The Dingle who makes Paddy tingle!

WORKING as a welder in Great Harwood, Dominic Brunt never dreamed he would one day be carrying a torch for Mandy Dingle.

The 28-year-old actor, who grew up in East Lancashire, is better known to millions of fans as Paddy the vet in top TV soap Emmerdale. And while Paddy is head over heels with the brash and buxom bruiser, Dominic admits Mandy is not his type of woman.

Dominic said: "I think Mandy is Paddy's type of woman, not mine. Paddy is bowled over by her. He is blatantly in love with her and accepts her for who she is."

Off-screen Dominic and his long-time girlfriend, whom he has known since drama school, are very good friends of actress Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy.

Dominic said: "Lisa is off her head, absolutely barmy, and madder than she is on screen."

The soap star has to remain tight-lipped about what the future holds for the TV sweethearts.

"I wish I could say. We only know about eight to ten weeks in front," he added.

Dominic began his stage and TV career at Accrington and Rossendale College He lives in London but shares a flat with other members of the Emmerdale cast in Leeds, where the soap is filmed.

Born in Macclesfield, he moved to Whalley with his parents who worked at Calderstones Hospital.

The family then lived in Darwen, where he briefly attended Moorland High School, before settling in Accrington when 11. At Accrington Moorhead High Dominic showed a flair for engineering and went as a YTS trainee to Great Harwood, spending three years as a welder.

The lure of a music course prompted him to enrol at Accrington and Rossendale College but performing arts tutor Martin Cosgrif quickly spotted his potential and asked him to join the acting course. Dominic, who then spent three years at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, has worked in the theatre and among his TV credits are parts in Soldier Soldier, Inspector Morse, The Bill and EastEnders.

His big break came just over a year ago when he landed the part of Paddy Kirk.

Dominic said: "There's a vet on set to show me what to do but I have stuck myself with a syringe a couple of times."

Rehearsing and filming anywhere between five and 16 hours a day, sometimes six days a week, is a punishing schedule. He said: "It is hard work but I love it and would not change it for the world."

Despite his busy timetable, Dominic finds time to visit his father Alan who still lives in Accrington and works at Calderstones.

Dominic's celebrity status has both its rewards and flaws.

He said: "The pluses are obvious. Earning a bit of money now means I have somewhere to live and a car.

"I can also put some away in the bank - it might not last forever.

"The negatives are getting recognised everywhere you go. It can do your head in if you are shopping or going to the pictures.

"I thought when it first started I might enjoy it. It's a mark of where you are and being successful.

"Some people are lovely and I like people coming up and saying hello.

"But it really is not that much fun to answer the same questions day in and day out - what's it like knowing Mandy Dingle, are you getting married, what's happening next. . ."

His face is now known nationwide but his first taste of fame was here in East Lancashire.

As a teenager he won a break dancing championship at the former Cat's Whiskers in Burnley!

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