Lisa Riley

Lisa Riley became a household name as feisty barmaid, Mandy Dingle in the ITV1 soap Emmerdale from 1995 to 2001; so let’s see if her time on the farm will give her the upper hand with the Foxtrot.

Lisa learnt ballet at school from the age of four; she later attended the Oldham Theatre Workshop. At age 12, she was spotted by the theatre’s agents and put forward for acting roles. Lisa soon found work as an actress, including work as an extra in Coronation Street and the role of Danielle in the Michael Winterbottom film Butterfly Kiss. 

But Lisa’s big break came in 1995, at the age of just 19 when she auditioned successfully for the part of Mandy Dingle in ITV soap Emmerdale; a role that won her Best Soap Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 1996.

In 1997 Lisa took over from Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of popular home video clip show, You’ve Been Framed. As viewing figures for the show rocketed, Lisa remained host until 2002 having presented over 100 episodes of the programme.

Lisa continues to appear on screen and stage, including performing opposite Abi Titmuss in a play about pole dancing called The Naked Truth in 2009. Dance training that may help bring some passion to her Latin performances this year.