Category Entertainment News

Lisa Riley, who has played Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale for almost 30 years, opens up about her husband-to-be and the heartbreaking reason she won’t tie the knot.

Gracing our screens as feisty Mandy Dingle for almost 30 years, Lisa Riley portrays one of Emmerdale’s longest-running and best-loved characters. And as she prepares to celebrate the impressive milestone, the bubbly actress also reveals exclusively to OK! that, following the devastating death of her friend and Strictly partner Robin Windsor last year, she’s been going to therapy – something she didn’t do when she lost her beloved mother Cath to secondary breast cancer in 2012, at just 58.

Lisa – an ambassador for Breast Cancer Now, with whom she has recorded a moving podcast – has been told she may carry an altered BRCA gene, which can increase the risk of developing certain cancers. Although she admits she’s “petrified” of the disease that took her mother, the 48-year-old is on a mission to keep the conversation around breast cancer going all year round. Here, she also opens up exclusively to OK! about life with US musician Al and the poignant reason she’ll never tie the knot…

READ MORE: White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan’s skincare gadget that boosts micro-circulation has £140 off

Hello, Lisa. What significance did partnering with Breast Cancer Now have?

We have Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October but it should be a constant chat. Then obviously we did Chas’s storyline last year [Lisa’s Emmerdale character was involved in a moving storyline when Chas Dingle, played by Lucy Pargeter, found a lump in her breast]. It had fans in tears. And the topic is in people’s houses Monday to Friday. I’ll go to a nail bar to get my nails done and everyone’s talking about Chas’s storyline. That constant awareness helps.

Chas’s cancer storyline was powerful…

Oh no, soaps aren’t just soaps, are they? Similar to Paddy’s suicide attempt, Marlon’s stroke storyline received a lot of positive feedback. And with Chas being my close cousin, doing the breast cancer story, I had people coming up to me in the street, saying, ‘ Thank you so much. ‘ Hopefull, Emmerdale‘s use of mammograms and smears can save lives.

Your last mammogram was when?

I had my mammogram a few days ago. To maintain my peace of mind, I have one every year. Since I’m 49 in July, my body is changing. Anything that’s a change, I automatically think, ‘ God, is it my time? ‘ It has been so bizarre for me because my mother passed away so young and then reached the age of 48, as she was when she was first diagnosed. I’m self-checking and getting mammograms, but I’m genuinely poop. But I won’t live on what I call ‘ The Green Mile of life’. That is not how you live.

What are your thoughts on genetic testing?

I don’t want it. Although I’ve been told to, I don’t want a black cloud to cover me. Can you picture the doom umbrella? Anything could happen to us, just walking across the road. Living a vigilant life is what I prefer. Right now, I lead a very healthy life. I haven’t had a drink for nearly 10 years.

How did losing your mum change you?

Mum went way before her time. I had to grow up really quickly. When I lost her, it blew my mind, because I had to do everything on my own and in this industry, it’s hard. I realised she was more than my backbone with my career, she was more than my mother, my best friend. All whoosh, gone overnight. All of a sudden, I had to swim on my own. But she taught me to be strong. She gave me that fire.

Do you still find it tough?

What would you do when I said, “Mum, what would you do now?” Give me a sign, please. I still talk to her endlessly. It’s known as mumbo jumbo, in some circles. But if it actually works for you, it should. I see feathers. Chanel is in the room if I smell her perfume. I’m still very confident, but since she’s gone, I’ve lost a small amount of that. People are very quick to judge and say, ‘ It’s so many years now, pull your socks up. ‘ That is ridiculous to me. You just grow to accept that suffering is unending. Sometimes I’ll want to call her, then suddenly, silent tears fall. It is a pitiful state.

How do you feel about turning 50?

Really happy. I’m here, I’m healthy, I’ve got such a zest for life. I’m also celebrating my 30th in Emmerdale this July, so it’s a big year. Medicine has come so far. My mum was an ostrich about her cancer, I know that now, she really was in her own headspace. I think now I’ve got a very good outlook on life and my health.

