Emmerdale star Bradley Johnson, who plays Vinny Dingle, recently admitted he was “in complete shock” when he found out about his character’s next storyline. Since joining the show in 2019, Vinny has been through a lot—his troubled relationship with his biological father, Paul Ashdale, and his evolving bond with his adoptive mother, Mandy Dingle. However, the next chapter of Vinny’s journey is set to take a darker and more complex turn.

Vinny’s character has already been through heartbreaking situations, including the revelation that Mandy wasn’t his biological mother and the tragic abuse he suffered from his father, Paul. This all culminated in Paul’s death in 2021, but Vinny’s emotional journey didn’t stop there. Most recently, Vinny found himself caught between his growing love for Gabby Thomas and confusion about his feelings for his close friend, Kammy Hadiq.

In upcoming episodes, Vinny’s confusion about his sexuality will become a central theme. He’s faced with a series of emotionally charged situations that force him to confront his feelings. After an awkward encounter with Kammy, where he misinterprets signals, Vinny begins to question his romantic and sexual identity. This culminates in his meeting with Mike, a new character who offers Vinny support and helps him explore his feelings further.

Bradley Johnson shared that he was initially shocked when he learned about this new direction for Vinny. He expressed that it was a “complete shock” but that he found it exciting to portray a young man who is struggling with his identity. He explained that, given everything Vinny has been through, this storyline would bring new depth and complexity to his character.

However, things take a sinister turn when Mike, whom Vinny has grown close to, starts to reveal a much darker side. Initially, Mike presents himself as a sympathetic figure who is understanding of Vinny’s confusion. But soon, Mike begins to demand more from Vinny, threatening him and using their past conversations against him. The situation escalates as Mike turns violent, beating Vinny and triggering flashbacks to the abuse he endured from his father, Paul.

Bradley described filming these scenes as emotionally difficult, reflecting on how Vinny has been on a rollercoaster of emotions for years. Despite making progress, Vinny is knocked back down when he least expects it. Bradley admitted that it was tough to portray this level of vulnerability, but it was a necessary part of Vinny’s ongoing journey.

The upcoming storyline will be a pivotal moment for Vinny as he confronts his identity and faces new, terrifying challenges. Fans of Emmerdale will be on edge as they watch how this dark chapter unfolds, and whether Vinny will find a way to rise above the struggles that continue to haunt him.