Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt has told Soaplife that Paddy Kirk and Marlon Dingle get competitive when they sign up for an online dating app.

The Dale’s Dominic Brunt has told Soaplife that Paddy Kirk and Marlon Dingle cross swords over a potential date when they enter the world of online dating.

What’s the story?

The battle lines are drawn as Paddy Kirk and Marlon Dingle both go online to find love. Each wants to be the first to bag a hot date and Paddy’s gutted when he has an awful liaison with Bernice White, while Marlon goes out with attractive newcomer Lindsey. But just as Marlon thinks he’s the victor, it turns out that Lindsey prefers his pal! “Paddy feels wretched when he doesn’t get any swipes on a dating app,” actor Dominic Brunt told Soaplife. “Marlon mocks him, so when Lindsey shows an interest in Paddy, he feels justified in trying to steal his lady.” Are the pals about to fall out over a woman?

What's happening in Emmerdale? See the latest Emmerdale storylines here

Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt give an interview to Soaplife

Soaplife: What does Paddy think when Marlon sets him up with Bernice?

Dominic Brunt: “He doesn’t really understand what’s going on. Bernice is told that Paddy needs therapy and he’s told that Bernice is interested in horses. Neither of them realise they’re being set up on a date, which makes for some entertaining scenes. I’m a massive fan of Sam Giles, so it was great fun to film.”

S: How do you find working with Marlon actor Mark Charnock after all this time?

DB: “We put a lot of effort into it, but we know each other well, so we have shortcuts. We both have a certain way of working.”

S: What does Paddy think when he sees Marlon with his date, Lindsey?

DB: “She’s attractive, so Paddy says there’s bound to be something wrong with her. Things don’t work out with her and Marlon, so Paddy gloats when he gets her number.”

S: Does Paddy set out to steal Lindsey?

DB: “Yes and he feels justified because Marlon’s ribbed him. Lindsey walks out on Marlon and she thinks, ‘I’m here anyway. I’ll go for a meal with Paddy!’”

S: How does the date go?

DB: “She finds out there’s a competition between Marlon and Paddy and she takes umbrage. She’s so angry that she seeks revenge.”

S: Will this harm Paddy and Marlon’s friendship?

DB: “No. It’s a bit of fun and they both see it as a ridiculous situation.”

S: Tell us about your new film?

DB: “It’s called Attack of the Adult Babies and Sally Dexter, who plays Faith Dingle, is in it. She’s amazing. The film’s going to be distributed worldwide, too. It’s a kind of holiday comedy with lots of fat men running around a manor house in nappies.”

S: When can people see it?

DB: “It will be out in the UK this winter and then it will come out on DVD.”

Paddy Kirk can’t help himself, he wants to be more than a friend to Rhona. But Rhona takes control of the situation, explains Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt

Yes, Paddy Kirk does love Rhona Harris. And now that the whole nasty business with Pierce Harris is over, Paddy wants Rhona back. So he’s thrilled when Rhona makes a move and kisses him.

“Paddy can’t help, but feel drawn to Rhona again,” Dominic Brunt told Soaplife. “But Rhona dashes his hopes and he is upset.”

How long has Paddy harboured feelings for Rhona? “He regrets everything that happened with Tess [who Paddy had an affair with]. Yes, he regrets everything. He didn’t fall out of love with Rhona [Zoe Henry], he just made a stupid mistake. He utterly betrayed her. He hasn’t tried to get back with Rhona because she was going through the rape trial and it would have been ridiculously inappropriate.”

Tell us about this kiss? “Paddy doesn’t instigate it, but because Rhona goes in for the kiss, he responds. It is everything he wishes for and believes that it’s a way back to how they were two or three years ago.”

What happens afterwards? “Rhona takes control. She is honest and tells Paddy that she is not ready for anything. She visits Pierce in prison and that makes her even more determined to be in control of her emotions and her own destiny. She doesn’t want anybody else to have control over her any more and thinks that if she got back with Paddy, she would be beholden to him.”

Their friend Marlon is worried, too, isn’t he? “Yes. Marlon thinks the timing is awful and is worried that Paddy might be taking advantage of Rhona’s vulnerability. However, he assures Marlon that it isn’t what he’s doing. Marlon doesn’t want Paddy or Rhona to get hurt.”

Do you think they could make it work again? “I am not sure what would get them back together – maybe time. It is hard to see how a couple would get over what Paddy did to Rhona, really.”

We take it you are still enjoying your time at Emmerdale? “I have been ridiculously spoilt and have dodged lots of bullets, but I’m still here! I will take whatever they give me, really, as I love it here.”

Emmerdale, ITV

Rhona kisses Paddy after they have dinner together

Rhona's at sixes and sevens, and good old Paddy, her ex-husband, is picking up the pieces. With the vet still reeling from the awful ordeal Pierce put her through, raping her on their wedding day, Paddy is vital to her recovery. In a tender moment, Rhona leans in for a kiss… What next?

Frank is busy plotting his surprise for Megan - their wedding! But he has no idea she hasn't forgiven him for sleeping with Charity and is planning to ruin him. Thing is, Megan still loves Frank - can she stay strong as he lays on the charm?

