Emmerdale Paddy Kirk actor’s hidden connection to co-star away from ITV village revealed
Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt - who plays Paddy Kirk - also runs a film production company, which cast his co-star Martelle Edinborough in a horror movie in 2021
Dominic Brunt rose to fame when he was cast as Emmerdale’s Paddy Kirk way back in 1997.
The actor has been part of the ITV soap ever since, earning him several awards nominations over the course of a quarter of a century. To ensure he doesn’t get bored with the same old duties day in day out, however, the 53-year old has another job on the side.
Alongside his actress wife Joanne Mitchell, Dominic established Mitchell Brunt Films in 2011, for whom he works as a movie director. Strangely, Joanne has played four roles in the Dales alongside her husband – with cameos as Susan Davies, Midwife Yeo and DC Barnborough, before landing a longer-term position as Sandra Flaherty.
As Paddy celebrates his engagement to ex-wife Mandy Dingle this week, its actor Dominic’s relationship with another co-star that is a matter of further intrigue.
For Dominic cast Martelle Edinborough – who plays Suzy Merton – in his 2021 film, Evie. Martelle arrived in the Dales in early 2022 as the love interest of Vanessa Woodman.
Speaking to Inside Soap at the time, Martelle revealed: “I’ve worked with Dominic Brunt twice before. First in 2017, and then again at the beginning of 2021. I was in his horror movie called Evie.” Dominic has passion for the horror genre and has directed three other productions in Before Dawn, Wolf Manor and Attack of The Adult Babies.
And after landing the role of Suzy after working with Dominic, Martelle admitted to LeedsLive: “I literally dropped to my knees and let out a few expletives, as you do. I was absolutely over the moon and overjoyed. What actor from Yorkshire doesn’t want to work on Emmerdale?
“I think it’s one of those dream jobs. I am from Yorkshire and I live in Leeds and it’s just on my doorstep, it’s perfect! My feet haven’t quite touched the ground yet. I’m still on this massive cloud high up in the sky, but it’s been going really, really good.”
Despite loving his side project, Dominic previously told Loose Women his loyalties lie with Emmerdale. “It takes about two to four years to get the funding together and sometimes films collapse and sometimes they get up and go forward but it can be a very tricky situation, but I don’t want to ever do one of them by halves, so I only do them every few years,” he explained.
“I’m happy with Emmerdale and I really love it. I’m a really big fan of the show and I’m very lucky. I’ve probably dodged a couple of bullets and I never ever take it for granted.”