Emmerdale newcomer Reece Dinsdale reveals SHOCK behind his casting

FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO until 00:01 Friday 7th February 2020 EMMERDALE DOUBLE TROUBLE IN THE DALES Following Emmerdale’s fourth consecutive win in the Best Serial Drama category at the National Television Awards, the show is pleased to announce Mark Womack and Reece Dinsdale will be joining the cast. Mark will play DI Malone a police officer with a dark history and Reece will take on the role of Paul a blast from Mandy Dingles (Lisa Riley) past who will certainly stir things up for her and Vinny (Bradley Johnson). Both characters will be on screen this spring. Mark is known for his roles in Liverpool 1 and Murphy’s Law and Reece Coronation Street and Home to Roost. Mark said ‘It’s always a lot of fun to play the bad guy and Malone definitely falls into that category. I'm looking forward to the audience seeing his twisted tale unfold on screen.’ Reece [PICTURED] said ‘I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. Having recently directed a couple of episodes, and seen at close quarters the superb work the cast, crews and creatives produce, I can't wait to become part of the team once again... albeit in a different capacity. Time to get my acting boots back on! ' Producer Laura Shaw said ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have Reece Dinsdale and Mark Womack joining the Emmerdale family. Although playing very different characters, both come with huge stories that will see lives changed and big explosions in 2020. We're all very excited to see these two hugely talented and experienced actors grace our screens. Press Contacts: Sian Hunter 0113 222 7112 sian.hunter@itv.com Emily Ogden 0113 222 7110 emily.ogden@itv.com Janine Goodall 0113 222 7121 janine.goodall@itv.com Picture editor: David Crook 0161 952 6214 david.crook@itv.com Photographer - Mark Bruce This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms

‘I wasn’t looking for that at all’

Emmerdale newcomer Reece Dinsdale has revealed that he was working at the soap as a director when he was approached to join the cast.

The 60 year old star, who was previously in Coronation Street from 2008 – 2010 as Gail’s fourth husband, Joe McIntyre – the debt-ridden kitchen fitter who faked his death in a boating accident a little too well – will make his debut next week as Paul Ashdale, ex partner of Mandy Dingle and biological father of teenager Vinny.

Says Reece: "I’ve done directing before, but with single camera filming, not multi camera, which they have at Emmerdale.

"I’m lucky to have a good friend, Ian Bevitt, who directs at both Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and he said ‘Come and learn an extra string to your bow.’ Multi camera is very different – it’s like learning chemistry if you’re a geography teacher!

Paul watches his son in Emmerdale — Reece has gone from behind the camera at Emmerdale to in front of it (Picture: ITV)

"I was shooting some Marlon and Rhona scenes, and on my last day, I got a call to see the executive producer and producer. I thought ‘It’s a bit late in the day to sack me!’

"They said they were pleased with what I’d done, and then made me an offer to be in the show. I wasn’t looking for that at all. I thought about it, and I didn’t know how long it would be for, but I thought it would be wonderful to get involved and be an actor again."

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Last month, Mandy confessed to her family that Vinny wasn’t her son, and that she’d raised him as her own since he was four years old when his father Paul – her then boyfriend – walked out on them.

Expecting a backlash over her lies, she was thrilled when her loved ones then made Vinny an honorary Dingle.

Next week, the barmaid ends up stranded in the middle of the Dales when Lydia Hart’s hen night goes awry. Desperate to get back home for Lydia and Sam’s wedding, she flags down an oncoming car and is shell shocked to see that it’s Paul behind the wheel.

Emmerdale Mandy and Paul — Mandy reels as Paul returns for his son (Picture: ITV)

Reveals Reece: "Paul comes in genuine, honest and decent. Vinny was four when he walked out, and he wants to make amends. There is a reason why he left, which will come out later.

"But he and Mandy don’t get off on the best footing. She lies that Vinny isn’t in the village, and makes it clear she doesn’t want to see him again.

"It’s not the warmest welcome!"

Emmerdale’s scheduling pattern has changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and now airs three episodes a week on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at 7pm on ITV.

Alison Slade has over 20 years of experience as a TV journalist and has spent the vast majority of that time as Soap Editor of TV Times magazine. She is passionate about the ability of soaps to change the world by presenting important, issue-based stories about real people in a relatable way. There are few soap actors that she hasn’t interviewed over the years, and her expertise in the genre means she has been called upon as a judge numerous times for The British Soap Awards and the BAFTA TV Awards.

When she is not writing about soaps, watching soaps, or interviewing people who are in soaps, she loves going to the theatre, taking a long walk or pottering about at home, obsessing over Farrow and Ball paint.