Emmerdale Legend Dominic Brunt Addresses Soap Future After Dramatic Killer Week
Emmerdale's long-serving actor Dominic Brunt has spoken exclusively about his future on the ITV soap, following a dramatic week of episodes that saw his character Paddy Dingle's father commit murder. The 55-year-old actor, who has portrayed the beloved vet for 29 years, confirmed he has no plans to leave despite the dark storyline unfolding.
Killer Week Culminates in Shocking Murder
The special week of episodes reached its climax when viewers witnessed Paddy's father, Bear Wolf, brutally murder villain Ray Walters. This came as a double shock to fans, who had previously believed Bear was killed in December. The former wrestler crushed Ray in a headlock, leaving detectives to investigate the murder while several characters harboured secrets.
Flashback sequences revealed the movements of various suspects including Laurel Thomas, Rhona Goskirk, and Marlon Dingle, before ultimately confirming Bear as the killer. Dominic Brunt admitted filming the dark scenes was challenging, particularly given the pre-watershed timing restrictions.
Paddy's Complicated Position
As the storyline develops, Paddy finds himself protecting his father and covering up the crime. Dominic revealed this creates complex moral dilemmas for his character. "I think in real life, I'd probably ring the police straight away, but he's protecting his dad," the actor explained. "I was just excited to be a part of it."
The actor found filming particularly strange as scenes aired before viewers knew the full truth about Ray's death. "It was very confusing," he shared. "But then when it's all been put together, it all makes sense."
Reflecting on 29 Years of Storylines
Since his debut in 1997, Dominic Brunt's character has been central to numerous major Emmerdale plots. Paddy Dingle has experienced five weddings, the heartbreaking death of his baby daughter Grace, and a powerful depression storyline in 2023 that saw him attempt suicide.
The depression plot formed part of ITV's Britain Get Talking campaign, promoting mental health awareness. Dominic worked closely with Andy's Man Club, a men's suicide prevention charity, during this period. The episodes reportedly led to increased attendance figures for the charity's support groups.
"I was really proud," Dominic reflected. "Imagine if we save somebody from suffering in silence. The fact that they can go somewhere and talk, and men don't want to do that. I know for a fact that some friends of mine see opening up as being weak or effeminate, and it's not."
Contract Confirmed and Future Hopes
Despite the dark turn in Paddy's storyline, Dominic Brunt confirmed he has recently signed a new year-long contract with Emmerdale. The actor expressed his gratitude for his long-running role and hopes to continue for many more years.
"I think I've been so lucky for so long," he said. "If they told me I was going I would be sad, but I've got to be grateful for everything. It completely changed my life. Hopefully I'll be here for another 29 years."
The actor acknowledged that while covering up a murder could potentially lead to a character exit, he no longer worries about being axed from the soap. Instead, he focuses on delivering compelling performances in the challenging material.
As Paddy continues to navigate the fallout from his father's actions in upcoming episodes, viewers can expect more dramatic developments. Emmerdale continues to air weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with the killer week's consequences set to ripple through the village for months to come.
