “Have you heard from your mum? ” to which Mandy replied: “You know I haven’t. Don’t be sad for me.”

“Our Vera Lynne, she’s the gold medal winner of letting me down. But if I don’t expect anything then I don’t get pee’d off when she lets me down.”

It turns out Caleb Dingle was hitched to a lass named Vera-Lynn, who happens to be Mandy’s mum. Vera-Lynn’s never graced the screen before. Emmerdale’s Mandy has always been thought to have lost her mum Vera-Lynn as a kid, the character never appearing on telly.

Yet with viewers recently learning she’s actually alive, fans are buzzed that she might be headed for the Dales. Chatting on an Emmerdale fan page on Facebook, one sleuth speculated: “Noticed that Vinnie asked Mandy if she’s heard from her mum.”

“No idea which Dingle her mother is, has she ever been in it? But anyway…cue Mandys mums appearance…” they added. Another jumped in, asking: “Are they opening the way for the arrival of another Dingle? “.

A third joined the fray saying: “What! They’ve never mentioned Mandy’s mum before.” While another was dead certain, noting: “Pretty sure that means we’ll be seeing her soon.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm