'I was on Emmerdale Dingle wedding set and bride Gabby is hiding massive secret'

It was my hottest ticket this year - an invite to Emmerdale to go behind the scenes of a Dingle wedding. Set against the backdrop of rolling Yorkshire hills, the tranquil landscape starkly contrasts with the turbulent storyline.

For the past couple of weeks, viewers have seen Gabby Thomas and Vinny Dingle preparing for their Emmerdale nuptials - to be screened on Monday. (September 15).

Right now, Vinnie seems to be running very late … Confused about his sexuality, Vinny ( Bradley Johnson) has been worrying about going ahead. And viewers will find out next week that his bride Gabby (Rosie Bentham) is hiding a massive secret too - but, sadly, that cliffhanger is all I can reveal!

Suffice it to say, if Vinny does come out, it will be familiar territory for Gabby …

READ MORE: Emmerdale Aaron and John's fates revealed as double exit 'sealed' in tragic twist

READ MORE: The Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright talks wild adventure in India - and just what surprised him

Her last ‘big day’ in 2022, after she fell for nanny Nicky Fox - only to discover he was Caleb Miligan’s secret son and part of a seduction conspiracy to get his hands on her ex-mother-in-law Kim Tate’s money (with Gabby’s son Thomas being her direct heir) - ended with him revealing the con and the fact he was gay!

Right now, just eight miles from Leeds, the purpose-built Emmerdale village is buzzing with action, as I approach the famous Woolpack pub, where I spot the three mothers of the bride - Gabby’s stepmother, Laurel Thomas, Kim Tate, and her biological mum Bernice Blackstock, who is making a shock return.

Poor Laurel is on crutches after tripping in tomorrow' s episode ( Friday September 12).

But I’m more interested in the battle of the headwear … Kim’s huge hat and Bernice's fluorescent pink chapeau!

I spot Rosie, who plays Gabby, wearing a dressing gown over her wedding dress, and she shows me around the village hair and make-up room - next door to Mandy Dingle’s beauty salon, PampaManda.

Among all the eyeshadows and lipsticks, I spy rows of root cover sprays in every colour imaginable. I guess the fast pace of filming leaves little time for the case to visit a colourist! Emmerdale hair and make-up artist Nadine, is creating Rosie’s bridal ‘up- do, while we chat.

Rosie tells me: “The hair for this wedding and the dress is more sleek and simple. Less showy than the last one.”

Rosie says Bernice - whose third husband, businessman Lawrence White (John Bowe) revealed he was gay in 2016 - will be dropping a “bit of a bombshell,” adding: “Gabby is glad to see her. Bernice has been through similar things.”

If the groom makes it to the altar, Gabby will be given away by her younger brother Arthur (Alfie Clarke).

“It’s a really touching moment as her dad, Ashley (John Middleton), is not here,” says Rosie. “I think this story with Vinny for Gabby and viewers is going to be the most hard-hitting.”

Despite being just 24, Rosie seems very mature, laughing: “Being in Emmerdale since I was 15 does that! It’s a very adult job - you have to be reliable, work long hours, but I love every second.

“Gabby is strong and sarcastic and sees herself as a mini Kim Tate. She would love a solid family set up with Vinny.

“The only thing I don’t like about Gabby is that she is a really dreadful mum to Thomas (her son with Jamie Tate). She hasn't had the best role model in Bernice.

On Gabby's first wedding Rosie says. " Gabby was naive but she really loves Vinny,” before revealing: “There is a certain secret that Gabby is also hiding. Gabby is always looking for that extra little bit of gratification - like her mum.

“But I do hope Gabby gets her happy ending. Otherwise, she’ll be sworn off from men for life!”

Queuing in the canteen at lunchtime, I am drawn to Emmerdale legend Kim Tate (Claire King).

“We always love going to the village to film because they do such fabulous food here,” she laughs.

Choosing fajitas, while I have fish, chips, scraps, mushy peas, and curry sauce, she adds: “It’s quite a walk from the main village set to the canteen and back, but it’s a good excuse to walk your lunch off, so you can't really complain!”

