Emmerdale dementia storyline will honour real life patients

EMMERDALE star John Middleton has told of his pride at starring in the “best and most moving” story of his life.

Ashley was diagnosed with stroke-related early-onset dementia last year.

His condition has steadily worsened and the episode will be played out from his point of view as he wanders off from the hospital in his pyjamas.

As the ailing ex-clergyman makes his way through the streets of Hotton with passers-by increasingly worried, special filming and editing techniques will depict solely how he sees things.

And John has revealed how the experiences of real-life dementia patients will be portrayed on screen.

“I visited various groups, one of which in Bradford deals with early-onset dementia,” said John, who has just marked his 20th anniversary on Emmerdale.

“When I was chatting to the patients and carers, I realised that what they were saying was so informative I just had to get them to come into our studio. They sat down with our producers and writers and told their stories. It was one of the most creative days I’ve ever spent on the show.

“We got lots of ideas from them.”

John also visited care homes run by Methodist Homes, talking to those much more gravely affected by the condition.

He feared they would be difficult and distressing days, but that wasn’t how they panned out. “We were seeing these people as they are,” he explained.

“What’s upsetting is family and friends seeing them like that having known them as they were.

“They have seen how they’ve changed completely. One thing I did see is how content a lot of the people were.

“They were incredibly well looked-after in this lovely place, Glen Rosa in Ilkley, which had a dementia wing.

“Some weren’t sure where they were and thought they were in a nice hotel.

“But there was also a lot of humour and I saw that you could live a life well with dementia.”

Having had no real exposure to the condition, John admitted the whole experience had been an eye-opener.

And since initially being told last year of the plans for Ashley, he has learned a huge amount. He has also tackled three Memory Walks run by the Alzheimer’s Society to help raise both awareness and funds.

“My very first thought was that this was a tremendous story to tell. But as I started doing my research I really realised the importance of telling it accurately.

“If we didn’t do that it would be an immense disservice to the people with the condition and their carers.”

Both the Alzheimer’s Society and Methodist Homes worked hand-in-hand with the producers to plan for the groundbreaking episode.

Having immersed himself in the part, John said he hoped viewers would be both moved and informed.

“If I were to see someone now I’d have a better understanding of the confusion,” he added.

“And if people do see someone on their own acting eccentrically, their first reaction shouldn’t be that they are drunk or to be wary of them. Maybe they have dementia and perhaps you could help.”

Emmerdale series producer Iain MacLeod said: “People living with dementia face challenges most of us can barely imagine.

“So, I took it as a challenge to help people picture this experience, to put them inside the mind of someone living with this condition.

“With this chapter of Ashley’s story, we set out to give people an insight into how ordinary, day-to-day experiences can become disorientating and distressing.”

Emmerdale, ITV, Tuesday December 20, 7pm.