MANY viewers eagerly waited for a reunion that seemed to be looming between Mandy Dingle and Paddy Kirk.
The former lovebirds begin to grow close once again in upcoming Emmerdale scenes.
Bear tries to push his son back into the dating pool
He organises a double date
Paddy feels it’s too early for him to move on from his estranged wife Chas
Paddy, played by Dominic Brunt, is adapting to single life after the breakdown of his marriage to Chas Dingle.
The beloved character was crushed to find out she had embarked on an affair last year with Al Chapman.
Animosity grew between the pair, with Paddy trying to push the Woolpack manager out of the eponymous village.
But in scenes due to air on ITV, his father Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) believes it’s time for him to get back into the dating pool.
Paddy is thus surprised with a double date and, although he remains polite when faced with the plan, he’s also horrified.
Bear fails to get the hint that the vet isn’t ready or even in the right headspace to socialise as he encourages him to hit the town with their dates Carol and Bev.
Paddy eventually thinks up an excuse and is relieved when Bear finally leaves with both women.
The following day, Paddy’s fragile heart is hit with another blow when Chas (Lucy Pargeter) believes she’s overheard him bragging about being single.
She retaliates by engaging in some flirtatious banter with Kev the drayman, leaving Paddy cut deep.
But when she’s confronted with his hurt, Chas puts Paddy in his place over his controlling behaviour and reminds him it was his decision to remain living with her.
Mandy (Lisa Riley) soon spots a bereft-looking Paddy but he tries to hide from her – to no avail.
Paddy lets his guard down, admitting he feels lost and Mandy wordlessly moves in to hold him, knowing how hard it can be to move on when you still love somebody.
Her observation strikes Paddy and he’s taken aback to realise that she of all people knows how he feels in that moment.
The pair are later together in the Woolpack and crack open a bottle of wine before finding themselves coyly avoiding eye contact.
Mandy’s words and their implication hang between them and the afternoon draws on.
Paddy walks down Memory Lane with the beautician through music and they both dissolve into helpless, cathartic, alcohol-fuelled laughter.
Mandy finds herself wrestling with her conscience as she locks eyes with a drunk Paddy – but will they go any further?
The old flames became romantically involved for the first time upon Paddy’s arrival in the Dales in 1997.
Promiscuous Mandy fell head over heels for him and finally saw herself settling down with him.
They tied the knot two years later but, after much turmoil and an explosive affair, Paddy decided he couldn’t forgive Mandy’s actions and ended their romance.
This prompted her to leave the village before returning, realising her mistake, and trying to win Paddy back.
Mandy failed, seeing him happy with Emily Dingle, and built a life with Paul Ashdale instead.
In recent months, as Paddy tries to move on from his estranged wife, Emmerdale bosses have teased she’d finally be reunited with her former husband.
Unfortunately, the steamy reunion could also be set for some dark twists and turns, as is often the case in the village.
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.
Paddy was crushed to find out about Chas’ affair with Al Chapman
Mandy spots him looking heartbroken
And she tries to comfort him…
