Lisa Riley

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Lisa Riley (born 1976 in Lancashire) is a popular English Actress and sometime Television presenter best known for playing the role of Mandy Dingle in the popular television soap opera Emmerdale.

Riley trained at the Oldham Theatre Workshop from the age of 9, and was signed by an agent 3 years later. After some early roles including extra work on Coronation Street and an appearance in Butterfly kiss which was directed by Michael Winterbottom, her first breakthrough role in UK television was playing the character Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale over a period of six and a half years.

In 1996, Riley won the National Television Award for Most popular newcomer for her work in Emmerdale.

Riley went on then to present the popular You've Been Framed show from 1997-2002, taking over from the former presenter, Jeremy Beadle and raising viewers figures to more than 13 million at it's peak in the process. In 1999, Riley appeared opposite a young Jack P Shepherd in Pull out more fags and had a cameo role in the music video When the Going Gets Tough by Boyzone. In 2000, Riley appeared in ITV's Christmas Pantomime Alladin opposite stars such as Patsy Kensit, Julian Clary and Paul Merton and in 2001, Riley appeared in a commercial for Heineken.

Riley's other credits include roles in Fat Friends, The Bill, Holby City, Doctors, the BBC's Afternoon Play series, Having it off and the little seen film Secret society.

On stage, Riley has appeared in many Pantomime's and in UK tour's of The Play What I Wrote, The Vagina Monologues opposite Sharon Osbourne and The Naked truth.

The 2006 album I Rock Eye Pop by Kings Have Long Arms includes a track titled Lisa Riley.

Riley describes herself as a "dedicated vegetarian", she is known to be close friends with Antony Cotton.


Preceded by
Jeremy Beadle
Host of You've Been Framed
1998 - 2002
Succeeded by
Jonathan Wilkes