Lisa Riley is a celebrated English actress, comedian and television presenter whose energy and authenticity light up every stage she steps onto. Known to millions for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, Lisa has become one of Britain’s most recognisable and best-loved performers. Her biggest achievement lies not only in her enduring success on screen but in her ability to turn personal experience into powerful messages about confidence, resilience and reinvention.
Lisa began her performing journey early, training at the Oldham Theatre Workshop from the age of nine. By twelve, she had already signed with an agent and started working as an extra on popular British dramas including Coronation Street and Brookside. Her passion for acting and her natural ability to connect with an audience quickly set her apart. In 1995, Lisa appeared as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale for what was meant to be a brief guest role. Her performance struck such a chord with viewers that she was invited to join the main cast the following year. The role earned her the 1996 National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer, a defining moment that cemented her status as a rising star in British entertainment.
From there, Lisa’s career flourished across television, theatre and film. She became the face of You’ve Been Framed!, replacing Jeremy Beadle in 1998 and attracting over 13 million viewers at the show’s peak. She co-presented the ITV series Birthrace 2000 with Davina McCall, starred in Fat Friends as Rebecca Patterson, and took on roles in acclaimed dramas such as Three Girls, Age Before Beauty, and Waterloo Road. Lisa also competed in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the semi-finals and winning over audiences with her humour and determination. In 2016 she joined the panel of Loose Women, sharing honest reflections on life in the public eye. Her continued portrayal of Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, which she reprised full-time in 2019, has earned her multiple nominations at the Inside Soap Awards and National Television Awards. In 2025, Lisa joined the cast of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Lisa’s warmth, relatability and passion make her an exceptional keynote speaker. She talks about resilience, mental health, authenticity and the power of self-belief, drawing on her own experiences from decades in the spotlight. Her insight into navigating change, embracing individuality and sustaining success in a demanding industry resonates across every audience.
- 2025 - Joined the cast of ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’
- 2024 - Nominated for Best Comedy Performance, RadioTimes.com Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2022 - Nominated for Best Comic Performance, Inside Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2022 - Nominated for Best Comedy Performance, British Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2021 - Nominated for Serial Drama Performance, National Television Awards for Emmerdale
- 2021 - Nominated for Best Actress, Inside Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2020 - Nominated for Best Actress, Inside Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2020 -Nominated for Best Partnership (with Bradley Johnson), Inside Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2020 - Shortlisted for Funniest Performance, Inside Soap Awards for Emmerdale
- 2019 - Returned full-time to Emmerdale as Mandy Dingle
- 2018 - Starred in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as Mrs Potty at New Theatre, Cardiff
- 2018 - Starred in BBC drama ‘Age Before Beauty’ as Tina Reegan
- 2017 - Starred in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as Fairy at Wolverhampton Grand
- 2017 - Featured in BBC miniseries ‘Three Girls’ as Lorna Bowen
- 2016 - Starred in ‘Aladdin’ as Genie of the Ring at Wolverhampton Grand
- 2016 - Joined ITV’s ‘Loose Women’ as a regular panellist
- 2015 - Starred in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as The Spirit of the Beans at Bradford Alhambra
- 2014 - Starred in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as Spirit of the Beans at Lyceum Theatre, Crewe
- 2013 - Starred in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as Lisa – The Lady’s Maid at Cliffs Pavilion
- 2012 - Starred in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as Queen Malevola at Kings Theatre, Southsea
- 2012 - Reached the semi-finals of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (10th series)
- 2011 - Starred in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as Wicked Queen at Princess Theatre, Torquay
- 2011-2013 - Appeared in BBC drama ‘Waterloo Road’ as Tina Allen
- 2011 - Appeared in ‘Young Dracula’ as Goody McEldrich
- 2010 - Starred in ‘Cinderella’ as Fairy Godmother at Grand Opera House, York
- 2009 - Starred in ‘Aladdin’ as Slave of the Ring at Kings Theatre, Southsea
- 2008 - Starred in ‘Cinderella’ as Fairy Godmother at Plaza Cinema, Stockport
- 2007 - Starred in ‘Aladdin’ as Slave of the Ring at Southport Theatre
- 2006 - Starred in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as Fairy at Kings Theatre, Southsea
- 2006 - Starred in ‘Six Bend Trap’ as Mary Myrani
- 2006 - Appeared in ‘Holby City’ as Lyn Forbes
- 2005 - Starred in ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ as Fairy at Venue Cymru
- 2004 - Starred in ‘Cinderella’ as Fairy Godmother at Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent
- 2004 - Nominated for Best Actress, TV Quick Awards (Fat Friends)
- 2003 - Starred in ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ as Ringmaster at Darlington Civic Theatre
- 2003 - Appeared in ‘The Bill’ as Belinda
- 2003 - Appeared in ‘Doctors’ as Sandra Reynolds and Laura Mowbray
- 2003 - Appeared in ‘The Afternoon Play’ as Helen (episode ‘Heroes and Villains’)
- 2002 - Starred in ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ as Ringmaster at Swansea Grand Theatre
- 2002-2005 - Starred in ITV drama ‘Fat Friends’ as Rebecca Patterson
- 2002 - Appeared in ‘Having It Off’ as Frankie Brookes
- 2000 - Starred in ‘Dick Whittington’ as Fairy Bowbells at Wolverhampton Grand
- 2000 - Appeared in TV film ‘Aladdin’ as Princess’s Handmaiden
- 2000 - Appeared in ‘Secret Society’ as Beth Trailor / Amazon Woman No. 1
- 1999 - Starred in ‘Dick Whittington’ as Fairy Bowbells at Bradford Alhambra
- 1999 - Co-presented ITV’s ‘Birthrace 2000’ with Davina McCall
- 1999 - Appeared in TV film ‘Put Out More Fags’ as Cath
- 1999 - Appeared in ‘Emmerdale: Don’t Look Now! – The Dingles in Venice’
- 1998-2002 - Presenter of ‘You’ve Been Framed!’ (replacing Jeremy Beadle, peak viewership 13 million)
- 1997 - Appeared in ‘Flight’ (television film)
- 1996 - Won National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer (Emmerdale)
- 1996 - Starred in ‘The Woolpackers: Emmerdance’ (Emmerdale spin-off video)
- 1995 - Starred in ITV’s ‘Emmerdale’ as Mandy Dingle (series regular)
- 1995 - Film debut in ‘Butterfly Kiss’ as Danielle, directed by Michael Winterbottom
- 1995 - Appeared in ‘Emmerdale: The Dingles Down Under’
- 1994 - Appeared in ‘Coronation Street’ as Bettabuy Worker
How to hire Lisa Riley
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Lisa Riley for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
