Fresh fields

Reece Dinsdale on why he’s emerged from behind the cameras to play Mandy Dingle’s ex…

- ALISON SLADE

There’s a new arrival in Emmerdale this week as Paul Ashdale, former partner of Mandy Dingle and biological father of Vinny, turns up to ruffle some feathers….

But TV Times favourite Reece Dinsdale, who plays him, has been a familiar face on set for some time. Confused? Reece, 60, did a stint on the soap last year as a director, and was working behind the lens when he was asked to be part of the cast. ‘I’ve done directing before, but with single-camera filming, not multi-camera, which they have here,’ explains Reece. ‘I have a good friend, Ian Bevitt, who directs at both Emmerdale and Coronation Street, and he said, “Come and learn an extra string to your bow.” Multicamerais very different – it’s like learning chemistry if you’re a geography teacher!