What do you love about playing Mandy?

Mandy’s a joy. There’s always something, and it’s full dress-up. Dominic Brunt [who plays Paddy Kirk], my best friend who has played my husband for so long, we care so much about each other. And we still want to put our nuances into those roles, like making a good casserole. The writers and producers give you so much, then we’ll put a bit of paprika on it.

Is there much banter happening in the background?

Yeah, especially with the Dingles. We’re thick as thieves, and go out socially together. At the moment, we’re workingin family pods. But then, for example, the gorgeous Claire King [who plays Kim Tate], we might not see for ages, though we’re in the same building. I’ve grown up with these people. I’m Nana there, so all the young ones are coming in, like Bradley Riches from Celebrity Big Brother who’s just joined us. He’s a lovely boy.

Will there be a big bash for your Emmerdale anniversary?

I’ll be like the queen because July is my 49th birthday and July 25 is my show’s anniversary! We’ll undoubtedly collaborate on an event. Probably one with everybody, then a Dingle family one.

Of course, you lost your good friend Robin Windsor and your Strictly Come Dancing partner last year…

My best friend and I lost each other. I’m so lucky with our dressing room crew at work. Some days, I wouldn’t be able to carry on without those girls. My heart hurts even though I put on the wig, makeup, and costume and laugh. My husband-to-be Al has been amazing, but yes, I lost my gay best friend. He and I used Velcro to attach each other.

What’s your current state of mind?

I’d never had therapy since losing my mum. However, with Robin, I had to start having therapy. It really does work. I lost mum, then Robin, and two and half months after Robin we lost my aunt suddenly when she was on holiday. She died having dinner. Looking back, I wonder, ‘Should I have taken more time off work?’ But I put

I did exactly what Mandy Dingle did with my mother because she kept on and kept going. My coping mechanism was that.

Will Al walk you down the aisle as your “husband-to-be”? You described him as your “husband-to-be.”

We are already divorced, but we are not. And honestly, I truly couldn’t cope with the big day without my mum by my side. Why would I want to endure that? He has no parents and recently lost his mother. Thank God I’ve got Dad. However, remember that we are not children; therefore, don’t fix something that isn’t broken. In June, we celebrate 11 years of marriage.

Why do you complement each other?

We appreciate each other, he’s brilliantly sarcastic, and I’m a little bit sarcastic. We are not always joined at the hip because he is a musician and we don’t work nine to nine. And it’s that understanding. His love for my family and mine for both. I can be a closed book at times. It’s those moments when I’m sitting in the back bedroom with the radio on all by myself, and he just knows I need that space – otherwise I really will shut down. He doesn’t take my attention too seriously.

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Vicky Pattison sheds light on her married life, husband Ercan Ramadan, and other matters surrounding her relationship with her husband.

Warm, articulate, very funny and, you soon realise, with a big heart, Vicky Pattison is hard not to like. When we catch up with her at home, the Geordie reality star turned TV and radio presenter is, in her own words, “an open book” – refreshing in these times of media-savvy celebs who weigh every word.

As the 37-year-old talks exclusivey to Ok! about her new fashion range for Little Mistress at Matalan, and other exciting work projects, she also opens up about everything from her marriage to Ercan Ramadan and their plans for a family to her ongoing battles with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – which she says turns her into “someone she doesn’t recognise”.

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“Six months after we got together, we started living as man and wife – with our furry babies,” laughs Vicky, when we ask about married life, six months after their wedding in Puglia, Italy, which followed an official ceremony in London last August. “Everybody jokes that we moved really fast, but when you know, you know. I wasn’t a spring chicken when I met Ercan – by north-east standards, I was a spinster!”

