EMMERDALE fans were disgusted after Paul Ashdale bullied his son Vinny Dingle into singing his praises in his best man speech ahead of his wedding to Mandy Dingle.
Paul – who is played by Reece Dinsdale in the ITV soap – has been subjecting Vinny to brutal beatings and then guilt-tripping him into keeping the abuse a secret from Mandy.
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And in tonight’s episode, Paul showed his nasty side yet again when he burst in on Vinny reading his speech aloud.
Paul looked perplexed by Vinny’s mention of a ‘long and winding road’ and insisted on hearing the whole speech.
Vinny read: “As you all know, as well as being groom and best man, Paul and me are father and son. We’ve had some fantastic times down the years. Separately on account he ran off off when I was four.”
Vinny continued: “But when he came back after all those years, it was like I’d found a true friend. Then I found out who he was…”
At that Paul butted in and said: “I don’t like it son. It’s disrespectful. You’ll need to change it.”
Vinny said sheepishly: “It’s just meant to be banter.”
Paul tried to act cool and asked Vinny what other material he had, to which Vinny replied: “Some stuff about marriage, joking, saying marriage is a gamble.”
Paul looked blankly at his son and ordered him to get a pen.
“You going to write it yourself?” Vinny asked.
Paul shrugged: “Of course not. Just going to give you some pointers.”
Then, as viewers watched Aaron and Sam approaching gangster Connor with bats, Paul’s voice could be heard talking over the scene.
“You can say we’ve had our problems, just touch on it mind. Because all that’s behind us now, isn’t it,” Paul said.
Paul then lowered his voice and hissed at Vinny to repeat it back to him.
After Vinny regurgitated Paul’s words, the bully added: “Now, this long and winding road bit, you’re sort of on the right lines. I see it more like a fast track to happiness. Down which me and Mandy are running full pelt. You got that? Good.”
Vinny clenched his jaw and said nothing as Paul continued: “Now all this gambling, you can leave that out. Positivity, yeah. You think positive thoughts, you get positive results. This wedding is going to be perfect isn’t it. Next week is going to be the best week of my life.”
As Aaron and Sam shoved Connor into the back of the van, Vinny could be heard saying: “It’s going to be a week we’ll never forget.”
Emmerdale fans were disgusted by Paul guilt-tripping Vinny and flocked to Twitter.
One said: “It’s going to be a week we’ll never forget. Your not wrong Vinny and by the end of next week someone is going to loose their life. But who is it going to be and is Mandy going to get her happy ever after? Next week is going to be huge don’t miss it cant wait”
Another added: “Paul is one disgusting f****n human.”
A third chimed in: “Can’t wait for Paul to get his comeuppance.”
Next week, Paul is stunned when Aaron reveals he’s kidnapped Connor and facilitates the gangster’s escape, before lying about what happened.
But Liv eventually discovers the truth about Paul’s abuse when she runs into Connor on the outskirts of the village.
It all kicks off later in the wedding barn when Liv confronts Paul about Vinny’s brutal beatings.
- Emmerdale airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights on ITV and is available for catch up on the ITV Hub.
