Eli Dingle in Emmerdale: Relationship with brother Marlon, his troublemaking schemes, and criminal past
What's actor Joe Gilgun up to now?Eli Dingle cause trouble in Classic Emmerdale from the moment he arrived. From his relationship with brother Marlon, schemes and criminal past, he packed a lot in to his four years in the Dales.
It was clear from the off that Marlon wasn’t fond of his brother, while Zak gave Eli an ultimatum – he needs to keep out of trouble, or he’ll be sent packing!
On more than one occasion he was disowned by the Dingles for good. But always managed to worm his way back in.
Here’s the lowdown on everything the troublemaking Dingle – the one-time bareknuckle fighting champion of Skipdale – got up to during his years in Emmerdale.
Eli’s arrival
Eli sauntered into the village on the day of the King’s River show home opening. He immediately pointed out the flaws in the house, claiming there were cracks in the plaster and said he knew what he was talking to thanks to training as a builder when he was in prison.
But Marlon thought Eli was jealous and he ignored his advice.
When the house exploded, Eli helped pull people from the wreckage.
Eli and Alice
When Alice Dingle wanted to end her life, due to her terminal cancer, Marlon begged Eli to help.
He emotionally blackmailed his brother into getting hold of morphine for Alice. But after Alice died, Zak was horrified to find out Eli had given her the drugs. He disowned poor Eli, who had to leave Wishing Well Cottage.
When Sam came across his cousin, he was living rough in the woods on the run from some vicious drug dealers. The dealers attacked Marlon in an attempt to track Eli down. Eventually Eli came up with a plan to frame them for an armed robbery at the post office. The plan worked and Eli was welcomed back into the Dingle family.
Trouble making!
Eli was wrongly arrested for Tom King’s murder, and he had a flirtation with Kelly Windsor. When Jimmy jilted Kelly at the altar, Eli nicked Debbie’s car for her to use to escape the village.
He and Debbie started an on/off relationship and he helped her with some of her money-making schemes, including pretending to be Scott Windsor to help her get a loan for the garage.
Shooting Marlon!
Marlon was disappointed when a local bookmaker wouldn’t pay out and decided to rob it in revenge. He convinced Eli to join him. But when Marlon discovered Eli had brought a gun, he wanted to pull out. He tried to stop Eli and got accidentally shot in the chest!
Luckily, Marlon recovered but he was furious with Eli. And the brothers’ relationship completely fell apart when Marlon was hailed a hero and given enough money to buy a house for him and Donna.
Eli was jealous and started blackmailing his brother, threatening to tell everyone the robbery was his idea.
The pair ended up in a scuffle on top of a multi-storey carpark!
Eli and the McFarlanes
Eli had links to a local crime family, the McFarlanes, through his ex-girlfriend Danielle. She helped the Dingles rescue Aaron from the family after he began working as a drugs courier for them.
And Eli was also involved when Jasmine Thomas killed bent cop Shane Doyle – another person working for the McFarlanes – when he tried to rape her.
Eli helped cover up the crime, but things got complicated when Ross Kirk – who was having an affair with Donna – was blamed for the murder (by Marlon!).
Lots of complications later, and Eli spilled the beans to the police, telling them what really happened, leaving Debbie arrested while Jasmine escaped. Jasmine eventually returned and confessed, leading to Debbie being released.
Eli, though, was struggling and ended up back on the streets. Laurel found him and brought him back to the village. Eli thought he brought trouble to his family, but he was welcomed home. He tried to keep things on the straight and narrow, making friends and getting a job at the sweet factory.
Eli and Olena in Emmerdale
But when Eli fell for Olena Petrovich, things got tricky again. Sam Dingle also had feelings for her though it was Eli she loved. When Sam reported Olena to immigration, Eli somehow got the blame.
He went on a downward spiral and ended up stealing the cash box from the B&B and knocking Eric Pollard unconscious.
Eli decided to leave but he and Marlon had an emotional discussion before he went, chatting about their childhood.
Eli’s not been back in the village since 2010. But he was a popular character and many fans have said they’d love to see him back!
Who played Eli Dingle in Emmerdale?
Eli was played by Joseph Gilgun. Born on March 1984, Joe is 41 years old.
Emmerdale was not Joe’s only soap role. He also starred as Jamie Armstrong in Coronation Street.
In 2007, Joe was in the film This Is England as kind-hearted skinhead Woody. This was his film acting debut and it went on to win countless accolades including a BAFTS for Best British Film.
After being granted time off Emmerdale to film 2009 British crime thriller Harry Brown in 2009, Joe decided the time was right to leave the soap. He made his final appearance on April 30 2010.
