'I'm very loyal to the show'

Emmerdale actor Dominic Brunt tells us about on and off-screen friendships and his mission to boost men’s mental health

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He's been playing vet Paddy Dingle for 28 years, so it's no surprise Dominic Brunt knows the Emmerdale roller-coaster better than most.

But in upcoming scenes, Paddy's world is rocked after he's attacked by a dog. “He’s already scared of horses,” Dominic, 55, says, “Now he's got something else to be scared of.”

It all kicks off when Paddy spots a sheep tangled in a fence. He steps in to help — but a protective dog lunges at him, leaving him badly hurt. The scenes were carefully choreographed with a trained Alsatian — and Dominic has high praise for his canine co-star.

“That dog could do anything, he was amazing,” he recalls. “He’s an evil-looking thing. He'd growl and slabber but you felt really safe because as soon as someone pulled out his favourite food, he'd start wagging his tail. It was a big game to the dog, but it was really impressive.”

The attack sends Paddy's confidence plummeting. “He worries about the fact he won't be able to do his job any more,” Dominic says. “He's going to have to work out what he's going to do in the future.”