Emmerdale viewers have been treated to a surprising blast from the past, as a vintage photograph of actor Dominic Brunt sporting a full head of hair has resurfaced, leaving fans stunned by his markedly different appearance from his familiar bald look as the beloved character Paddy Kirk.
A Different Look for a Soap Icon
Dominic Brunt joined the long-running ITV drama in 1997, stepping into the role of the village's good-natured veterinary surgeon, Paddy Kirk. Over nearly three decades, he has become one of the show's most iconic and cherished characters, navigating countless significant storylines that have captivated audiences.
From turbulent love affairs to the devastating loss of his infant child, Paddy's journey in the Yorkshire Dales has been filled with emotional depth and dramatic turns. Most recently, the character found himself embroiled in a cover-up following the death of Ray Walters after a deadly assault by his father, Bear Wolf.
Fan Reactions to the Vintage Photo
The recently circulated photograph shows Dominic Brunt with a complete set of mousy brown locks, a sharp contrast to his current bald appearance that fans have grown accustomed to. The image, believed to be from his wedding day to Mandy Dingle, has sparked a wave of reactions across social media and fan communities.
On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, one enthusiast commented, "Handsome then handsome now! Love Paddy." Another viewer posted, "He looks so different," while a third noted, "Don't remember him with hair?!" Someone else wrote, "Dominic with hair wouldn't have recognised him," highlighting just how unfamiliar this look appears to long-time fans.
The Journey to a Bald Head
In a revealing interview back in 2019 on ITV's Lorraine, Dominic Brunt opened up about his hair loss and the soap's initial attempts to maintain his hair on screen. He explained that as he started losing hair at the back, the production team used a spray to cover it up, but after two years, he requested to shave it off completely.
"I started losing my hair a little bit at the back so they used this spray but after two years I said, 'Please, please, please can I cut my hair off?'" Dominic revealed. "Because there's no dignity in spraying your hair on every morning."
He humorously added that if a pill were invented to restore hair, he would opt for "thick, curly, Italian hair" and grow it as big as possible, but acknowledged that wasn't in the cards. This candid admission sheds light on the personal choices behind his now-signature bald look, which has become an integral part of Paddy Kirk's identity on Emmerdale.
As Paddy continues to face the frightening possibility of jail time in current storylines, following his father Bear's confession to police, this nostalgic glimpse into Dominic Brunt's past serves as a reminder of the actor's enduring presence and transformation throughout his celebrated career on the soap.