He went on to star in series three of Misfits as Rudy who could clone himself. Joe then went to America and played the role of drug-addicted vampire Cassidy in Preacher. He was a main cast member for all four seasons of the show.
In 2019 he created and starred in Brassic for Sky One. His role as working-class petty criminal Vinnie has become one of his most-loved roles.
Joe has been open about the fact he has bipolar disorder. He has said many of the stories in Brassic are based upon his real life.
Fans call for Eli Dingle Emmerdale return as Brassic comes to an end
Brassic, which also stars former Corrie actress Michelle Keegan, has now run for six seasons, with the seventh series premiering on Sky on September 25. This will be the last and final season of the popular show.
But with Eli Dingle a huge part of Classic Emmerdale currently, he is never far from the minds of fans. So with Brassic coming to an end, now could be the perfect time for an Eli return.
At the time of his departure Emmerdale were clear they were up for a future return for Eli. However, Joe has since said he has no plans for a comeback.
In a poll run on social media, 60 percent of fans were keen to see Eli make a return.
One viewer said: “First Ross Barton, then Joe Tate and now Robert Sugden! Come on non Emmerdale, let’s get Eli Dingle back! Persuade Joseph Gilgun to return some how please!!!”
“I’d like to see Scarlett come back and Eli,” shared another. A third agreed: “I’d love it if Eli Dingle returned to the show again.”
I'm A Celebrity South Africa winner revealed as final descends into chaos with Jimmy Bullard, David Haye and Adam Thomas embroiled in explosive row
Tempers flared between the trio during the live broadcast from London as hosts Ant and Dec struggled to keep control.
Campmates Sinitta and Gemma Collins even walked off set as Jimmy began shouting and yelling.
Adam was later announced as the I'm A Celebrity South Africa 2026 winner.
But, by that point, he just looked like he wanted to leave.
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Jimmy Bullard sparked chaos after kicking off at tonight's I'm A Celebrity live final (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
I'm A Celebrity live final: Jimmy, Adam and David on-air row
The incredible scenes played out after Ant and Dec gave Jimmy the opportunity to have his say on his row with Adam in South Africa.
Earlier this week, the pair were seen coming to blows when Jimmy quit a trial without attempting it.
It initially meant that he and Adam would be sent home. Adam was later allowed to stay.
Jimmy did not give an exit interview at the time, but tonight Ant and Dec gave the former footballer the chance to speak.
In the 10pm live show, Jimmy said: "Let me run you through what happened. When we went down for the trial, it was originally for stars so I chose Adam."
Looking and Ant and Dec, he continued: "Then you sprung a lightbulb moment on me that the bottom two got to go home. I didn’t choose Adam because of this."
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Adam insisted he has repeatedly apologised to Jimmy (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
Jimmy claims he had already "spoken to Olly", who he says was a producer.
"I spoke to Olly, talked through contract and said I’m going to have to pull the plug," Jimmy said.
In a random explanation about the ins and outs of his show contract, Jimmy went on: "If I go home and call Adam back, I get full pay.
"If I go home, stay in and go back, I get a small per cent of that. It' a job. I have to go home for personal reasons. That’s why I took Adam."
However, this explanation fell flat and things quickly became heated in the studio.
David Haye wades in and Sinitta walks off
"You can all be upset with me. I threw him under the bus," Jimmy said. He then began raising his voice, claiming that ITV cut out scenes of Adam being "abusive, aggressive and intimidating".
David Haye - who has his own beef with Adam - then butted in and accused Adam of "playing the vicim".
"I don’t stand on someone being abusive, aggressive and intimidating!" Jimmy began shouting. "You showed none of the C bombs."
Ant took a stand and told Jimmy he did not find Adam's behaviour "intimidating", adding: "I was there."
Adam, meanwhile, insisted he has repeatedly apologised to Jimmy. He said: "I’ve apologised to Jimmy on many occasions. That’s how I’ve ever shown myself off. I apologise and I am sorry."
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Sinitta stormed off, followed by Gemma Collins (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
But David shouted: "There was a lot of editing to make this poor guy look like a victim. We all had banter, a lot of it was cut out of their side. It’s time for the truth."
By this point, Sinitta got up and stormed off set. She was closely followed by Gemma Collins.
Jimmy continued yelling: "Let’s play it now. I loved every minute of it except that!"
Once things had settled down, Ant and Dec announced Adam as this year's winner. But he looked ready to go home, just about forcing a smile.
Fans couldn't believe what they were watching, branding it a "car crash".
One wrote on X: "Absolute Car Crash TV this." Another added: "Ahahaha proper car crash I love it!"
And a third wrote: "Best and worst 30 mins of British tv this year so far."
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
