Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to reason he left (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale has captivated audiences since the 1970s, presenting numerous memorable characters in the fictional village. The Dingles have been central to the drama of Emmerdale right from its early days.

Amidst a plethora of dramatic events, including murders and tumultuous marriages, the Dingles have experienced their fair share of angst. One particularly harrowing episode for the family occurred in 2000 when Butch Dingle, played by Paul Loughran, tragically died, leaving an inescapable void in the Dingle household.

Butch Dingle, the offspring of Zak (portrayed by Steve Halliwell) and Nellie (Sandra Gough), was deeply woven into the fabric of the Dingle's narrative. His real name - Francis Albert Dingle - was lesser-known, with 'Butch' being a childhood moniker from his father due to his tender nature, a defining element since his arrival to the scene in 1994 until his departure in 2000.

The character Butch, became entangled romantically with Emily Wylie (played by Kate McGregor) during the latter period of his storyline. Yet, in a twist of fate, Butch's life met a catastrophic end following a bus accident in 2000, which saw him sustain fatal injuries.

In a poignant storyline, he married Emily at his hospital bedside, but died shortly thereafter. He was laid to rest beside his brother, under an epitaph capturing Dingle spirit: "Dead but still Dingles."

Paul Loughran became an Emmerdale icon as Butch Dingle (Image: YTV)

Paul Loughran, after leaving the soap, went on to secure roles across several TV shows such as Doctors, The Bill, Heartbeat, Mobile, and I Fought the Law, not forgetting his six-year tenure in ITVs Blue Murder as DS Butchers, reports Leeds Live.

He subsequently chose to retreat from the acting profession and the television industry in favour of a fresh career path. Following this, Paul returned to university for seven years to train as a primary school teacher.

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It is reported that he worked at a school in Blackburn until 2016 when he made his return to the entertainment industry with a role in the drama Jericho.

In the same year, he took on the role of Darryl Perkins, the incarcerated father of Craig Tinker (played by Colson Smith) in Coronation Street. A year later, he also secured a minor part in the BBC medical drama Casualty.

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Little information is available about Paul's life post-2017 as he has not been seen on television since then. He does not maintain any social media presence, leaving his relationship status a mystery.

It is speculated that Paul may have resumed his career in education.

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap

Emmerdale's Butch Dingle star's life from career change to real reason he left soap