The villagers get a laugh as exercise rivals Dan and Jimmy go head-to-head in a race.

A series of incidents leads Rhona to realise she has a stalker. Is the vet's abusive ex, Pierce, behind it all?

This week Rhona finally tells the villagers the truth about her wedding day rape in Emmerdale. Her revelation, which leaves the locals shocked, comes after she hears them all talking about Pierce, her ex, in high regard. Knowing the truth - that he's an evil rapist - the vet flips and sets them straight.

Not long after her outburst, strange things start happening at Smithy, Rhona's home. First, an eerie message appears in her bathroom mirror – and then she finds opened pill packets in her sitting room – and then the front door is open wide.

When Marlon and Paddy see her with the empty tablet strips, they wonder if recovering addict Rhona has relapsed and is taking painkillers again.

Can Rhona convince them otherwise? And, more importantly, who is behind the strange incidents at Smithy?

Rhona is alarmed when she finds an opened packet of pills in her sitting room – someone has been inside her house…

Rhona is alarmed when she finds an opened packet of pills in her sitting room – someone has been inside her house…

Earlier, in The Woolpack, Rhona snaps when she overhears the locals talking about her ex-husband Pierce in high regard.

Finally exposing the truth, the villagers reel as Rhona reveals Pierce raped her on their wedding day.

The next day, Rhona comes downstairs to find someone has been inside her house…

… and has left an opened pill packet on the table.

Paddy and Marlon jump to conclusions when they see Rhona, who is recovering from an addiction to painkillers, with the tablet strips.

Rhona wonders who has been inside her home and assumes it's the work of her rapist ex, Pierce… But was it him?Watch Emmerdale from Monday 26 June on ITV.

Pierce returns to Smithy while Rhona agonises as she tells Leo his stepdad won't be coming back into their lives

Rhona's having a really hard time moving on from her hideous ordeal with Pierce. So when her son Leo draws a family picture, including her rapist ex, it cuts like a knife. Paddy's heart breaks when he listens in as Rhona tries to tell Leo his stepdad won't be coming back to live with them again.

Later, there's more strife as Pierce returns to Smithy, under the watchful eye of the police, to pick up some of his belongings. Is Rhona in a safe place - or is she still in harm's way?

As Rhona's ordeal with Pierce continues, Paddy feels terrible for his ex and their son Leo.

As Rhona's ordeal with Pierce continues, Paddy feels terrible for his ex and their son Leo.

Paddy's heart breaks as Rhona tries to explain to Leo that Pierce won't be coming home.

Paddy is deeply concerned about Rhona's state of mind following the sexual attacked she sustained from Pierce on their wedding day.

Rhona turns to Vanessa for support as the investigation into her rapist ex, Pierce, begins.

Rhona tells Vanessa she's worried about what her friends and family will say when they find out what happened on her wedding day.

Under the watchful eye of the police, Pierce enters Smithy Cottage to pick up some belongings. Will he leave Rhona alone from now on?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 19 June.

Shock showdown! What will Rhona do when her rapist husband Pierce unexpectedly returns to the village to menace her?

Rhona's life has been a living hell since she was raped on her wedding day by new husband Pierce in Emmerdale.

Even though the village vet reported the crime to the police, she was too terrified to reveal the identity of her attacker after sinister solicitor Pierce threatened that nobody will believe her.

She sent Pierce packing, warning him she will report him to the police if he shows his face in the village again. However, the nightmare is far from over...

Worried about her strange behaviour and unaware of what really happened after the wedding, Rhona's well-meaning ex Paddy tracks down Pierce and reports his worries that former addict is popping pills again. What happens next terrifies Rhona...

You're not welcome! Rhona hoped she'd seen the last of her rapist husband Pierce.

You're not welcome! Rhona hoped she'd seen the last of her rapist husband Pierce.

Earlier, unaware Rhona has been a victim of marital rape, her well-meaning ex, Paddy, goes in search of Pierce to report Rhona's recent strange behaviour.

Pierce listens as Paddy reveals his fears former addict Rhona has turned to drugs again.

There's a nasty surprise for Rhona when Pierce unexpectedly comes to visit...

Rhona warned Pierce she will report him to the police if he came near her again. Will she stay true to her word?

Determined to see justice served, will Rhona report rapist Pierce to the police and confide in Paddy and Marlon about her terrible ordeal?Don't miss Emmerdale from Monday, June 12 on ITV

Guilty Rhona urges Pierce to pop the question again after sharing a secret kiss with her ex, Paddy

Emmerdale's Rhona Kirk is gutted when her official divorce papers come through. But with new man Pierce Harris nowhere to be found, she finds herself commiserating with her now ex-husband Paddy! As the drinks flow in the Woolpack, elsewhere, Pierce is having a traumatic day of his own as it's the anniversary of his late wife Tess' death. Unaware of what Pierce is going through, and angry at him for disappearing on her, Rhona gets plastered and ends up sharing a lingering kiss with Paddy!

