Paddy Kirk

Patrick Frederick "Paddy" Kirk is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Dominic Brunt. Paddy demonstrates the dedication of the soap's writers towards maintaining a comedic tone in plotlines. While he has appeared at the centre of some grave storylines, Paddy is often a manifestation of the faintly ridiculous. His bumbling ways and perpetual ill luck act as an amusing antithesis to the sometimes traumatic incidents which befall those around him.

Paddy is one of the longest-serving characters currently in the programme. He has been married three times, to Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) in 1999, Emily Dingle (Kate McGregor) in 2002 and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) in 2012. He has also had several flings since arriving, notably with Viv Hope.

Storylines

1997-2008

Paddy arrives in Emmerdale to work as a locum for Zoe Tate (Leah Bracknell) at the vet surgery, initially on a temporary basis. He is drawn to Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and they are smitten from first sight, but their relationship had many ups and downs. Paddy's mother, Barbara (Judi Jones), did not approve of Mandy. Horrified, Barbara offers Mandy money to marry someone else, which she does and Mandy marries her cousin, Butch (Paul Loughran), leaving Paddy depressed. After a failed date with Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles) in an attempt to take his mind off Mandy, Paddy proposes marriage to Mandy and she accepts. They marry the following year but over the next two years, Mandy is frequently absent looking after her father, Caleb. She misses Paddy but begins an affair with her father's carer and their marriage breaks down.