The former Geordie Shore star is loving the security of being 31-year-old Ercan’s wife, admitting that it may sound “old-fashioned” to some, but she can live with that. “Everything’s fast and transient these days. Finding a safe space is everything, someone with whom the noise is not so loud… he’s the best. I always wanted to be settled, loved and happy.”

And Vicky acknowledges that, on paper, Ercan is the opposite of the men she used to go for – but is what she needed. “For years I thought if a relationship was going to work, I’d need a real alpha male, because I was a lot to handle,” she says. “I tried relationships with those people, but I’ve realised, the loudest person in the room is often the most insecure. I was left with heartache every time.

After a difficult breakup, Ercan appeared to be something completely different when we first met. It wasn’t a calculated choice – I just thought he was a wicked bit of kit! So attractive. I came to the realization that I needed softening, slowening, and being kind to others over time. “Ercan will walk into a room and not command instant attention – but he’ll leave that room with everyone knowing his name and realising he’s the nicest man ever”.

Her marriage is a “breath of fresh air” – Ercan allows her to shine, but is “his own brilliant person at the same time” she says – and there’s a real “yin and yang” energy between them. We are in love with one another despite our differences. He’s allowing me to be calmer, more composed, and reflective. I like to think I’m making him more ambitious and proactive”.

As for children, Vicky was very open about freezing her eggs at 35, and thinks they will start trying for children in the next year or two. “My mam had me at 30, geriatric back in her day… So if I can get one in before 40, I’ll be over the moon,” she laughs. “Everyone thought we’d try for kids quite quickly – so did we! But we’re going to enjoy being married, for at least a year. I’d love a honeymoon first! A little week in the Caribbean would be lovely. We’re just desperate to sleep in the same bed together. I sleep with the dogs [they have two] and he sleeps in the spare room!”

Ercan, one of four boys, would love a “football team” of sons, says Vicky, while she, coming from “a long line of women who have women”, imagines a daughter first. Of her own childhood, Vicky tells us she was brought up by her mum Caroll, and that her dad is an alcoholic and “not a well man” – though she adds quickly, “He’s also a great man and a great dad.” Both parents have taught her vital lessons about life.

“Mum taught me strength and resilience, she told me never to compromise in my pursuit of happiness. She continued. She has gone through a lot. She tried to make her marriage work for a long time, and make him well – until she couldn’t”. She and her father continue to be very close. She later cheated on a partner she adored, but she never gave up hope. That’s a huge lesson for a young woman to learn. “

From her father, about whom she made the moving Channel 4 documentary Alcohol, Dad And Me in 2022, Vicky believes she has learnt that there is no shame in showing vulnerability. “He’s 6ft 2, a unit of a Geordie man, who used to do more one-handed press-ups in bars than Rocky. He’d cry with me watching a Disney film. He’ll talk about his illness openly, in the hope it helps others. I understood gender roles could be reversed and it’s made me the woman I am. I’m very proud of both my parents.”

On the work front, Vicky has just hung up her headphones at Heart Radio North East, where she hosted a weekday drive-time show from 4-7pm. Now, she has a “big new gig” on Heart – presenting a national show on Saturdays. The I’m A Celeb winner says it’s “amazing but bittersweet”, as she confesses it had always been her dream to raise a family back home.

” I’m a proud Geordie girl. I pondered, “I’ll move back north, do my radio show, and then I can have kids!” Have this lovely little life up there for three, four hours each day. So I’m shelving that dream for a couple of years. In the future, my family and I want to relocate back north. “But I was really fortunate that Heart wanted to work for me at home. I’m still that north-east voice on the radio. I’m anxious because there will be a lot more listeners and I’ll always be worried that I’ll say something inappropriate.

Vicky’s tell-it-like-it-is nature is one of the reasons so many people love her. It’s also given her the drive and courage to make hard-hitting documentaries, her most recent being about the deepfake porn industry. “Meeting the victims, handling such heavy subject matter… It took a toll on my mental health, but I really stand by the decision we made to highlight a topic that was largely unspoken about.”

