Actress Fined for Driving 17mph Over the Limit

Emmerdale favourite Lesley Dunlop, 69, has been fined and given four penalty points on her driving licence after being caught speeding in West Yorkshire. The actress, best known for playing Brenda Walker on the long-running ITV soap, was clocked driving 67mph in a 50mph zone on the M606 near Bradford.

The offence took place on December 2, 2024, and was recorded by an automatic camera while Dunlop was travelling southbound along the motorway.

Court Hearing and Sentence

At West Yorkshire Magistrates’ Court, Dunlop pleaded guilty to the speeding charge. She was ordered to pay £222 in total, which included an £80 fine and court costs. Alongside the fine, the actress received four points on her driving licence.

A second charge of failing to provide information about the driver of the vehicle, which had been issued by police in March, was later withdrawn by the prosecution.

Life Off Screen

Away from the cameras, Lesley Dunlop lives in Bradford with her husband and Emmerdale co-star Chris Chittell, who plays Eric Pollard in the soap. The pair met after Dunlop joined the cast in 2008 and went public with their romance several years later.

They became engaged in 2015 and married in a small ceremony in the Cornish village of Coverack in 2018. On-screen, the couple’s characters, Brenda and Eric, have also shared a long and eventful relationship filled with heartbreak, humour, and devotion — mirroring their enduring bond in real life.

A Beloved Emmerdale Veteran

Dunlop, who has been a fixture on Emmerdale for over 15 years, remains one of the show’s most cherished cast members. Her portrayal of Brenda Walker has earned her widespread affection from viewers, thanks to the character’s warmth, resilience, and comedic timing.

Despite this minor brush with the law, fans continue to celebrate Dunlop for her contributions to one of Britain’s best-loved soaps.