Emmerdale star Lisa Riley has undergone emergency surgery after suffering a 'very bad fall' at home. The 49-year-old actress, known for playing Mandy Dingle, shared photos from hospital on Instagram showing her in a gown with her surgeon and later with her arm in a sling.
Riley explained that she fell from a breakfast stool, causing 'massive damage' to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in her left thumb. The injury required surgical repair, and she praised the NHS and her surgeon, Mr Daniel Thornton at Leeds General Infirmary, for their care.
In her Instagram post, Riley wrote: 'OUR NHS IS INCREDIBLE... I had a very bad fall over the weekend... my left thumb took all of it – so today hence the massive damage I have had my operation, surgery, treating my UCL in my Thumb repaired.' She added that she was now on pain relief and resting.
The soap star received an outpouring of support from fellow celebrities and fans. Scarlett Moffatt and Steph McGovern were among those sending well wishes, while fans joked she could avoid washing up during recovery.
Riley first joined Emmerdale in 1995 and has remained a fixture on the ITV soap. She recently took part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2025, where she lost 1.5 stone, requiring costume adjustments to maintain Mandy Dingle's curvy appearance.
