Emmerdale made a change to Mandy Dingle’s storyline in a last-minute script change following actor Lisa Riley’s real-life injury. Taking to social media in March, Riley shared that she had had a “very bad fall” that required surgery on her thumb.
In today’s episode of the ITV soap, Mandy could be seen wearing a sling on her arm when entering The Woolpack, with Charity Dingle asking what had happened to her.
“It’s just a little accident,” she responded, to which Moira Dingle joked that she had “had a few Proseccos” and decided to see if she could still roller-skate.
Charity immediately asked if she would still be able to play darts, given that the pub is putting together a team.
Lisa assured her that she would, but hinted that there might be another reason that she couldn’t play, before Caleb Miligan chastised the group for being in the pub during work hours.
The scene airs after Lisa shared an update last week on her recovery following her accident.
She posted a video walking down a hospital corridor, showing off her cast-free hand and beaming that her “thumb is free”.
Taking to Instagram, she wrote: “GREAT NEWS!!!! so I’ve just left hospital this morning and it’s nine weeks since I had my operation on my thumb… I am cast free.”
She added: “[I’ve] still got my physio and doing all my exercises at home-but back on the road to recovery to all the incredible staff at @leedshospitals @nhsleeds THANK YOU!!”
Sharing news of her injury earlier this year, Lisa thanked staff at the hospital for their care.
She wrote in the caption: “OUR NHS @nhsengland IS INCREDIBLE…….💛💛💛I have to massively thank my specialist surgeon Mr Daniel Thornton at LGI LEEDS hospital and all the beautiful team, every single one of you who treated me this afternoon.
“I had a very bad fall over the weekend (no I’m sober) no drunk jokes-it was my extremely slippy breakfast stool and a woollen cardi (sic).”
Lisa continued: “My left thumb took all of it-so today hence the massive damage I have had my operation, surgery, treating my UCL in my Thumb repaired. #NHS at it’s absolute best-bye for now I have some fantastic pain relief to take.”