On a brighter note, Vicky is looking forward to embracing something totally different as the host of Channel 4 dating show The Honesty Box, which comes to our screens at the end of April. “It’s got all the drama of our fave reality shows with a new twist – AI technology,” she says.

“We use a lie detector, so you’ve got nowhere to hide – it’s so clever. We answer the age-old question – is honesty the best policy in relationships? I’ve always believed it was, but no spoilers…” she teases. Away from the limelight, Vicky is still struggling with PMDD, something she’s been admirably honest about to her 5.5 million Instagram followers. “Social media is difficult – and we’re the guinea pig generation. I’ve noticed myself falling into the trap; my Insta was looking a bit polished. Expect a big reality dump from me on there soon,” she smiles.

On the subject of PMDD, Ercan, she says sadly, finds it difficult when she’s having her “spicy PMDD weeks” where she hates “everybody and everything – and he’s at the top of that list”, but they’re both learning. She says, “I have favorite movies ready to go, hot water in the fridge, and on standby.” It has taken some time. Every month he watches me go from this strong, confident, busy woman who loves her life to a scared little girl, consumed by anxiety. I change into a person he and I are unfamiliar with. That is difficult.

However, Little Mistress and Vicky are currently in a good place and very proud of their fashion collaboration. She has been shopping with her mother since she was a child at Matalan, where it will be available. Vicky says it feels good that her fans can go and pick up her clothes without breaking the bank. Women typically place last in the shopping pecking order. I’ve always been frugal, having never been a big designer gal. I’m really proud I’m involved in making stuff that other women feel brilliant in. I’m “buzzing like an old fridge”!

Admitting that even getting out her front door is a nightmare some mornings (“and I don’t even have kids yet!”), she adds, “Women have enough going on…Matalan is a one-stop-shop and this collection makes you feel like a million dollars – I’m loving all the soft tailoring. The hot-pink two-piece? I can already see myself wearing it on Lorraine or This Morning!”

Looking back at her wilder days, Vicky laughs at some of the fashion faux pas she made, admitting there was a whole period of her twenties when she looks back and thinks, “What the hell were you thinking”?! She laughs, “They were mostly around fake tans, though.” I spent about ten years being “positive radioactive,” and I genuinely believed that “more is more.” I have flashbacks of me with peroxide blonde hair looking like a cockatoo, with my mates doing the whole ‘ underwear is outerwear ‘ thing”.

Vicky, however, has no regrets about it. There were plenty of “cringe” moments, but no regrets. I was living my best life and it’s all a part of the journey. That’s not what it’s all about, right?”

From Thursday, April 3, 2019, Matalan will be able to purchase the Vicky Pattison x Little Mistress collection in both physical stores and online.

You’ll be relieved to know that we have the details on every fashion and beauty moment from the show so far if, like me, you’ve been patiently waiting every Monday for the new White Lotus episode to come out. Jaclyn Lemon, played by Michelle Monaghan, is one of the characters with impeccable style.

We’ve gathered some of her best looks so far, where to buy them, and now the details on her make-up. Jaclyn’s bronzer, specifically, is what gives her sunkissed, glowing skin. The exact bronzer used on Jaclyn’s set was Saie’s Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer in Medium Bronze, £26, as shared by the show’s make-up designer, Rebecca Lynn, on Instagram.

I knew I had to test this bronzer for myself once I learned this information in order to get Jaclyn’s flawless glow. I didn’t think I would ever use a powder bronzer because I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

The only fake tan that doesn’t break me out is almost 50% off, according to St Tropez.

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PROS

• appears so natural on the skin
• Its creamy formula makes application simple.
• leaves skin with a healthy-looking glow or sheen.

CONS

• This is likely to sputter if you don’t use a powder to set it if you have extremely oily skin.
• Make-up brushes build up the product fairly quickly.

One of the most straightforward cream bronzers I’ve ever tried is, without a doubt, one of the easiest to apply. You should definitely try Sun Melt if you’ve been wanting to try a cream bronzer but aren’t sure how to apply it.

