“Being a Dingle is really special.”

Emmerdale actor Lisa Riley has spoken about whether she intends to continue playing Mandy Dingle.

The star originally played Mandy between 1995 and 2001, and has been back on the ITV soap since 2019. Speaking to The Irish Sun, she said that she has no plans to leave any time soon.

“I still love being in Emmerdale and, yes, of course I’d love to stay,” she said. “I never take anything for granted. I’ve always said, ‘You are only as good as your last scene.’

“…I didn’t intend [to come] back but I love this place so much. Being a Dingle is really special and Emmerdale is the best therapy for anyone in life.”

“What I am most proud of,” she continued, “is the fact new generations of the Dingles are coming through in the form of Danny Miller, Bradley Johnson and Eden Taylor-Draper.

“We all never know how long we have got and it makes me the happiest ever knowing the Dingles will live on for many more years to come.”

Speaking about the core facets of the Dingle family, Riley explained: “Love and loyalty are the two ingredients you need to be a Dingle. It’s the tent pole that keeps us up and if you haven’t got those, you probably won’t be my friend either.”

She also stated that she doesn’t think that Mandy “will ever get rid of her leopard prints”, despite getting older, and we’re sure her fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.