Explaining her character’s fall out with Gabby, over Kim’s plan to take overMoira Dingle’s farm,Claire says: “ Kim felt betrayed, but they make up in time for the wedding. She loves Gabby. She is Kim’s surrogate daughter, really, because she's moulded her into a kind of mini me.

“She’s educated her in ways of business, and she's a smart cookie. She has her own business now, and I think Kim's very proud of her and does see her as a daughter. And of course, Thomas, her son, is Kim's only biological grandchild.”

When asked how many weddings she has filmed since joining Emmerdale in 1994, Claire says: "It's got to be over a dozen, half of which are probably mine! My most memorable was Kim's wedding to Frank Tate in the gothic splendour of Ripon Cathedral.

“That was a big wedding. My mother actually turned up—she was a walk-on for the day. That was full on top hat and tails, the full regalia - when we had a budget!”

Back on set, I see Mandy Dingle(Lisa Riley) on the warpath - furious that Vinny hasn’t yet turned up for his wedding.

During a break, we chat on The Woolpack bench.

Lisa - who is dolled up as mother-of-the-groom - says: “The idea that Gabby could be jilted twice is harsh, but as Vinny’s mother, Mandy wants him to be happy. Vinny is bisexual and figuring things out, but Mandy will be over the moon to have a gay son.

“People are still frightened to come out, but if there is anyone in the world you’d want to come out to, it would be Mandy Dingle - she’d be so supportive and understanding.”

Her hubby Paddy (Dominic Brunt) also seems to be missing.

“Paddy is in bed with food poisoning after Mandy made a bad bhuna!” chuckles Lisa, who’s played Mandy for 30 years.

She had a stint away from the Dales from 2001 to 2019 hosting You’ve Been Framed as well as appearing in dramas, and says: “I never intended to come back, but the producers asked me to film for a few months, so Mandy could introduce her son Vinny. Seven years later, I am still here! It feels like I never left—the catering girls still remember me.

“The young cast members now come to me for advice. I tell them you can have a laugh but you need to know what you’re doing. As you've seen, we work very fast!”

And she loves playing Mandy, who is sporting “Ariana Grande-esque” hair and a silver “diva gown” for the wedding, adding: “Every day is her dress-up day for Mandy, but today is special. Vinny is her only son, so this is important for her.”

Lisa, 49, reveals: “Whatever Mandy wears, it sells out, it’s crazy! Ian, our head designer, Val, our seamstress and head of make-up and design, Clare - we all work closely together curating Mandy’s look - whatever is current on TikTok we’ll emulate.

“The last wedding we did was Aaron and John’s wedding. The lime green creation I wore sold out within days after the scene aired!”

Meanwhile, Lisa is remaining tight-lipped on whether Vinny and Gabby will enjoy a happy ever after.

I spot Bradley, who plays Vinny- and he is the only character not dressed up. Is this a sign?

He tells me: “I’m not filming at the moment, that's all, but thought I’d come and say hello!

“Vinny is so confused about what to do for the best - for him and Gabby. He is worried about letting Gabby down, or is he going to hurt her by living a lie.”

Bradley, who joined the Dingles in 2022, continues: ”I originally auditioned to play the part of Lachlan White, who was quite a psycho (he terrorised the village from 2014 to 2019 and is currently behind bars).

Losing out on the role to Tom Atkinson, a few years later he was cast as Vinny. “Everybody wants to be a Dingle! We have our own Dingle WhatsApp group - it really is like a second family and Lisa is like a second mother to me,” he says.

Returning to his storyline, he adds: “Vinny does love Gabby. That's why he’s been looking for answers - he wants to be sure before he has to break her heart. “And I do think viewers will be very surprised by what happens.”

But his best man Kammy Sadiq (Shebz Miah) hints that viewers can expect fireworks, adding: "I’m honoured to be part of a Dingle wedding and it will all be going to go off in true Dingle fashion"

Emmerdale is on ITV1 at 7:30pm tonight and the wedding day episode airs Monday at 7.30pm