Riddled with guilt about the kiss, and after finding out where and why Pierce went AWOL, Rhona feels terrible. To ease the tension between her and Pierce she comes up with a plan and urges her man to propose to her. Pierce doesn't hang about and pops the question. After Rhona accepts, Vanessa wonders why her friend is in such a hurry to get hitched again. Will Rhona tell anyone about her moment with Paddy?

But Pierce has no idea Rhona earlier went and got drunk with her ex-husband, Paddy…

…nor does Pierce realise that Rhona and Paddy's booze up to 'celebrate' their divorce, ended in a lingering kiss!

After a huge row with Pierce, Rhona comes up with an idea to appease her man.

Guilty Rhona urges Pierce to try proposing to her again…

Their row about Pierce's late wife Tess is soon forgotten when Rhona accepts Pierce's hand in marriage!

When Vanessa hears about the engagement, she asks Rhona why she's in such a hurry to get hitched.

Rhona and co celebrate the engagement, unaware new fiance Pierce has heard every word of their conversation and her words of warning…Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 13 February

Chas and Paddy are persistent, you've got to give them that. Most people give up after one bad date. Yet they still keep trying in Emmerdale...

As Marlon plays Cupid in Emmerdale, setting up a romantic dinner to try to get Chas and Paddy in the mood for romance, the chef's best laid plans go to pot…

Paddy is in excruciating pain following an intimate incident earlier and he tries to cope by glugging wine. Are they destined to never get it together?

At Tall Trees, Marlon has set up Chas and Paddy... Is it finally going to happen?!

Paddy tries to hide his discomfort as he and Chas sit down for dinner. He drinks his wine, desperate to numb the pain of his recent injury

As the wine flows neither Marlon nor Chas know why Paddy is knocking it back with such vigour

… will he be able to tell her he's in excruciating pain? And the embarrassing reason why?

As Marlon leaves the awkward pair to it, Paddy's clearly feeling very uncomfortable… And Chas is shocked when she unwittingly causes him to faint!

The disastrous date is called off early and Paddy's soon disturbed to learn where Chas has gone...

His heart sinks as he listens to Chas innocently flirting with her ex flame DS Wise. Will they call time on their comedy of errors?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from 7pm, Monday, January 16

The doomed pair Paddy and Chas are hit with a string of bad luck as they attempt to pursue romance in Emmerdale...

Are Paddy and Chas meant to be together in Emmerdale or aren't they? Well if the coming week is anything to go by, the answer is no!

Every time they get together, disaster seems to strike. When the pair arrange a date to see if there's still a spark and some chemistry between them, calamity awaits...

Paddy ends up with a smack in the mouth thanks to a minor mishap!

When Chas pops into the vets to see Paddy, he ends up getting a wallop.

Chas is just about to give Paddy a peck on the mouth when a gerbil escapes from a cage.

A terrified Chas spies the furry friend and screeches with horror.

A terrified Chas spies the furry friend and screeches with horror.

As she recoils in shock she manages to whack Paddy in the mouth, giving him a bleeding lip.

Later on, and trying to put the accident behind them, Paddy and Chas go on a date at Pollard's B&B...

But when Paddy tries to impress Chas with a line he heard Ross use to chat up Rebecca, he's mortified and left red-faced, when Chas is less than impressed.

Worse is to come when he later tries to open a bottle of fiz and the cork goes flying... into Chas's eye! Seriously, could things get any more painful? Will these two persist with their dating efforts or will they knock things on the head?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday, January 2

Paddy gets himself in a painful mess when he tries to play the dating game again, as Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt tells Soaplife

Paddy’s divorce is final, he still loves Rhona, but Paddy needs to move on and Chas proves the perfect port in the storm. “Paddy has always had a soft spot for Chas,” Dominic Brunt tells Soaplife. “But Marlon [Mark Charnock] says he is punching above his weight.” She’s not the only woman Paddy has his eye on, though…

Why has Paddy latched onto Chas? “He has been on his own for a while and wants to get out there dating. He is crestfallen that his divorce to Rhona [Zoe Henry] has come through and wants to start living a bit.”

So who’s Lydia? “She is the first single woman who comes into the vet’s, so Paddy asks her out. It doesn’t go very well because she is unhinged. She never stops talking and suggests they go to a lawnmower museum.”

How does he get away from her? “Rhona saves him. She runs in and slaps Paddy, saying that she is his wife. Lydia then reacts by giving him a slap. He gets slapped by Chas, too, who pretends to be his mistress for Lydia’s benefit.”

Is there any mileage in Paddy and Chas? “I think it is a mutual rebound thing. They are both single and they want to spend time together. They can skip all the difficult stuff and hang out. It’s great for me, as I love working with Lucy [Pargeter, who plays Chas]. I think she is one of the best things about Emmerdale. She is a dream to work with.”

Is Paddy ready for love? “No, he still loves Rhona. He never stopped loving her and it really rankles him that Pierce [Jonathan Wrather] is on the scene. But, personally, I enjoy Paddy having a nemesis.”

