Lucy Pargeter has played the part of Emmerdale landlady Chas Dingle for over two decades. She joined the cast of the Yorkshire-based soap back in 2002 and has been at the centre of some of its biggest storylines.

Chas is the landlady of The Woolpack, has a famously fractious relationship with on-screen son Aaron Dingle, and a history of doomed romances.

In 2019 Lucy scooped Best Actress at the British Soap Awards for her heartbreaking portrayal of baby loss.

But what other shows has Lucy Pargeter starred in? And is she luckier in love than her on-screen alter ego?
The actress feels right at home in Emmerdale (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Who is Lucy Pargeter?

Lucy Pargeter is a British actress best known for playing Emmerdale’s Chas Dingle.

She has been in the acting business for over 25 years and appeared in a number of popular TV dramas.

Lucy got her big break in 2002 when she joined Emmerdale’s iconic Dingle family.

She made her first on-screen appearance in the October of that year and Chas now one of the Dale’s longest-serving characters.

How old is Lucy Pargeter?

Lucy Pargeter was born on March 1, 1977, which makes her 47-years-old.

The actress was born and raised in Nottingham, and trained at the Central Junior Television Workshop and New College.
Chas has had a hard year (Credit: ITV)

Chas Dingle in Emmerdale

Lucy plays feisty Woolpack manager and mum-of-three, Chas Dingle. Chas has lived in the Dales for over 20 years and spent most of those at the helm of the village pub.

She went from barmaid to co-owner to landlady, but was forced to sell her beloved boozer after being swindled by ex-lover Al Chapman.

Chas’s love life is a soap in itself.

She was married to loveable village vet Paddy Kirk, but messed it up by sleeping with Al.

The character clearly has a thing for killers as her exes include the dangerous (and now deceased) Carl King and Cameron Murray.

Chas is a proud mum of three, although far from the model parent – particularly with son, Aaron. The status of their on/off relationship is currently estranged, but working their way towards reconciliation following her cancer diagnosis.

Chas suffered the worst possible heartbreak in 2018 when her baby daughter Grace died from a rare kidney condition. However, happiness followed when she and Paddy welcomed little Eve the following year.

2024 looks set to be another tough year for Chas, who is recovering from a double mastectomy following a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis, the same cancer that claimed her mum Faith’s life.
The actress has quite the voice (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

Lucy Pargeter used to be a popstar

That’s right!

Before becoming a soap actress, Lucy was a member of girl group, Paperdolls. The trio toured with Irish boy band Boyzone in the 1990s.

Paperdolls also released a single called Gonna Make You Blush’, which made it to number 65 in the charts.

Lucy took part in the celebrity version of Stars In Their Eyes as Spice Girl Emma Bunton. And in 2006 she featured in reality singing competition, Soapstar Superstar.

Lucy wowed audiences with her performances – which included belting out Bonnie Tyler’s Holding Out For A Hero.
Crossroads was pre-Emmerdale for Lucy (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

What else has Lucy Pargeter been in?

Lucy’s first professional acting gig was in the 1996 TV movie The Bare Necessities. She starred opposite her future Emmerdale on-screen brother, William Ash (who plays Caleb Miligan).

The actress also has had small parts in a number of popular dramas, including Dalziel and Pascoe and Soldier Soldier.

Prior to landing her role in Emmerdale, Lucy was best known for playing Helen Raven in the re-make of iconic soap Crossroads.

Fans of Lucy will also remember her appearance in the thirteenth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here. Lucy survived the whole jungle experience and finished in a very respectable third place.

She’s undergone breast surgery

Lucy underwent two boob jobs – the first aged 21 and her second aged 32.

But a botched operation left Lucy suffering from years of ill health, including rashes and breathing difficulties. She made the decision to have her implants removed in 2019 after discovering they’d turned toxic.

Lucy made a before-and-after surgery video as part of a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, investigating women who claimed their implants were making them ill.

In the footage she recorded, Lucy said: “Four days until I get these toxic bags out of my body. This current set have been in for just over 11 years.

“I know that everything is going to be much better – but what am I going to look like?”

Thankfully, Lucy’s surgery was a success and she made a full recovery.
The couple share three daughters, but split in 2019 (Credit: SplashNews.com)

Lucy’s sad love split

Lucy was in a long-term relationship with football coach, Rudi Coleano. The couple were engaged to be married, and almost tied the knot while holidaying in Dubai – but decided against it.

In 2019, Lucy and Rudi announced they’d mutually agreed to separate.

A statement released by the pair at the time read: “Lucy Pargeter has confirmed she has separated from her long-term partner, Rudi Coleano, and, while no longer together, their main priority is raising their three daughters.”

There’s a new man in Lucy’s life

Lucy has found happiness again after her break-up from former fiancé Rudi. Speaking on The Real Is Real podcast back in 2022, the actress revealed there’s a new man in her life.

“I’m in a new relationship now. Exclusive. Don’t say anything,” she said.

Lucy bravely confessed she’d felt nervous about dating again following her breast surgery.

“Massive fear for me being a single mother of three, possibly finding someone else to spend the rest of my life with and thinking, ‘oh my god, the first thing I’m going to have to say is I’ve got no tits.”

She continued: “I constantly find myself apologising for having no tits, but he’s like, ‘I don’t give a [bleep] if you’ve got tits or not. It’s you that I love and it’s you who I want to be with.”
Lucy had IVF to fall pregnant again (Credit: ITV)

Does Lucy Pargeter have children?

Lucy has three daughters, who she shares with her former partner Rudi Coleano. Their eldest, Lola, was born in 2005 and is currently 18-years-old.

In April 2017, Lucy gave birth to twin girls, called Missy and Betsy.

Lucy’s twins were conceived via IVF after the actress struggled to fall pregnant naturally, something which she openly discussed at the time.

Lucy returned to work on Emmerdale five months after welcoming Missy and Betsy and has been on our screens ever since.