Poor Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) was massively humiliated in Emmerdale recently after he and Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) had a really nice time spending time together at the Hide.
They played pool and were getting on brilliantly – until Vinny misread the situation and leaned in for a kiss.
Gabby explained he’d got things wrong, and a flustered Vinny then realised that the whole thing had been a set-up, with Mandy (Lisa Riley) and Paddy (Dominic Brunt) intervening to try to perk up his love-life when they realised he was lonely. Vinny felt terrible that Gabby was only spending time with him because she felt sorry for him.
This wasn’t actually the case, however. Gabby really does enjoy being with Vinny, and when she relayed what had gone on to Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) her stepmother had some advice for her.
She said that Gabby might be pleasantly surprised if she looked beyond the people she usual sees as ‘her type.’ This gave Gabby some food for thought – could things work out between her and Vinny after all?
In upcoming episodes the two are out drinking together and, as usual, getting on really well. They find themselves kissing and it’s mutual this time, with Gabby just as keen as Vinny.
Things are going really well, but then Gail (Rachael Gill-Davis) drops a comment about knowing that Vinny is still a virgin and offers to help. Obviously this is a hugely cringe-inducing moment for Vinny and he can’t handle it.
Although Vinny was previously married to Liv Dingle (Isobel Steele), she was asexual so they never had a sexual relationship.
This was something that a lot of people didn’t understand at the time, with Liv’s evil mother Sandra (Joanne Mitchell) even using it as a way to get at her daughter by trying to set Vinny up with Gabby.
Since Liv’s death, Vinny was initially too immersed in his grief to think about another relationship, and since he has started thinking about it his lack of sexual experience has become a bit of a millstone around his neck.
He gets so flustered by Gail’s comments that he tells Gabby that there’s no future for them and no point continuing their evening. Confused and humiliated, Gabby leaves.
Vinny is left feeling guilty and trying to work out why he always messes things up with Gabby – and whether he’ll always be on his own.