What advice would you give Paddy? “I would tell him to stop being so wet. He is such a buffoon. He was an idiot to have that affair with Tess. He was the last person I would expect to do a thing like that. I was cynical about the story at first, but it was so fantastic to play and the writing was brilliant. Other great stories came out of it and they are still tumbling forward.”

Emmerdale, ITV

Paddy's racy gift leaves Chas Dingle speechless in Emmerdale!

There are crossed wires and embarrassed faces when Chas opens a gift that Rhona was intending to give Pierce and thinks it's a pressie from Paddy in Emmerdale. Oops!

Will bumbling Paddy be able to explain the mix up?

Chas is a little taken aback to open a lacy cerise basque from her ex Paddy!

Earlier, Rhona is proud of Pierce when he doesn't react to Liv's taunts.

The tearaway teen loves whipping up trouble and has already sent Rhona a bunch of flowers that looked like they'd come from Paddy.

This time Pierce, who recently went to counselling for his anger and jealousy issues, manages to stay calm despite Liv's stirring.

Later, Rhona confides in Vanessa that she's missing being intimate with Pierce. She decides she's going to book them a weekend away and goes off to buy some sexy lingerie in anticipation.

Rhona presents Pierce with the bag containing her saucy early Christmas gift, but is horrified to discover something very different in the package.

Rhona presents Pierce with the bag containing her saucy early Christmas gift, but is horrified to discover something very different in the package.

Meanwhile, Paddy gives Chas the bag, but she's floored to be presented with the lacy lingerie. As Pierce looks on, will Paddy be able to explain the mix up? And are Rhona and PIerce right in thinking there's definitely still a spark between Chas and her ex?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday, December 5

Already on red alert when it comes to Paddy, Pierce's paranoia over Rhona's relationship with her ex is about to go stratospheric in Emmerdale…

Pierce already feels he and Rhona have a third wheel in their relationship in the shape of his girlfriend's ex, Paddy. But his jealousy is about to ramp up when Rhona receives a bunch of flowers which have been sent by someone who's signed the card as 'P'.

Deciding Rhona's ex is behind the blooms, Pierce loses his cool with Rhona. But were they from Paddy, who is clearly still in love with his estranged wife, or should Pierce be worrying about someone else? There's certainly someone in the village who's chuffed to see the couple rowing, and that's Liv who's picked up on the awkward love triangle vibe and spotted an opportunity to cause trouble…

Pierce isn't too thrilled when Rhona receives a bunch of flowers - which weren't from him!

In the cafe, Rhona's having an awkward afternoon with Pierce and Paddy.

But the interlude gets even more uncomfortable for the vet when Liv spills custard in her lap!

The teen is totally humiliated when both Pierce and Paddy have a go at Liv for her clumsy mistake. She's left stung and later spots an opportunity for revenge…

Pierce is taken aback when, later, Rhona receives a bunch of flowers. Problem is, they're not from him!

Of course, when Pierce clocks the flowers' accompanying card which has been signed by 'P', he assumes Rhona's ex, Paddy, has sent them.

Of course, when Pierce clocks the flowers' accompanying card which has been signed by 'P', he assumes Rhona's ex, Paddy, has sent them.

Having barely recovered from their major row about Paddy, which led Rhona to be involved and injured in the Emmerdale car smash, can the couple get past another jealousy blip? Watch Emmerdale from Monday, November 14 on ITV at 7pm

Swarthy lawyer Pierce Harris is furious and takes revenge when he discovers Rhona's lied to him in Emmerdale's super soap week...

Rhona's relationship with Pierce has been intense to say the least and in the coming week the pair get into heated argument over his ongoing jealous feud with her ex, Paddy, in Emmerdale.

Failing to resolve their issues, an angry Pierce storms out and announces he's going away on business.

In desperate need of some comfort and a friendly face, an upset Rhona decides to visit Paddy and Marlon, who have gone camping overnight with Leo in the woods.

However things take a turn for the worse when Pierce later calls Rhona only to discover she's lied to him. What is he going to do?

Earlier, Paddy and Marlon are on high alert when events take a sinister turn on their camping trip.

Who or what has scared them?

Rhona turns up unexpectedly and is pleased to get a comforting hug from Paddy after her nasty row with Pierce.

Unbeknown to Rhona, Pierce hasn't gone on his business trip to Brussels after all...

He's come home to Smithy Cottage to apologise for their row. He rings Rhona to ask where she is, but when she lies that she's at home his blood boils. He knows she's stayed the night with her ex Paddy and he's not at all happy about it. What is PIerce going to do next?

As the week ends, one of the villagers is going to die. Is ruthless Pierce capable of bringing harm to his love rival Paddy? Just how far will his bitter jealousy push him?Watch the dramatic events in Emmerdale, ITV, from Monday 17 October.

ITV has released a new Emmerdale trailer featuring a host of the show's key character dancing with a mystical figure. Is someone about to have their last dance?

ITV have released an intriguing trailer with a touch of Strictly that features many of Emmerdale's core characters dancing amid a mystical, ghostly figure.

It can only mean one thing – someone or some people are about to dance their last dance.

