Emmerdale star Lisa Riley on 'incredible' and 'informative' Bear Wolf storyline
Lisa is the longest-serving female on EmmerdaleEmmerdale star Lisa Riley has given an update on what to expect from the ongoing Bear Wolf storyline – and it sounds like it will get very tense.
Lisa – who joined Emmerdale three decades ago – has opened up on how amazing it is that the show can still do surprises. And how they can continue to inform viewers about certain topics.
She spoke to Emmerdale Insider, on behalf of Buzz Bingo, revealing that there is some “harrowing viewing” ahead for fans.
Lisa finds it ‘incredible’ that Emmerdale can ‘inform’ viewers
Speaking to Emmerdale Insider, Lisa admitted that the “pennies are about to drop” for Paddy and Mandy, which will lead to them finally realising something isn’t right with Bear.
For the last few months, Emmerdale fans have been wondering what exactly is going on with him as he had been acting quite strange. Then, he suddenly vanished from the village, lying to his son about where he was staying. And since then, we haven’t had any updates.
However, we know Emmerdale are tackling a “never done before” storyline, and fans will be treated to a special standalone episode involving Bear that will finally answer some questions. But now, Lisa has given a few more hints, describing it as “incredible”.
She told the outlet: “It is going to be harrowing viewing. But I think it’s really important. When we tell these stories, we are informing people night after night of what’s going on everywhere, there are these grooming gangs and they are all over the country.
“By doing a story within Emmerdale, it’s incredible. We have become an informer. We also do it with Cancer storylines; it’s good to open people’s eyes. You can’t be an ostrich about something like this.
Drama for Paddy and Mandy?
But the Bear storyline will also bring drama for Mandy and Paddy in Emmerdale. But fans can stay relaxed, as Lisa doesn’t believe there are any plans on splitting the pair up anytime soon.
Last year, Mandy and Paddy tied the knot (again), and fans have loved their relationship ever since. And it seems Lisa loves it too.
She explained: “I think for a lot of families at home, couples can see themselves in Mandy and Paddy. That’s why everybody loves them together.”
For Lisa, Paddy and Mandy bring that “stability” to the soap – something that is hard to come by.
The Mandy Dingle actress explained: “In a soap, you need what I call the stability couple. And we are the stability couple. There’s affairs going on everywhere. It’s like a chessboard, the knight in the middle. You need them two.”
Lisa reflects on Mandy’s infertility storyline
Marking three decades on a soap is a big deal. But for Lisa, there is one particular storyline she feels the most proud of – Mandy’s infertility story. And it seems that was because of her own personal connection.
She explained: “I couldn’t have children as myself, so it was a massive learning curve for me. I didn’t realise so many young women out there who have had to have an operational hysterectomy. They have to go into relationships saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’ll never be able to get pregnant’. It literally made my heart hurt.”
Lisa admitted she finds it “nice to wave the flag” for women who can’t have kids – or girls who don’t want to. And she explained that will be a storyline she is always “proud” of when she looks back at her time in Emmerdale, crediting “the power of soap” for her being able to bring it to other people’s attention.
Read more: Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley turns her back on Lewis Cope as she cheers on Strictly rival to win the show
