Lisa Riley on grief, resilience, and emotional wellbeing
Authored by Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCSOriginally published 2 Dec 2025
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This year, the whole country fell in love with Lisa Riley once again during I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!. Her humour, honesty, and kindness struck a chord with viewers of all ages. But just before she entered the jungle, Lisa sat down with Matt Jameson and Christine Talbot for a deeply personal conversation that goes far beyond her life on screen.
As she celebrates 30 years as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, Lisa reflects on the health journeys that have shaped her life from grief and emotional recovery to body confidence, resilience and protecting her wellbeing in the public eye.
In this article:
Lisa Riley: Emmerdale Legend & I’m A Celebrity Star
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A career at the heart of British TV - and the pressures that come with it
Lisa talks openly about spending decades in the spotlight, from her breakout roles in Fat Friends and Emmerdale to hosting You’ve Been Framed and becoming a fan favourite on Strictly Come Dancing. But woven through her stories is a recurring theme: how constant visibility affects your mental health.
She shares how she learned to maintain confidence despite public scrutiny, how she handled online trolling about her weight, and how shifting her focus towards health and happiness - rather than appearance - became a turning point. Her reflections echo conversations many people have about body image, self-worth and the pressures amplified by social media.
Grief, love, and rebuilding your life
One of the most moving parts of the episode comes when Lisa talks about the loss of her beloved mum, Cath. Her recollection of those months will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced bereavement. Lisa describes the physical and emotional impacts of grief, the exhaustion, the unexpected triggers, and the long process of learning to live around loss.
She also shares the routines, relationships, and moments of joy that helped her rebuild her wellbeing - a reminder that emotional recovery rarely happens neatly or quickly, and that seeking support is a sign of strength rather than weakness.
For many viewers, her story offers reassurance that grief is not something to “get over”, but something you learn to carry with compassion for yourself.
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Health, confidence, and living on your own terms
Throughout the interview, Lisa returns to the importance of listening to your body and protecting your health. She talks candidly about reaching a place in her life where she finally felt strong, happy, and grounded - not because of external approval, but because she prioritised what made her feel well.
Her reflections highlight something we hear often at Patient.info - health is not just about diagnoses or treatment. It’s also about daily habits, mental wellbeing, relationships, boundaries, and the mindset we bring to the challenges in front of us.
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Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
2 Dec 2025 | Originally published
Authored by:
Thomas Andrew Porteus, MBCS
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