An Emmerdale statement said it's a glimpse of what’s in store during an unmissable week of groundbreaking episodes coming later in October.

Watch the new Emmerdale trailer:

https://youtu.be/Gf5Hq4iWZqA

Robert’s plan to avenge Chrissie goes dangerously wrong, reveals Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley

Paddy returns to Emmerdale full of plans to start over with Rhona. But then he sees she has already moved on – to Pierce!

Paddy returns to Emmerdale from Germany this week and he wants to mend his marriage to Rhona. But, as Dominic Brunt explains to Soaplife, she has moved another bloke in – Pierce

Does Paddy believe Rhona is ready to forgive him? “He thought having given Rhona [Zoe Henry] time and space to get her head straight, she’ll throw her arms around him when he turns up and say, ‘Haven’t we been silly? Let’s carry on!’ So, he decides to surprise her and, of course, he gets a nasty surprise.”

He turns up at the house clutching a bunch of flowers… Then what happens? “The house is empty and ridiculously clean and that’s not Rhona. She’s slovenly and always has bits and pieces everywhere. Then, Rhona and Pierce [Jonathan Wrather] burst through the door snogging. Paddy can’t believe it and says ‘What were you doing with him?’ Then he gets very angry with Pierce.”

 What does Paddy make of Pierce? “He knows he isn’t the nice bloke everyone thinks he is. Don’t forget, Pierce’s wife Tess [Nicola Stephenson] told Paddy what he was like with her. He doesn’t like the way he treats Rhona and he knows he’s not a good human being.”

Does Paddy try and win Rhona back? “Yes, and he makes a complete fool of himself. He locks himself in the house and makes proclamations to Rhona. I don’t think he manages very well. He likes things to be ordered, he’s led a very narrow and small life. He’s mucked it up and just wants everything back the way it was.”

Emmerdale, ITV

Paddy and Rhona are leaving Emmerdale on a six-month trip to Germany

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In a bid to put their marriage back together, Paddy and Rhona are taking Leo and moving to Germany for six months – but no one wants to see them go…

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Marlon can't bear the thought of letting son Leo go and Vanessa and Pearl are losing their good friends…

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Paddy admits to Marlon that they're leaving because it's what Rhona wants, not him. He's doing it because he feels he owes her after cheating on her

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Vanessa, Marlon and Pearl are all Rhona's friends but she finds it hard to face them after being humiliated by Paddy's affair with Tess

EMMER%E2%80%93WEEK16%E2%80%93PADDY%E2%80%93KIRK%E2%80%93RHONA%E2%80%93GOSKIRK%E2%80%93MARLON%E2%80%93DINGLE04_0

Rhona wants to believe that leaving with Paddy is the best thing for them to do. But is it? Watch Emmerdale on ITV, from Monday, April 18

Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt has hailed Nicola Stephenson's performance as 'amazing' following her character's dramatic death tonight, run down by a car driven by drunk Kirin Kotecha.

Dominic's character Paddy has been conducting an affair with teacher's assistant Tess, a relationship he had been unsuccessfully trying to end.

Dominic was full of praise for Nicola, who previously starred in shows such as Safe House and Holby City: "We knew when Nicola got the job, she was here for a finite period of time, because she liked the story. Nicola's going off doing big high-end dramas all the time, and big tours, she's a really well-thought-of dramatic actress, but she really liked the story and said I'd love to do this so we brought her in for this."

He continued: "She's been amazing and we've been going, 'This is really really heavy', [but she said] 'usually I'm playing light-hearted stuff or I'm attached to light stuff as well as dramatic, but I've never been in the middle of the drama. I've always been part of other people's stories that have been really heavy, so it's the first time for me to be the centre of it. It's been fantastic!'"

Dominic was less enthusiastic about Paddy, whose affair will haunt him long after Tess's death: "I have no sympathy for the man at all! It's appalling, he's betrayed the trust of people, I don't think he handled Tess's feelings very well and interestingly your instinct is to to go the writers, "No I wouldn't do this, he's a likeable character!'

"Instead... I'm just going to grasp it. I'm going to run with it and indulge myself in the badness."

Watch the interview with Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt, above."]

Paddy hoped it was all over when he ended his affair with Tess… but now she's turning bunny boiler and he knows if she tells, it could wreck his marriage. Emmerdale's Dominic Brunt reveals Paddy's fears to Soaplife.

What makes Paddy realise that Tess might not have accepted their affair is over?

"He finds out Tess [Nicola Stephenson] has been crying at school. It rattles him because he does care for her, but the selfish part of him thinks 'I hope she doesn't say anything.' He's beginning to wish he never started the affair. Tess has got emotionally attached and Paddy now thinks it was a silly mistake."

How does he react when Rhona tells him she's spoken to Tess?

"He panics. Rhona [Zoe Henry] explains that Tess confided in her and revealed she has been seeing a married man and plans to move to the village. If she's doing that, Paddy believes it's only a matter of time before his marriage could be over."

What happens when Tess turns up at his door?

