During Tuesday's episode of ITV's Loose Women, actress Lisa Riley made a surprising comparison between her personal life and the highly publicised drama surrounding the Beckham family. The Emmerdale star, renowned for her role as Mandy Dingle, claimed she could relate to the Beckhams' experiences because she and her long-term partner, Al, have become "a brand too" through their television work.
Panel Discussion on Family Tensions and Public Scrutiny
The conversation unfolded as presenters Kaye Adams, Janet Street Porter, and Oti Mabuse dissected Brooklyn Beckham's explosive Instagram statement from Monday. In his lengthy post, the 26-year-old photographer accused his parents, David and Victoria Beckham, of controlling behaviour and publicly declared he has no intention of reconciling with his family.
Kaye Adams prompted the panel by asking: "It's difficult for us to relate in the business aspect of this, but from a family aspect, and those tensions between in-laws, do you relate?"
Lisa Riley's Personal Revelations
Lisa Riley, who appeared on I'm A Celebrity last year, responded candidly about her own experiences seeking approval from her partner's family. "Yeah for me, I wanted to approve, and I wanted Al's mum to really approve of me. Completely," she explained. "No, I can't cook, so I'm not a very good wife in what she wanted."
The actress, who has been with partner Al since 2014 and became engaged four years later, elaborated on how their relationship has evolved in the public eye. "I've found someone that's not going to do me over, again, we are a brand because we work on television," Riley stated. "Al doesn't want to be front and centre all the time, that's my job, but it does come with what we do."
She expressed particular satisfaction that her father now approves of her relationship after previous romantic disappointments. "Now I sit with my dad and he loves the fact I'm happy 12 years in with Al. Having dad applaud that, and see how happy I am, makes me feel better."
Social Media Reaction to the 'Brand' Comment
Viewers quickly took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to share their reactions to Riley's comparison. One user wrote: "I've heard some corkers in my time, but Mandy from Emmerdale saying she understand the Beckhams' position because she and her husband are a brand too, really takes the biscuit."
Other responses ranged from simple confusion with comments like "Eh???....." and "This is gold" to more supportive messages from fans delighted to see Riley back on the programme. "Brilliant to see you back on the panel" and "You were amazing today" were among the positive reactions shared on Instagram.
Fertility Struggles and Personal Reflections
Elsewhere in the emotional episode, Riley opened up about her fertility journey during a discussion prompted by news about record-high abortion rates in England and Wales. The conversation turned to contraception and personal choices, leading Riley to share her Catholic upbringing and subsequent struggles.
"I've spoken a lot, about me personally, being a catholic, it drummed into us, you don't use contraception and you don't have sex before marriage," she revealed. "That was in my head a lot, then later in life, career, I did chose my career, apps weren't available then to look at your cycle, I waited... waited... found the right person in Al, when it came to the time of trying, I couldn't fall pregnant."
Riley described how her partner eventually encouraged her to stop IVF treatments, saying: "Al turned to me and he literally said 'You have to stop all the IVF treatment because it's diminishing you, it's taking your personality away, you're trying too hard'."
She poignantly added: "I would have given everything in my life to have had a child. I look now at your happiness [Oti] and the baby, and you have got that career. It's amazing."
The actress explained how she now finds fulfilment through her niece and nephew, describing them as "my jigsaw," while acknowledging that during her fertility struggles she "felt like a jigsaw with a missing piece."
The Beckham Family Controversy in Context
Brooklyn Beckham's statement, which prompted the Loose Women discussion, contained numerous allegations against his famous parents. He accused them of attempting to control narratives through "performative social media posts" and "inauthentic relationships," claiming they tried to bribe him into signing away rights to his name before his wedding.
Specific incidents mentioned included his mother Victoria allegedly cancelling his wife Nicola Peltz's wedding dress at the last minute, being called "evil" for seating arrangements at his wedding, and his mother hijacking his first dance with his wife. Brooklyn stated that since stepping away from his family, his lifelong anxiety has disappeared, and he now seeks "peace, privacy and happiness" with his wife.
The juxtaposition of this high-profile family drama with Riley's personal reflections created a compelling television moment that resonated with viewers and sparked widespread discussion about the intersection of family dynamics and public personas in the entertainment industry.
