The long-awaited soap crossover between Emmerdale and Coronation Street promised drama, nostalgia and headline-making television. But according to one of

the Dales’ most beloved stars, it could have looked very different indeed. Lisa Riley, who has played the indomitable Mandy Dingle for decades,

has now revealed that she was originally set to be part of the ambitious “Corriedale” special — had life not taken her all the way to the Australian jungle.

Last year, Riley swapped the Yorkshire countryside for creepy crawlies when she signed up for I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!. Her stint on the hit reality show saw her face gruelling Bushtucker Trials and form close bonds with her campmates before being voted out eighth in an episode that aired in early December.

But while Riley describes the jungle as a “wonderful, life-affirming adventure,” her absence left a noticeable gap in the much-hyped soap crossover.

The Crossover That Might Have Been

The special event — which brought characters from Emmerdale and Coronation Street together in an unprecedented shared storyline — was billed as one of ITV’s boldest programming moves in years. Fans speculated for months about which characters would clash, who might spark unexpected romances, and what secrets could spill when the worlds collided.

And Mandy Dingle, with her fiery personality and razor-sharp tongue, would have been prime crossover material.

Speaking candidly about the timing, Riley admitted that had she not flown to Australia, Mandy would almost certainly have featured in the explosive episodes.

“I would have been in it had I not gone to Australia,” she revealed in a recent magazine interview. “But I came out of that experience feeling so fulfilled. I had the most brilliant time away.”

Still, for fans who adore Mandy’s larger-than-life presence, it’s hard not to imagine what might have been. Mandy navigating Weatherfield? Trading barbs in the Rovers Return? The comedic and dramatic possibilities were endless.

A Triumphant Return to the Dales

Now firmly back on set, Riley says returning to Emmerdale felt like coming home.

“I love my Emmerdale family and I love my job,” she shared. “It’s lovely to be back — everyone has been so kind.”

Her affection for the cast and crew is unmistakable. During her time in the jungle, Riley entrusted her social media accounts to co-star Bradley Riches, who plays Lewis Barton. The gesture speaks volumes about the tight-knit nature of the Emmerdale ensemble.

“I’ve literally found my adopted son,” she said warmly of Riches. “He is goodness personified.”

But perhaps the most emotional reunion came when Riley contacted her on-screen husband, Dominic Brunt, after leaving the jungle. Brunt, who plays Paddy Dingle, had been her biggest supporter throughout her reality TV journey.

“I got teary when I rang Dom after I got out,” she admitted. “He was my biggest cheerleader. I will never forget what he did for me. We’re like a brother and sister — and we always will be.”

Their off-screen bond undoubtedly fuels the authenticity of Mandy and Paddy’s turbulent, often heartbreaking relationship onscreen.

A Family in Crisis

If Riley’s jungle adventure was dramatic, her return storyline in the Dales is even more explosive.

Mandy comes back to chaos.

Paddy has been arrested in connection with the murder of Ray Walter following a shocking confession from Bear. The once-stable Dingle household is teetering on the brink. Meanwhile, Dylan — a young man Mandy considers her surrogate child — is grappling with the emotional fallout of his ordeal alongside April Windsor.

For Mandy, loyalty is everything.

“She’s a Dingle to the core,” Riley explained. “She will do anything to protect her family.”

That fierce protectiveness is set to drive some of the soap’s most emotionally charged scenes in the coming weeks. With Paddy facing legal uncertainty and Dylan spiralling, Mandy finds herself once again in the role of defender, mediator and emotional anchor.

What Could Have Changed Everything

Had Mandy appeared in the Corriedale crossover, the ripple effects might have altered the trajectory of these very storylines. Crossovers often serve as catalysts — introducing new alliances, rivalries or secrets that reshape character arcs.

Would Mandy have stumbled into information that could have prevented Paddy’s arrest? Might she have formed a connection in Weatherfield that changed her priorities back home?

Riley herself remains philosophical.

“These things happen for a reason,” she reflected. “I had an incredible experience in Australia. And coming back to this drama — it’s been worth the wait.”

Indeed, her time away seems to have reinvigorated both the actress and the character. Mandy’s return carries new depth, shaped by Riley’s real-life journey and the strengthened bonds with her co-stars.

A Soap Icon’s Enduring Appeal

For over three decades, Lisa Riley has been synonymous with Mandy Dingle — bold, brash, vulnerable and fiercely loyal. Her absence from the crossover may have been felt, but her return proves just how central she remains to Emmerdale’s emotional core.

As the murder investigation unfolds and family tensions escalate, Mandy’s resolve will be tested like never before. And fans can rest assured: when a Dingle goes into battle mode, sparks fly.

The Corriedale special may have been a landmark moment in soap history, but for many viewers, the real drama lies firmly in the Yorkshire village — where Mandy Dingle is back, louder and more determined than ever.

And if there’s one thing Lisa Riley has made clear, it’s this: whether in the jungle or the Dales, she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.