"He's freaked out… Rhona could have seen her. He says 'Come in, you've got five minutes', and things don't go well. They have a massive row and Tess smashes a glass against the wall."

Does Paddy think Tess will now reveal their affair?

"He's terrified that Tess is going to tell Rhona about the affair. Then he finds out that Rhona has agreed to meet up with Tess who is upset."

What does he do?

"He tells Rhona that Tess is unstable. He explains that she tried it on with Marlon [Mark Charnock] even though she's married."

Would Paddy ever take Tess back?

"He is tempted to call her to make sure she is okay, but he has decided as far as the affair is concerned, that's it. The adoption is the chance for Paddy and Rhona to have a new chapter together."

Do you think Rhona would forgive Paddy if she found out?

"I think Paddy would like to think that if he poured his heart out, she might say 'I didn't realise you were going through all of this' and help him through his misery. Personally, I am not sure she will be so understanding!"

Emmerdale, ITV

Emmerdale’s Paddy is doesn't want his affair with Tess to hurt Rhona - but it could, Dominic Brunt reveals to Soaplife.

Why is Paddy betraying Rhona?

“His relationship with Tess [Nicola Stephenson] excites him. It makes him feel younger. When it all ends, he will probably look back and think it has all been a big disaster.”

What does he see in Tess?

“Well, there is the sex side of things, which seems to happen quite a lot, they share a good sense of humour and they are able to pour out their problems to one another. Tess is not attached to anybody in the village and he likes having this person that he can just blab to.”

Does he feel guilty?

"To be honest, he is not being very human about it. He is being selfish, enjoying the affair and thinking, ‘These things don’t happen to me’. He is being duplicitous. He has split his morals and his mind in two. One side is his family, who he wants to protect, and the other is Tess. He is really loving the fling!”

So what about adopting a child with Rhona?

“He wants it to go ahead and says to himself ‘This doesn’t affect me as a dad’.”

How does he react when he hears Rhona wants Tess to be their referee?

“That rattles him. He thinks it is a terrible idea. He wants to keep Tess and his family life separate, but Tess is kind of playing games and rightly so. He thinks he can pick her up and drop her whenever it suits him, but she is pushing back a bit and starts turning up in the village. The chickens are coming home to roost and it is worrying him.”

What happens when Rhona finds Paddy’s second phone?

“Paddy says it belongs to Aaron [Danny Miller]. He has used him as an excuse a couple of times. Paddy thinks that as he has always been there for Aaron, he owes him.”

What does Aaron think?

“Aaron doesn’t react well at all to Paddy’s affair when he  tells him about it. He sees Paddy as this morally upstanding father figure who doesn’t do things wrong. He is Aaron’s moral compass.

What would make Paddy choose between Rhona and Tess?

“The threat of Rhona [Zoe Henry] finding out. The last thing he wants is for her to get hurt. He is hoping that the affair will eventually end and then he can go back to normal with Rhona. He loves her and he doesn’t want to lose her.”

Would he ever choose to be with Tess over Rhona?

“I think if it all collapsed and he had to be with Tess, he would realise what he has lost. He should be with Rhona. He is being a selfish idiot!”

Emmerdale, ITV

Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt tells Soaplife why Paddy cheated on Rhona - and how he ends up offering her a ring...

Who’d have thought it? Paddy Kirk having it away with a strange woman in the back of a car – a very small car, at that. He’s been feeling guilty ever since and his worst nightmare comes true when Tess Harris, his one-night squeeze, turns up in the village – as Leo’s new teaching assistant.

“It is awful for Paddy," said Dominic. "The worst thing is, she is very good at her job and Leo loves her."

So why has Paddy done something so stupid?

“He uses Rhona’s kiss with Marlon as an excuse, but the whole point of the storyline is that things like this do happen to ordinary couples. Paddy was perfectly happy. He loves his wife and he adores Leo. Tess [Nicola Stephenson] was just there at the right time. He couldn’t tell Rhona about all the stuff with Aaron [Danny Miller], so he blurted it out to Tess and, well, that led to what happened in the back of the Yaris.”

What did you think when you were told about the storyline?

“I took it as a compliment and I was really pleased to be working alongside somebody of Nicola’s calibre. I have been waiting for a story like this and I am really going to indulge in it.”

Do you worry that viewers will start to loathe Paddy?

“No. I never look for sympathy. I’ve been in scenes where people have said, ‘I’m not doing that, the audience will hate me!’ but I would never do that.”

What did you think when you were told they would have sex in her car?

“Nicola said to me: ‘One of the big reveals is: Paddy is a contortionist.’ I remember turning up to film and saying, ‘That car?’ My head was right up against the visor!'”

What does Zoe [Henry, who plays Rhona], think about it?

“We have had a fairly quiet year and both of us got a bit giddy and excited when we found out. She wanted to know if Paddy and Rhona stay together. We both know the outcome, but we’re not saying anything!”

Will Paddy sleep with Tess again?

“There is a lot of guilt and regret on his part, but that might not be enough to stop him. Tess is around and she is easy to talk to.”

What would Marlon say?

