Emmerdale star shares heartbreaking loss as he says 'all too bittersweet'
Emmerdale star Reece Dinsdale played Paul Ashdale in the ITV soap before being killed off in a dramatic explosion three years ago.
Emmerdale favourite Reece Dinsdale has shared a tribute to his beloved late mother, who would have turned 94 today. She died peacefully last year, but left the actor heartbroken, admitting that life would "never be the same again" without her.
Reece, who took some time off last spring to reflect on his grief, has marked what would have been a special occasion in a heartfelt post on X. "Happy Heavenly Birthday to my late ma who would have been 94 today," he wrote, punctuating his words with a kiss. He added: "The date also coincides with #ThreadsDay. All too bitter sweet, whichever way you look at it."
Happy Heavenly Birthday to my late ma who would have been 94 today. ?????? x
— Reece Dinsdale ?????? (@reece_dinsdale) May 26, 2025
The date also coincides with #ThreadsDay ??????
All too bitter sweet, whichever way you look at it. pic.twitter.com/3RwcLT1rcs
The post received almost 8,000 views within two hours, with one follower comforting him with the words: "Awww your Mum was the best! My mum has dementia but I’ve just shown your Mum’s photo to her and she remembered her straight away!"
Reece replied: "Wow Helen, that’s extraordinary! I start rehearsals tomorrow for a play about dementia at Leeds Playhouse. Hope you’ll come and see it, if it’s not too painful for you. x"
He's acting alongside ex-Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati - formerly corner-shop owner Dev's wife Sunita, before her character was killed off in 2013.
The play, Through It All Together, will feature Reece and Shobna as a Yorkshire couple struggling to "navigate a diagnosis of dementia", with their shared love of real-life football manager Marcelo Bielsa and his team, Leeds United, providing the backdrop.
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Reece, like Shobna, once had a role in Coronation Street as Joe McIntyre, while he also appeared in huge dramas including Threads and Jim Henson's Storyteller - both of which scooped BAFTA Awards.
His commitment to his craft has seen him through the tough times while grieving his mum, and he's described his time on his latest play glowingly.
In an official statement, he confirmed: "I’m honoured to play Howard in Through It All Together at Leeds Playhouse – a heartfelt piece that so many will relate to.
"Whether it’s through the beautifully observed portrayal of someone living with dementia and the people who care for them, something many of us have experienced, or through the deep connection of being a football fan, this play speaks to the heart."
