Lisa Riley has signed a new 'Emmerdale' contract.
Lisa Riley as Mandy Dingle
The Dales legend - who plays Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap - has put pen to paper to remain in the show until at least next year, because she loves playing her character so much.
She said: "I honestly still pinch myself that I get to play such an amazing character as Mandy.
"I can’t put into words how much I love it.
"I’ve just re-signed my contract and I have no plans to leave."
The 45-year-old star - who has also starred in 'Three Girls', 'Waterloo Road' and 'Age Before Beauty' - signed on for another 12 months in 'Emmerdale' despite receiving "loads of offers" from TV dramas.
She said: "It’s nice to know that I get loads of offers from other dramas, but I am happy to say no at the moment because I am super, super happy.
"I am really proud to play Mandy. She is starting to get iconic soap status and I love that."
Lisa admitted she could still be portraying Mandy "in 30 or 40 years", and she credits the soap with helping her to "cope" through the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the Sunday People newspaper, the star, who feels "more confident and comfortable" in her own skin than she ever has before, added: "Sometimes I think wow, how did I cope through the pandemic? But it was down to working on 'Emmerdale'.
"It was important to have work and a focus."
Lisa first played Mandy from 1995 to 2001, and she made a long-awaited return in 2019.
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