“I’m not sure how far down the line it is before he finds out. Paddy does tell one person, but it’s not Marlon [Mark Charnock].”

After all this, Paddy goes down on one knee to Rhona - and they’re already married. What’s he doing?

“Rhona has lost her engagement ring, so Paddy, fuelled by guilt over what he did with Tess, buys her a new one… Well, he pretends to find the old one and gets down on one knee to give it to her. She says he is the best husband in the world and that makes him feel even worse!”

Could Paddy fall in love with Tess?

“He might. Watch this space.”

Emmerdale, ITV

What is Paddy hiding from his wife, Rhona, and best friend, Chas?

Aaron takes revenge on Robert… but a fight, a kidnapping and a shooting leaves lives in ruin, Emmerdale’s Danny Miller tells Soaplife…

It crunch time for Aaron and Robert… All that passion turns to hatred when Aaron realises Robert tried to kill Paddy, the man he sees as a father. Aaron wants revenge, but Robert turns the tables on his lover.

“Aaron wants to let Robert have it,” says Danny. “But Robert knocks Aaron unconscious, which gives him some thinking time - and that’s a very dangerous thing for someone like Robert to have…” 

Does Aaron realise Robert is bad news?

“He’s fully aware he isn’t the most honest or loyal of people, but he doesn’t see Robert [Ryan Hawley] for who he really is. That’s what Paddy wants him to see. But, at first, when Paddy tells Aaron that Robert tried to kill him in the grain pit, he thinks Paddy’s trying to scare him.”

But Aaron sees how scared Paddy is, doesn’t he?

“Yes. Aaron sees the fear in Paddy’s eyes and he realises he’s telling the truth. Suddenly, he realises Robert represents everything he detests and he doesn’t want to stand for. He’s truly shocked and can’t believe how stupid he’s been.”

Does Aaron listen to Paddy when he warns him to steer clear of Robert?

“No, it’s like rebelling against your parents. He knows Paddy’s right, but he doesn’t want to admit it to himself. Aaron’s dead set on getting revenge for Paddy [Dominic Brunt]…”

How?

“Aaron’s being mentored by Chrissie’s dad, Lawrence [John Bowe], who invites him on a weekend conference. This would give him plenty of time to spend with Robert and execute his plan.”

But it goes wrong, doesn’t it?

“Paddy finds out and he’s desperate to stop Aaron from going because he knows it will end badly. So Paddy tells Lawrence that Aaron’s a psychopath, who’s been in jail, which freaks Lawrence out. But Aaron won’t be stopped. He books a remote lodge and asks Robert to meet him there.”

What happens at the lodge?

“Robert forces himself on Aaron, but Aaron can’t bring himself to kiss him. Aaron wants to know what happened to Paddy and Robert finally admits what he did. It dawns on Aaron that Robert might have lied about Katie [Sammy Winward] and Robert finally reveals that he pushed her. Aaron records all of this…"

But?

“They have a fight and Robert knocks Aaron out and ties him to a radiator. Then he leaves him there…”

He comes back with a gun, though - and Paddy is shot!

“I can’t tell you any more. You’ll have to watch to find out what happens. I can reveal that, back at the village, Chrissie [Louise Marwood] finally finds out about Robert and Aaron’s affair.”

So there’s more drama to come?

“Oh, yeah - and it will be about Chrissie’s breakdown as much as Aaron’s. That will cause some chaos!”

Emmerdale, ITV.

Aaron's plan to get revenge on Robert goes dangerously wrong...

Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt has revealed how acting helped him overcome chronic shyness and a stutter.

The actor has played Paddy Kirk in the ITV soap since 1997, but started out as a painfully shy welder before getting into acting.

He told The Sun: “I was in a tiny cubicle which was completely solitary, welding chairs thousands of times, weeks on end. I thought I was going mad.

Dominic Brunt as Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale (ITV)

“I always had a little bit of a stutter and was a bit insular. I would have to force words out. The isolation of work and not coming across lots of people very often made it worse.”

Eventually, Dominic decided to leave the welding job and followed some of his friends to performing arts college, although his parents thought it was a bad idea.

He said: “It made me a lot more confident about myself and the stutter gradually went away. It was a flowering for me. Meeting new people drew me out of myself.”

Dominic has played Paddy since 1997 (ITV)

Dominic went on to win a place at prestigious drama school the Old Vic in Bristol, but admitted he had to battle against assumptions of how actors should be.

He said: “In the morning I was a cleaner, in the evenings a waiter, and at weekends I would weld. There were people on £25,000 a year given to them by relatives with double-barrelled names but I was happy, I didn’t feel bitter about it.

“It was only me and another lad who were Northerners. The fella who ran it wanted us to get rid of our accents and we’d have to say things like ‘blood’ in a proper English way.

“After a while, I just thought, ‘I’m Northern, I’m not doing that’.”

Paddy’s life is on the line because of Robert's evil, Emmerdale’s Dominic Brunt explains to Soaplife.

Paddy bravely decides to threaten Robert Sugden when he finds out the affair with Aaron is still on. But the vet soon comes a cropper when Robert decides to teach him a lesson. Trapped in a grain pit with an injured leg, Paddy’s in grave danger when Robert starts up the machinery and the pit begins to fill up…

Why does Paddy cross Robert?

