LISA RILEY will wear multiple layers to boost her curves as she returns to Emmerdale this week – after losing 20lb on I’m A Celebrity.

The Mandy Dingle actress has told how the weight fell off thanks to the diet of rice and beans in the Australian jungle last year.

And it means, as she makes her return to the ITV soap following a break, she needs a little extra padding to slip back into character.

In an exclusive interview, Lisa says: “I am wearing layers and layers on set.

“I like Mandy to be curvy. I am embracing it. Because it has been freezing cold when we are outside in the village filming, I have had two hot water bottles on my bum.

“So, Mandy’s bum might look bigger when people tune in on Tuesday, too.

“I am proud of how much weight I lost on I’m A Celebrity. I feel amazing.”

At the end of last year, Mandy was seen heading off to stay with Irish relatives so that Lisa could take time away from the soap to appear on I’m A Celeb.

She finished eighth in the competition, during which time she formed a close friendship with YouTube star and winner Angry Ginge, bonding over their sense of humour.

Today, Lisa reveals that she has been inundated with offers to do new shows on her own and with Ginge.

But the 49-year-old insists there is no chance she will quit playing Mandy — a role she’s filled on and off for 30 years.

The star, who had a massive fear of rats when she entered the jungle, says: “I loved I’m A Celeb. But it was so much tougher than I ever imagined.

I’ve had some very flattering TV offers that would make your jaw drop. They have been TV projects, like doing impressions like I did in Australia

Lisa Riley

“But I am so proud of the fact I overcame my fears. I was able to be myself and my friendship with Ginge was so lovely and natural. We had so much fun.

“I never thought I would be friends with a YouTuber. Before going into the jungle, I thought a stream was a creek where you got water!

“I idolised Jack Osbourne. Ruby Wax will be a best friend forever now, and Vogue Williams was hilarious, too.”

Lisa’s jungle stint has put her in high demand. She says: “I’ve had some very flattering TV offers. They have been TV projects, like doing impressions like I did in Australia.

“Hopefully, Ginge and I are going to do stuff together again, so long as it’s around my Emmerdale commitments.”

In spite of the career boost, Lisa remains loyal to the soap that made her famous.

Hopefully, Ginge and I are going to do stuff together again, so long as it’s around my Emmerdale commitments

Lisa Riley

She says of Emmerdale: “That is where my heart lies — I love working there. I never ever take anything for granted and, as long as the Emmerdale ­producers want me, I want to stay.

“I’ve just signed a new one-year ­contract. If I were to take any extra things on, it would have to be around Emmerdale.”

Lisa has been a panellist on Loose Women and was on Strictly in 2012. It was there she bonded with dance partner Robin Windsor.

But her return to Emmerdale will be tinged with ­sadness as it coincides with the anniversary of his death.

He was dropped from Strictly in 2015 after missing the previous series with a back injury. An inquest has heard how his applications to return to the show were turned down.

Robin died in 2024, aged 44, most likely from a drug and drink overdose, leaving a suicide note at a West London hotel claiming that the BBC had “destroyed me”.

Lisa says: “While I can’t wait for everyone to see Mandy back, it’s a sad time for me because it will be the two-year anniversary of Robin’s death on Thursday. He was such a best friend. There isn’t a day I don’t think of him.”

Mandy will be met with utter mayhem when she returns to the Dales, with police at her house. Her husband Paddy has been arrested after his dad, Bear, confessed to killing evil Ray Walters.

Lisa jokes: “They have definitely not brought Mandy back quietly.

“Paddy has been keeping a lot from her, but as soon as she discovers what has been going on, Mandy goes into mum mode. She wants to be the rock for Paddy and [teenager] Dylan, who has become like a surrogate child to them.

“She will go to any lengths to protect them both. And if that means lying, then she will. She is a Dingle to the core.”

Lisa admits she has felt overwhelmed filming the soap once more.

I never ever take anything for granted and, as long as the Emmerdale producers want me, I want to stay

Lisa Riley

She says: “There was so much love in the building on my first day back. They all had lanyards on with my picture and ‘Team Lisa’ on.”

Plans are also afoot to celebrate her big 5-0 in July. Lisa will have a huge party with family, and another with fellow cast and crew turning 50 this year.

‘Life is crazy’

The star, who is originally from Bury, but now lives in Yorkshire, says: “We’ve got our own special WhatsApp group called the 1976-ers. We are going to have a big party together.”

Both she and her fiancé, musician Al Benkovic, who she met at a Strictly tour event in 2014, are planning a special holiday abroad, too.

And she admits that three weeks without her man while she was in the jungle made her cherish him even more. ­saying: “When you think you can’t love someone more, the jungle made me do this! I was so proud of him, the way he became a lovely friend to the other ­families. He doesn’t want to be the ­centre of attention — that’s me!

“But seeing his confidence grow was so lovely. Just before I went in, he told me, ‘Darling, go in there and show everyone the woman I have at home every day’.

There was so much love in the building on my first day back. They all had lanyards on with my picture and ‘Team Lisa’ on

Lisa Riley

“He gave me the confidence to be myself. Everyone asks, ‘When are you going to get married?’. Now I can say, ‘You can see how much we love each other — we don’t need to’.”

Unlike romance-obsessed Mandy, Lisa wasn’t bothered about Valentine’s Day yesterday.

She says: “When you wake up and your breath smells, that’s when you tell each other you love them, not on a day that is forced with the colour red and going out for dinner. If it was Mandy Dingle, on the other hand, the entire house would be full of red hearts, candles, cupcakes, red bra and knickers.

“She would have a red kettle and red mugs, too!”

She adds: “Real romance for me is those days when your partner is aware you’re having not such a good day and gives you a yellow rose.”

Lisa is excited that soap bosses are planning plenty of big storylines for Mandy this year.

She says: “I’ve gone from a happy ­jungle back to a happy Emmerdale life.

“I am very lucky to work with such warm, happy people. My life is crazy filming every day, but it’s great to be back in Emmerdale with a bang.”