August 12th 2024.
In a recent chat with The Agency, Dominic Brunt, known for his role as Paddy Kirk on Emmerdale for the past 27 years, opened up about his experience on the show. He shared that he never takes his role for granted and still gets nervous before filming. In our in-depth conversation, he also revealed some behind-the-scenes gossip about Paddy's upcoming wedding to Mandy Dingle, his working relationship with his TV actress wife Joanne Mitchell, his most bizarre fan experience, and the things that drive him mad on set.
When asked if he still has moments where he feels overwhelmed by the fact that he has been playing Paddy for 27 years, Dominic replied, "All the time. Mark [Charnock, who plays Marlon] and I talk about it all the time. I came from an engineering background and I never knew what my alternative would be if I didn't give acting a try for a few years." He added, "But it has been an incredible journey and we still love our jobs. I was only 27 when I joined the show, and now it has been half of my life!"
Despite his years of experience, Dominic confessed that he still gets nervous before filming and loves getting the scripts. He never goes to the writers to ask about the upcoming storylines because he enjoys the element of surprise. "I never forget how lucky I am to be a part of this show. It truly is a privilege," he said.
When reminiscing about his first days on the show, Dominic shared that he was originally only supposed to be on for eight episodes. However, his character was so well received that the writers decided to keep him. He even took a four-month break from the show at one point, only to be written back in later.
Dominic also opened up about his experience with social media, admitting that he joined Twitter because of his co-star Danny Miller. However, he finds it difficult to handle the negative comments and the way social media has divided people based on their opinions. "It's a bit too much for me to handle at times," he said. "I miss the days when we could just have different opinions without being labeled as 'good' or 'bad' based on those opinions."
The actor also talked about the upcoming wedding between Paddy and Mandy, which coincidentally falls on the 25th anniversary of their first attempt at getting married. When asked if this was a deliberate choice, Dominic replied, "We didn't even realize it until someone pointed it out. If it was planned, I'm sure it would have been mentioned in the script. But it's quite amazing how it has all come together."
Dominic also gushed about his on-screen chemistry with Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy. He shared that he has been good friends with her for years, even when she left the show. He added, "Lisa is absolutely crazy, but in the best way possible. It's never a dull moment with her around."
He also talked about the strong friendships he has formed over the years on the show, which have made going to work a lot easier. "It's amazing to work with people who put the script first and want what's best for the scene," he said. "It's never about competing with each other, but rather about creating something great together."
Dominic also talked about his love for horror films and his plans to continue working in that genre. He revealed that he and Mark share a love for horror films and used to organize a horror film festival together. He also mentioned that he works on horror films with his wife Joanne, who is also an actress.
As our conversation came to an end, Dominic shared his thoughts on the current state of the world, especially for actors. He acknowledged that it can be a difficult industry, especially during the pandemic. However, he remains hopeful for the future and is grateful for the opportunities he has had in his career.
Dominic Brunt, the beloved actor who has played Paddy Kirk on Emmerdale for 27 years, recently sat down for an interview with The Agency. He opened up about his role as Paddy and how he never takes it for granted. In our conversation, he shared his thoughts on the upcoming wedding between Paddy and Mandy Dingle, working with his wife Joanne Mitchell on the show, his most bizarre fan encounter, and what it's like on set.
"Do you still have 'pinch me' moments when you realize you've been playing Paddy for 27 years?" I asked Dominic.
"All the time," he replied. "Mark [Charnock, who plays Marlon] and I talk about it all the time. I came from a background in engineering, so I never really had a backup plan. I just thought, 'I'll give it a go for a few years and see what happens.' And here I am, still loving the job after all this time."
Despite his many years on the show, Dominic admits that he still gets nervous and is always excited to receive the scripts for upcoming episodes. "I never go upstairs and ask what the storylines are," he explained. "I like to be surprised and I never want to take this job for granted. It's truly an incredible privilege."
I asked Dominic about his first days on the show, when he was originally only supposed to be in eight episodes. "I did those eight episodes and then left for four months," he recalled. "But then they wrote me back in and I've been here ever since."
We then talked about how fans respond to his character Paddy. "I joined Twitter a while ago, thanks to Danny Miller," Dominic shared. "But I try not to pay too much attention to the negative comments. It can get a bit overwhelming sometimes. But overall, it's been a positive experience and I've enjoyed connecting with fans."
Dominic also opened up about how social media has changed the way people watch and interact with soaps. "It's all about polarizing opinions now," he said. "If you're on the right, you have to believe this, and if you're on the left, you have to believe that. It's never been like this before and it's a bit concerning."
We then touched on the upcoming wedding between Paddy and Mandy, which happens to fall on the 25th anniversary of their last attempt at getting married. "Was that planned?" I asked.
"We actually didn't realize it until someone pointed it out to us," Dominic revealed. "I think if it was planned, it would have been mentioned in the script. But it's a fun coincidence and makes it even more special."
Dominic also shared his excitement about working with Lisa Riley again, who plays Mandy. "She's been a good friend of mine for years and it's lovely to be working with her again," he said. "She's absolutely crackers and keeps things interesting on set."
We then talked about the strong relationships Dominic has formed with his co-stars over the years. "It definitely feels like a family here," he said. "We've been together for so long and we all want what's best for the show. It's never about competing with each other, it's about working together to make the scenes the best they can be."
Dominic also talked about his love for horror films and how he and Mark have been hosting a horror film festival for the past nine years. "My wife Joanne and I also make horror films together," he shared. "It's a fun passion project for us and we're always looking for new opportunities in that genre."
As our conversation came to an end, Dominic reflected on the ups and downs of the acting industry and how lucky he feels to have a steady job on Emmerdale. "I have friends who are struggling to find work and it's just not fair," he said. "But I know that I am truly blessed to be working on such an amazing show with such a talented and supportive cast and crew."
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