Controversial new Tina Dingle has fans fuming over ‘personality transplant’
Actress Samantha Power took on the role in October
Tina Dingle returned to Emmerdale last month for Zak Dingle’s funeral. But it quickly became clear she wasn’t just there to mourn her dearly departed dad, she was after all she could get.
And it soon turned out she and Mandy had a big secret, one that Mandy would do anything to keep hidden. So now Tina is blackmailing her.
But her return has not gone down well with fans of the soap, especially long-time viewers who remember the Tina Dingle of old. The one we see now is very far removed from that one.
Tina Dingle Mark Two arrives in Emmerdale
Tina’s arrival in the Dales causes controversy from the off. The character had been recast and was now played by Brassic star Samantha Power instead of original actress Jacqueline Pirie.
Fans were not impressed with one writing on social media: “Absolutely nothing like the original Tina Dingle it’s a insult to the original character who played her.” Another added: “Sorry, not a patch on the original Tina.”
Tina seemed to disappear after being carted off by police from Zak’s graveside. But she returned days later, tag-free, and demanding Mandy help her get her hands on Zak’s will – and her share of Wishing Well cottage. She also revealed she was Vinny’s real mum, a secret Mandy has been keeping from her son all of his life. Tina is now using that information to blackmail Mandy.
On Thursday (November 7), it turned out Mandy had complied with Tina’s demands and stolen Zak’s will. But Tina wants more. She wants Mandy to persuade Sam to sell up. If she does, Tina will take her share of the cash and leave their lives for good. But if she doesn’t, Vinny’s about to have a major bombshell dropped on him.
Who was the original Tina in Emmerdale?
Viewers are still not happy with the new Tina and have failed to warm to her. One of their big beefs is that she is nothing like the old Tina Dingle.
Tina mark one was a schemer, yes. She arrived to take revenge on her brother’s killer Luke. She seduced him into falling in love with her, then jilted him at the altar to avenge Ben’s demise.
She then tried to better herself. Tina got a job at Home Farm as Frank Tate’s assistant, wore power suits and tried to learn business. She was, as far as Dingles go, quite classy.
But not so this new version. Her personality and behaviour, not to mention her clothes, are a far cry from the old Tina. The Tina who arrived in the Dales to get justice for her brother’s death, that was a true Dingle through and through and would never blackmail them for money; that Tina.
Fans have their say
Fans are definitely in agreement: “Very discounted Poundland, nothing like the original she had black hair, Tina Dingle,” said one on X.
“Massively impressed how Emmerdale have brought Tina Dingle back to spice things up and have chosen the least Tina Dingle looking/sounding actress they could find to play her!” joked a second.
Another added: “So we’re to believe this Tina has had a total 100% personalityectomy and a rough uncouth cheap one inserted?”
“The original Tina wasn’t like this at all, she wasn’t a cheap scally. This whole storyline and personality transplant can do one,” raged one more.
A fourth said: “Old Tina wanted to better herself, can’t take to this Rose wannabe,” with another saying: “Old Tina wouldn’t have been seen dead in an outfit like that.”
Meanwhile, a sixth commented: “I’m quite looking forward to when ‘not Tina’ leaves and we can all go back to remembering the real Tina. In her heyday. Bad mistake recasting such an iconic character, no matter how good an actor the replacement is.”
Do you agree? Would Tina have changed so dramatically in her time off-screen? Stranger things have happened in Emmerdale, we suppose…
Tina Dingle was originally played by Jacqueline Pirie from 1994 to 1996. When she returned to the soap in 2024 she had been recast with Samantha Power taking on the role.
As the Dingles came together to say goodbye to patriarch Zak, they were shocked to see Tina standing by the graveside. The daughter of Zak and Nellie Dingle hadn’t been seen in the Dales since 1996.
It turned out this ‘new Tina’ wasn’t very nice. She insulted all of her family and made it clear she was just there for the inheritance.
Tina Dingle recast
At the time fans quickly took to social media to ask Jacqueline if she had been approached before the soap recast.
Jacqueline responded: “So many questions regarding Tina Dingle’s return. Great character, great show. I wish @sampower_sam all the best, I loved playing her, I’m sure she will too, great cast to be a part of and, no… they didn’t ask me #emmerdale #tinadingle #dingle.”
Samantha Power responded to the tweet and wrote: “Thanks so much Jacqueline! Very kind xxx.”
Jacqueline was born in Stirling in Scotland and moved to Birmingham with her family when she was five and landed the role of Tina Dingle in Emmerdale when she was just 19.
After leaving Emmerdale in 1996, she went on to join Coronation Street as machinist Linda Sykes in 1998. She stayed there for three years, during which time she became an icon thanks to her romance and later marriage to factory boss and much older man, Mike Baldwin. But Linda also fell for Mike’s son, Mark Redman, and they started an affair.
Jacqueline’s life now
After Jacqueline left Corrie she married fellow actor Simon Chadwick and opened a drama school. Then the couple relocated to Canada, where she set up another branch of her acting school – the Jacqueline Chadwick Academy.
She also wrote a series of crime novels featuring criminal psychologist Ali Dalglish. The mum of two recently turned 50 and according to her Twitter bio lists herself as ‘joyfully single’. She also states she is a woodworker and links to a craft website called Elizabeth Adam.
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? And who’s arriving and returning to the soap?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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