“He finds out Robert [Ryan Hawley] and Aaron [Danny Miller] are back on and he can see the signs of Aaron self-harming and being used by Robert. He keeps going on at Aaron to stay away from Robert. It gets on Aaron’s nerves and obviously doesn’t work, as Paddy finds the two men kissing.”

How does Paddy react?

“He’s disappointed and concerned for Aaron because he thinks he’s in genuine danger from Robert. He can also see the relationship is not making Aaron happy. Robert tries to threaten Paddy, who absolutely flips! But that just makes things worse…”

Is Paddy a match for Robert?

“No. Paddy’s scared of his own reflection. He’s terrified of Robert. He gives it a go, but Robert blows him out of the water. He is an arch manipulator.”

What does Paddy do to Robert?

“He tells Robert he’ll tell Chrissie [Louise Marwood] about Aaron if he doesn’t stay away from him. Then he writes Chrissie a note that reads ‘Rein your cheating husband in’.”

Does Paddy realise it’s Robert who switched on the grain chute?

“No, he hasn’t got a clue - but I don’t think it would take him long to come that conclusion. Paddy does know he’s in genuine danger. He’s worked on farms so he knows people do die in accidents like this… And he knows a machine doesn’t turn itself on.”

Emmerdale, ITV.

Will Marlon and Paddy land themselves in BIG trouble when they try and save their pet pigs from an abattoir?

The winters can be harsh in the Yorkshire countryside, but it's not the cold or the snow that has killed Katie's horse, Wilson… it's Vanessa the vet! Well, that's what Katie thinks, anyway - and she's going to make Vanessa pay. Katie returned from holiday to find Wilson clearly unwell and Steve told her he'd called Rhona. But Rhona's bad back has put her out of action so Vanessa stood in for her. The big question is: was Vanessa in a fit state to be working? She had been to her godmother's funeral and was very upset. So, when she got to Home Farm and diagnosed mild colic, was her mind really on the job? Katie says it wasn't and is taking legal action. 

Debbie takes rather harsh action against Cain when he fixes Moira's car for free. Who does he think he is, giving his girlfriend freebies? Well, Debbie tells him who he is: he's her mechanic and if he doesn't do what she says - and that means making Moira pay for his work - then she'll find another mechanic.

Brenda's desperate for Dan to do what she wants, which is keep her brain tumour a secret from Bob. Dan finds out accidentally about Brenda's illness and feels he has to do what Brenda wants, although he thinks that what she should do is tell Bob.

Laurel and Ashley are proving to be quite hopeless at hanging on to family. Ashley lost Laurel, Sandy, Gabby and Arthur, then regained Gabby, but has now been forced to live with his ex, Bernice, to keep hold of her. Laurel left Ashley and had Gabby, Arthur and Sandy, but lost Gabby to Ashley and, more recently, to Bernice. Now Sandy tells Laurel and Ashley he wants to move into a retirement home. What?! He wept when that was suggested a year ago! Laurel's heartbroken, but Sandy's determined. He wants a place of his own.  

Brenda breaks Bob's heart. She's sure she has no future and she doesn't want to ruin his future so she tells him it won't work between them and dumps him. What?! Bob's stunned. Is this what the menopause does to women? He doesn't know that Brenda's behaviour isn't a result of crazy hormones, it's because of her brain tumour.

Paddy's in a panic because of his own incompetence. He promised Rhona he'd organise a birthday party for Vanessa and he's failed. But Marlon knows what friends are for and comes to Paddy's rescue. The surprise party is a wonderful surprise for Vanessa, but it's too much of a good time for Rhona, who falls and hurts her back.

What's Brenda doing at home with Nikhil?! She's supposed to be in hospital, having a biopsy on her brain tumour. Brenda's decided she doesn't need the biopsy, though, she just needs to get on with her life. And does that life include Bob? It did before she found out she was ill. Now? Well… Brenda doesn't want to face the fact that she's seriously ill and she can do that better without people - such as Bob - asking questions. Gennie's not going along with that life plan, though. She wants her mum to fight and if she won't do it for herself then, says Gennie, she should do it for Molly. Ah, emotional blackmail - a powerful card to play.

Cameron's not playing with Thomas; he seriously wants the lad to disappear. Thomas, you see, is a constant reminder to Cameron of how he killed Carl (Thomas's father) and let Chas take the blame, then killed Alex. Thomas doesn't know any of this, though, and tells Cameron he's keeping his job at The Woolpack because the job's helping keep him in Emmerdale, where he wants to be. But, adds, Thomas, he knows Cameron's not his Number One fan so he'll try to keep out of his way. He'd better!

Paddy's no fan of Vanessa's so he doesn't turn cartwheels when Rhona says she wants to throw Vanessa a birthday party. Paddy just wants to throw Vanessa - as far away from Emmerdale as possible.

It's a week of passion in Emmerdale, with secret sex, lustful looks – and a declaration of love!