Lisa Riley

Riley trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop from the age of nine, and was signed by an agent three years later. Riley's early roles included appearances as an extra in both Coronation Street and Brookside as well as a cast member in Butterfly Kiss which was directed by Michael Winterbottom.[2] She then appeared in a guest role as Mandy Dingle in the British soap opera Emmerdale in 1995. After proving popular with the audience, Riley was invited to join the soap's regular cast the following year.[3] In 1996, Riley won the National Television Awards for "Most Popular Newcomer" for her work in Emmerdale.[4] She continued to play Mandy until 2001 after deciding to pursue other television roles.[5]

Riley portrayed Princess Jean in the CITV Awards 1997, and also presented You've Been Framed between 1998 and 2002, taking over from the former presenter, Jeremy Beadle and raising viewers figures to more than 13 million at its peak in the process.[2] Riley featured as Rebecca Patterson, a "shy, retiring, twentysomething" woman, in the drama series Fat Friends across three series between 2002 and 2005.[6] Riley portrayed Goody McEldrich in a 2011 episode of the UK children's show 'Young Dracula', and during 2012, she appeared as Nadia Hicks in the second series of ITV crime drama, Scott & Bailey.[7] Between 2011 and 2013, Riley made guest appearance as Tina Allen in the BBC school drama Waterloo Road.[8] Later that year, Riley signed up as a contestant on the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering with Robin Windsor.[2] Riley juggled the rehearsals for Strictly Come Dancing with filming two appearances for Waterloo Road in February 2013.[8] The couple were eliminated during the semi-finals, on 16 December 2012.[9] She has since appeared on the 2013 live tour and the backstage show Strictly Confidential, directed by Craig Revel Horwood, who often praised her on the show.[8]

In September 2016, it was announced that Riley had joined the ITV daytime series Loose Women as one of three new panellists, following a series of guest appearances during the year.[10] In May 2017, Riley featured in the BBC miniseries Three Girls as Lorna, the mother of one of the main characters.[11] In August 2018, Riley starred in another BBC drama, Age Before Beauty, as Tina Reegan, a gothic tattoo artist.[12] Riley's return to Emmerdale for one storyline was announced on 13 November 2018. The character returns for a guest stint from January 2019.[13] She later returned full-time from September 2019.

In late 2016, Riley lost over 10 stone in weight,[14] and a year later, she had a surgery to remove excess skin.[15] Riley describes herself as a "dedicated vegetarian".[16]

• Lisa Riley at IMDb