Emmerdale has teased a grand reunion next week on the ITV soap amid the fallout from Chas Dingle and Al Chapman’s affair.
Chas’ husband Paddy Kirk finally learned the truth about Al’s final months and the circumstances around his death, after Chas’ brother Cain fatally confronted him in a barn on the outskirts of the village.
When Paddy ( Dominic Brunt ) found out he was understandably livid, demanding a divorce from Chas.
It seems he may now be turning to an old flame for support through the trying time, as ITV spoilers have teased a reunion between the vet and Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) on Emmerdale.
The storyline sees the pair both single for the first time in years and Paddy is about to be pushed back out onto the dating scenes.
In scenes next week, Bear (Joshua Richards) sets the dad-of-one up on a double date without his permission and poor Paddy is too blindsided to find a way to get out of it.
Despite dropping subtle hint after subtle hint, Bear fails to pick up on his reluctance to get back out there – he isn’t in the right frame of mind and as a result the date has disaster written all over it.
Bear, still oblivious, encourages Paddy to take his date out on the town but he instead conjures up an excuse and Bear is left with their double dates to entertain himself.
In scenes the next day on the soap, Chas (Lucy Pargeter) overhears what she thinks is Paddy bragging about being single and it hits her hard.
In classic Chas form she responds the way Dingles do best – with revenge – and cruelly flirts up a storm with Kev the drayman, hurting still sensitive Paddy.
Chas later comes down hard on Paddy about his controlling behaviour and reminds him he only has himself to blame that the pair are still living under the same roof.
Mandy is concerned as the exchange leaves Paddy looking bereft, and the next day, Paddy tries to hide from his ex but has no luck.
As Paddy admits he's lost, Mandy wordlessly moves in to hold her broken ex-partner, admitting she knows how hard it can be to move forward when you still love someone.
Her former partner is touched by her thoughtfulness and concern, and the pair head back to the Woolpack to chat over a bottle of wine.
The sexual tension is ramping up as they both coyly avoid eye contact – and the implication of Mandy's words hangs between them.
As the wine flows, the inhibitions lower and they find themselves reminiscing about their romance in years gone by.
As the afternoon draws on, Paddy and Mandy let their drink get the better of them and dissolve into alcohol-fuelled laughter. Mandy wrestles with her conscience as she locks eyes with drunk Paddy. Is this the reigniting of an old romance?
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV.
Got any theories or thoughts on the storyline? Let us know in the comments section below.
