Tony Cowell chats to Reece Dinsdale
BEST’S CELEB INSIDER TALKS TO REECE DINSDALE
Former Corrie star Reece Dinsdale, 60, left the famous cobbles 10 years ago and has now moved over to join the cast of Emmerdale. He is currently at home self-isolating with his Northern Irish wife, Zara Turner, daughter Elwy, 19, and son Luca, 15. He talks about his friendship with Lisa Riley, aka Mandy Dingle, his thoughts on the Coronavirus, and the lasting sadness of losing his dad last year...
These are difficult times for TV soaps right now, aren’t they?
Very strange times indeed… Emmerdale has temporarily stopped filming, as you know. But we all must keep safe. That’s what is most important right now.
How are you coping, day to day?
I’m trying to stay positive. We are all in a situation where none of us know what is going to happen tomorrow. You cannot plan anything right now. Filming’s stopped, theatres have closed, and we have no idea for how long. But look, it’s not just happening to me!
You’ve been quite vocal on social media regarding Coronavirus, particularly how it’s affecting young people...
Well, I have a teenage son, Luca, who was about to sit his GCSEs. When the government said the schools must close, the kids were told the exams wouldn’t happen. Then, on his last day of school, he was told he had to continue with the work online – or he wouldn’t get grades. I just felt like the last thing we need to do is play with our kids’ mental health. They are already worrying enough.
Do you think the virus will play any part in Emmerdale storylines once you are back at work?
We’ll have to see how long this whole thing lasts. Then look to see if the writers can do this, and touch upon what is really happening. I don’t really know the answer, though I imagine that audiences would want to see us touch on this as a subject.
Emmerdale has become really popular – why do you think that is?
Great writing, first of all.
Emmerdale is like a welloiled machine, it runs like clockwork. There are a lot of very strong performers in the show, and that’s what the audience likes about it. There’s a lot of hard work involved, too – we start filming scenes at 8am, and there’s no rehearsal!
Tell us about your character, Paul?
I’m Mandy’s ex, Vinnie’s long-lost dad. He’s genuine and honest, and the reason he’s coming back is to make up for the years he’s not been with his son. He wants
to be around and be a good dad. His very first line is, ‘I’ve come for my boy, I’ve come for Vinnie’. So there’s nothing secretive about it.
What is it like working with Lisa Riley?
It’s great. I’m full of admiration for her. Of course, I’ve known her for a long time. She’s so much fun. She’s incredibly professional and I think the soap missed her badly when she left the Dales back in 2001. She’s a generous, warm and very kind person – the heartbeat of the show.
You’ve played in roles opposite some big stars – Timothy Spall, Julie Waters and John Thaw. How do you look back on those times?
I’ve been very lucky in my career! I always remember some advice John Thaw gave me. He told me to always come from a different corner, always keep them guessing. So, I’ve always tried to change things up and play different characters. I suppose, instead of chasing the money, I’ve chased my career – tried to do my best.
You lost your dad, Alan, last year to cancer. Was he a big influence on you?
Yes... He taught me to be true to myself. He was also my best friend. Even though he was 87, it still came out of the blue, he didn’t know he had cancer. I was in a play at the time, which I had to abandon. I wanted to be with him. It was a difficult time. Some people say you have to say all the things you ever wanted to say before your loved ones go. The thing is, I was always telling him I loved him, and how much he meant to me and what a great parent he was – so he knew it all. Dad always instilled in me to do what I want – as long as I believed in what I did. I’ve always followed that advice. I believe if you work hard, the luck will follow.
Emmerdale continues on ITV at 7pm.