This creamy, buildable product quickly absorbed onto the skin, giving me the impression that I wasn’t wearing any bronzer but that the sun was already at its best when I applied it.

This bronzer was almost too creamy for my combination skin after I had a brief test run of it. After a few more tries, I’ve come to believe this product is the ideal summer bronzer, especially if you want skin that glows during the golden hour.

The only drawback is that after use, the product builds up quite a bit on the makeup brush. When applying cream bronzers, I’ve always used a dense brush, which clung heavily to the brush’s hairs.

Overall, I channel Jaclyn Lemon and put this in my make-up bag as my new go-to bronzer. As we approach the warm weather, I alternate between loving creams and powders, but for the time being, I’m switching out my matte, powder bronzers for dewier finishes.

The Les Beiges Healthy Bronzing Glow, £48, by Chanel has a large cult following and has a texture akin to Saie’s.

Finding the ideal bronzer that isn’t overly orange can be challenging, so we’ve also rounded up the best tried-and-true bronzers for cool skin tones.

Following an increase in celebrities who have cosmetic dentistry procedures, many people online have praised Aimee Lou Wood’s ability to embrace her natural smile.

British actress Aimee Lou Wood recently ignited conversations online about her natural teeth after her appearance in the beloved HBO series, The White Lotus, released its third season. The 31-year-old, originally from Stockport, who is known for her gap-toothed smile, played Chelsea in the series, and many viewers have praised her unique smile.

One Reddit user commented: “She’s beautiful. And those teeth seal the deal,” while another added, “I think her teeth are cute. I have a similar.” Others have exclaimed that seeing Aimee on TV is so refreshing compared to the usual Hollywood veneers that seemingly have taken over.

Aimee appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show and discussed the “impact” her teeth were having on audiences. Actor, broadcaster and fellow guest on the show, Stephen Fry, started the conversation, saying: “You’ve obviously made an enormous number of people happy by not changing your teeth.

You are aware of their significance, such as my slender nose. You obviously faced criticism from some for saying, “Oh, you should get those corrected,” but you stood up for them, he continued.

READ MORE: White Lotus star defends age gap romance after sex scenes with 29-year-old Aimee Lou Wood

I can’t believe the impact my teeth are having, Aimee joked. The Americans are aghast at this.

In a sector where perfectly curated appearances are a must, Aimee has come to represent authenticity. It’s amazing to see that uniquely attractive women are recognized and highlighted for their beautiful quirks and defining traits rather than being ignored and disregarded.

Over the past two decades, numerous articles have critiqued women’s teeth. Influential figures like Hillary Duff, Miley Cyrus, and even Beyoncé have previously faced harsh judgments on their appearances online. For example, in 2005, a story was published about Duff with the headline “Hillary Duff speaks about her horse teeth”.

In the end, more people are looking to invest in cosmetic dentistry because of discussions about allegedly flawed teeth in women. Nearly half of the UK population (48%) intends to have cosmetic dental work done, according to a study conducted by Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors.

Evidence from leading Hollywood celebrities, according to American dentist Atrium Dental, suggests that up to 90% of them have had their smiles improved through cosmetic dentistry, with porcelain veneers being the most popular choice, according to American dentist Atrium Dental.

However, it appears that there is growing dissatisfaction with this response. Many now criticise how the rise in perfect teeth has ruined the big screen for them. A Reddit thread titled ‘Veneer’s are ruining Hollywood’ has gained significant traction, with many weighing in on the topic.

One user stated, “I’m rewatching Sex and the City, and one thing keeps standing out to me is that they all have normal, natural teeth,” while another further stated, “Everyone now looks like a bot.” I enjoy looking good in the eyes. The fabricated smile appears frightful and terrifying. Despite the negative feedback she received for her natural teeth, “in Duff’s case, people have claimed that she” destroyed her smile.”