Maisie Spackman
Published November 21, 2025 12:00pm
Updated November 21, 2025 12:00pm
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Lisa Riley has been an Emmerdale icon for 30 years (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley is winning the hearts of her fellow campmates in the I’m A Celebrity jungle, 30 years after first appearing on our screens as Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap.
Her first stint in the Dales lasted five years, but she made a highly-anticipated return in 2019, and has been a mainstay ever since.
Some of her biggest moments in her recent stint have seen Mandy tie the knot with beau Paddy Dingle (Dominic Brunt), and reveal the truth about son Vinny Dingle’s (Bradley Johnson) adoption in a special episode.
Away from the ITV soap, Lisa has had countless other roles, including Rebecca Patterson in Fat Friends and Tina Reegan in Age Before Beauty.
In 2012, Lisa competed on Strictly Come Dancing, where she reached the semi-finals with partner Robin Windsor.
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She also became a Loose Women panellist in 2016.
Lisa has played Mandy Dingle since 1995 (Picture: ITV)
Following last night’s instalment of the jungle, fans took to social media with concerns about Lisa, after spotting a sore beneath her eye.
There has been no mention during the show of Lisa having sustained an injury or insect bite, and the soap star has not said anything about being in discomfort thus far.
Whether Lisa has sought medical attention in the camp has not been televised, but the campmates are closely monitored by the I’m A Celebrity team while in the jungle.
Who is Lisa Riley’s fiancé?
Lisa has been engaged to musician Al since 2018.
Announcing the engagement, Lisa wrote on social media: ‘Yes I can now confirm the rumours are true….I have got engaged…
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQi8Qb6iE7H/?img_index=1
‘My soul mate and best mate and love of my life Al is the best thing to have ever happened to me….
‘We have absolutely NO date set for ANY wedding day, just happy together…zero fuss, just firmed our togetherness… And got sick of having to keep switching fingers with my ring.
‘SERIOUSLY OVER THE MOON!!! Thanks for your messages,’ she added.
The actress recently shared a social media post expressing her love for Al on his 55th birthday. Alongside a carousel of photos, she wrote on Instagram: ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BABY, me and all the family Al are wishing you all the love and laughter in the world on your special day-glad we had the most gorgeous day yesterday celebrating. Today is all about you.’
In the jungle, Lisa has expressed that she’s ‘very happy’ and ‘settled’ in her relationship.
Lisa has won hearts in the jungle (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock)
Lisa Riley on IVF and not having children
Lisa previously tried IVF after revealing that she was ‘in love for the first time’, but ultimately decided to stop treatment when she learnt that her eggs ‘weren’t good enough’.
‘[My] body was being pumped full of hormones to get my egg readings, and in the end they weren’t good enough,’ she said in 2018.
‘It messes with your head and I just couldn’t do that to myself any more. The past few months have been really hard, emotionally draining, and we just decided that enough was enough. I tried it, I gave it a go and it didn’t work.’
She added: ‘Finding out that I was unlikely to get pregnant was a blow. But I refuse to be defined by that.’
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Previous Page Next PageLast year, she revealed that she didn’t want to adopt, explaining that she was ‘okay’ with the fact that she didn’t have children.
‘I would never adopt. I wouldn’t be able to cope because I would wake up thinking they would always want to go back to their biological parents,’ she told The Sun.
‘There are enough lovely people in this world that would like to adopt, but no, we are past that now.
‘I am 48 and I feel like an unfinished jigsaw — that is the truth of a woman who doesn’t have children but who is okay with it.’
Lisa Riley’s family and close soap friendships
Lisa is close with her Emmerdale castmates (Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)
Lisa has a very close family, and is often sharing pictures on Instagram with niece Everlyn.
It was clear she was over the moon with her niece’s arrival when she announced the news in 2018, alongside of a picture of her holding the baby.
‘HONESTLY could not be happier if I tried….can I please welcome my beautiful new niece into the world Everlyn Catherine Riley (named after my beloved mum) born this morning at 9.28am mum and baby are REALLY well….Aunty is STILL crying!!! Congratulations to my brother Liam sister-in-law Nat and gorgeous nephews Jakey and Joshua!!! Welcome to our family where you will be loved more and more each and every day now and for always.’
Lisa has been very open about the fact that her mum passed away after being diagnosed with breast cancer at age 48.
It was this loss, and that of Strictly professional and friend Robin Windsor, that led to her decision to take part in I’m A Celebrity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3j8r-RIRzV/
‘I lost my best friend not so long ago and mum got diagnosed at the age of 48 (with breast cancer), I’m 49.
‘Nothing can be as bad as that in life and I have got to see if I can do it. Every day is a blessing and I want to really enjoy everything.’
As well as her Emmerdale co-stars, Lisa has a very close bond with Coronation Street star Vicky Myers, who plays DS Lisa Swain.
Vicky played Heidi Reegan on Age Before Beauty, opposite Lisa, who played her on-screen sister.
Following some major Corrie scenes, Lisa shared her pride for Vicky on Instagram, alongside a behind the scenes shot from Age Before Beauty.
‘So unbelievably proud of my work pretend TV baby sister Vicky Myers knocking it out of the park, playing the role of Lisa so brilliantly in Coronation Street.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA5e06MoqS_/?img_index=1
‘I have always said, and mean it from the bottom of my heart, BEAUTIFUL THINGS HAPPEN TO BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE…. and one thing is for sure Vicky is a absolute beauty. I am your proudest big sister….keep being you babes.’
Lisa Riley on her sobriety and weight loss
Since entering the jungle, Lisa has engaged in some poignant conversations regarding grief, sobriety and body image.
During a candid discussion about addiction, she told her campmates that she quit drinking cold turkey after consuming ‘three bottles of malbec’ a night.
Speaking about how she cut out alcohol and cigarettes completely ten years ago, Lisa admitted that she had used it to numb the trauma of her mum’s death.
Lisa has had some candid discussions in the jungle (Picture: ITV)
‘It was the biggest plaster I could put on myself,’ she said.
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She also discussed her weight loss journey with the women in camp.
‘My absolute guilt for years and years was blindness to portion control. I was also a nibbler. One of the things that I’ve completely cut out is nibbling,’ she explained.
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‘But I’m active, you see. I’m physical. I’m never lazy. It’s hereditary I think.’
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