Lisa Riley reveals her staggering 12 STONE weight loss has expanded her costume options on Emmerdale

She’s set to reprise her role as Mandy Dingle, her second return to Emmerdale since initially quitting the hit soap back in 2001.

And Lisa Riley, 43, has found that her own personal triumphs have affected her character’s options, as she’s lost a staggering 12 stone since leaving the show. 

Speaking to Ruth Lansford and Eamonn Homes on ITV’s This Morning on Friday, the actress said of her return to the soap since losing weight: ‘It’s amazing…. There’s so many shops that we can go in now that we couldn’t go in before.’

 

New options: Lisa Riley has revealed that she has more wardrobe options since returning to Emmerdale following her staggering 12 stone weight loss

The screen star added it has also helped that her character is more financially secure now, meaning that she can also add a touch of ‘glamour’ to her wardrobe.

Lisa made a brief return to the show earlier this year after first leaving in 2001, but she is set for a longer stint this time around. 

Her character Mandy returns with her son Vinny as part of another epic storyline involving her ex-husband Paddy, six months after dropping an explosive bombshell about the truth surrounding his real father.

Back: The 43-year-old actress is reprising her role as Mandy Dingle this year. Pictured in 1996

Back: The 43-year-old actress is reprising her role as Mandy Dingle this year. Pictured in 1996 

Interview: Lisa spoke with Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on ITV's This Morning on Friday

Interview: Lisa spoke with Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes on ITV’s This Morning on Friday

This summer, Lisa showed herself at arguably at her most slender to date as she took to Twitter to share an incredible snap in which she was seen posing during a break from her stint of Strictly Come Dancing-themed performances on P&O Cruises.

Wowing in a blue Bardot top, the actress beamed at the camera as she admitted she was having a ‘well-earned night off’ during which she displayed her slimline frame and striking good looks.

She recently spoke about how she stays on track after her 12 stone weight loss, as she said: ‘Everyone is bound to have little blips along the way, but don’t see that as failure and a signal to give up – just draw a line under it and move on… 

Wow: Lisa was arguably at her most slender to date this summer as she took to Twitter to share a snap in which she was seen posing during a break from her stint of Strictly Come Dancing-themed performances on P&O Cruises

Incredible: Lisa has lost an eye-popping 12 stone and has proudly been flaunting her weight loss (pictured in 2012)

Wow: Lisa Riley was arguably at her most slender to date this summer, as she took to Twitter to share a snap in which she was seen posing during a break from performing

Sharing the details: The soap star has been open about her weight loss journey over the years

 Sharing the details: The soap star has been open about her weight loss journey over the years

‘I had made myself fat by gorging on bread, crisps, crumpets and red wine. Once I accepted responsibility for my health, weight and lifestyle it made it easier to take control. You don’t have to have starter, main and pudding.  

Last year, Lisa appeared on ITV’s Loose Women, where she revealed she’s been sober for the past three years. She revealed she was forced to give up alcohol due to ‘changes,’ before admitting she used to binge on a bottle of wine a night.

Lisa admitted that during the days when she used to binge on booze, she was spending 12 hours a day filming the drama Fat Friends, but remained oblivious that the amount she drank was out of the ordinary.

Iconic: Lisa played Mandy Dingle from 1995 to 2001, and returned briefly in earlier this year

Iconic: Lisa played Mandy Dingle from 1995 to 2001, and returned briefly in earlier this year

Comeback: Lisa's character Mandy returns with her son Vinny as part of another epic storyline involving her ex-husband Paddy, six months after dropping an explosive bombshell

Comeback: Lisa’s character Mandy returns with her son Vinny as part of another epic storyline involving her ex-husband Paddy, six months after dropping an explosive bombshell

Speaking to panellists Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams and Linda Nolan, Lisa admitted she was forced to go teetotal for various reasons, and that she was approaching the mark of three years without a drink.

The Age Before Beauty star also said she would order drinks in bars that could pass for alcohol at a glance, to avoid questions from friends on why she wouldn’t drink.

She said: ‘It’s coming up to three years since I had a drink because of the change and stuff. When I go out I’d think right I’ll have a fizzy water with lime because it looks like a gin and tonic to stop people going ”oh why aren’t you drinking?!”

Making changes: Lisa's appearance has changed over the years. Pictured in September 2012

Making changes: Lisa’s appearance has changed over the years. Pictured in September 2012

Svelte: She recently spoke about how she stays on track after her 12 stone weight loss, as she said, 'Everyone is bound to have little blips along the way, but don’t see that as failure'

Svelte: She recently spoke about how she stays on track after her 12 stone weight loss, as she said, ‘Everyone is bound to have little blips along the way, but don’t see that as failure’

Lisa went onto admit she used to self-medicate with alcohol as she filmed the fourth series of Fat Friends in 2005, especially after the passing of her grandmother.

Despite still being able to get up and spend 12 hours a day filming, the star added that she was oblivious to anything else going on due to the alcohol sedation.

She added: ‘When we were filming Fat Friends, especially series four when my gran died, I was self-medicating fully, I was having a bottle of wine, I was doing 11/12 hour days it never affected my job. Did I have awareness? No!

‘I wouldn’t have had any awareness, I was the one, car back from work, had my supper, right wine, and I had no idea. The following morning, six crumpets no questions, that was me soaking up!’

Shocking: Lisa previously revealed the side-effects of her weight loss on Lisa Riley's Baggy Body Club, which aired on ITV

Shocking: Lisa previously revealed the side-effects of her weight loss on Lisa Riley’s Baggy Body Club, which aired on ITV

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