By Sara Baalla
Copyright belfastlive
Emmerdale fans believe they’ve exposed The Woolpack’s new owner, and it’s a returning soap legend. The renowned ITV landmark is one of the most recognised pubs in the world of soaps, with a rich history spanning the show’s 53-year run on television. The Woolpack was originally established around 1779 and was under the ownership of Ephraim Monks Brewery until 1973. The building is connected to The Grange and neighbouring Pear Tree Cottage. Currently, Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) operates her beauty salon from the front of the property, while Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) run the wedding and events business Take a Vow from the back office. The pub has weathered numerous disasters, including the 1993 plane crash and the storm of 2003/2004, which resulted in the roof collapsing after the building was struck by lightning, reports the Daily Star . Over the years, The Woolpack has had various owners, including Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter), Al Chapman (Michael Wildman) and Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock). The longest-serving landlord was Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill), who held the position for 43 years. Meanwhile, Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) holds the record as the longest-serving landlady, having been behind the bar for 16 years. Currently, the pub is owned by Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) and her son Ryan Stocks (James Moore), but their tenure may not last much longer. Now, several Emmerdale fans are convinced that Diane will make a comeback to the village to reclaim her title as pub landlady. The character notably bid farewell to the Dales back in 2021 when she relocated to Portugal to reinvent herself and avoid being seen past her prime. Diane’s departure coincided with actor Elizabeth’s retirement after a 22-year stint on the soap. But could she now make a comeback, particularly after her daughter Bernice Blackstock’s (Samantha Giles) recent return? “Personally, I would like to see Diane return as part owner of the Woolpack along with Chas,” one individual posted on a Facebook fan page. Another chimed in: “I miss Diane, would love for her to come back,” while a third commented: “I’d probably get teary eyed if Diane ever came back. I loved her so much.” A fourth fan echoed these sentiments, stating: “Diane was such an iconic character, it would be great for the soap if she came back even briefly. She’s got to pull another pint again.” Meanwhile, another fan believes that Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) should be running the pub as she’s a well-liked villager. Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX
