I dont think its a bleed, unless a small slow one, because he did have various scans at the time of the accident?
so I think it is epilepsy maybe with petit mal so little black outs he doesnt even realise he has had?
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I dont think its a bleed, unless a small slow one, because he did have various scans at the time of the accident?
so I think it is epilepsy maybe with petit mal so little black outs he doesnt even realise he has had?
Good to see he wants to get more tests done, so hopefully we will find out soon what is wrongQuote:
Originally Posted by sarah c
as long as he remembers to turn up for the appointment ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
Last night's script said it could be due to a medication side-effect, although I imagine that this was suggested during a short GP appointment in a busy surgery. As I can't think of any big storyline possibility for Ashley other than this issue, I suspect that his memory problems could be the start of something bigger (in the same way that Pete's anti-depressant prescription last night will lead to big things by Tuesday 15th).Quote:
Originally Posted by sarah c
These memory and brain issues are really odd things. I knew a 20yo girl who seemed completely normal during the daytime when I first met her, but when she was standing close by sometimes, I'd be talking to her, maybe look away for 5 seconds during the conversation and then look back, and she'd be staring into space and in another world, completely oblivious to anything around her. The first time I saw this happen I knew she had epilepsy, although she hadn't mentioned it. After about 10 seconds, she'd then flip back into the real world, I'd say she'd been staring into space and she'd matter-of-factly say "Sorry about that", and carry on talking and acting as normal. She later admitted that other people often told her she'd had these fugue states but she didn't always notice them herself until she was told about them. She also admitted that she had a full-blown fit most evenings when she was at home and would collapse shaking on the floor.
I hope Ashley's problems, whatever they are, aren't serious or long-term, although Emmerdale can go to dramatic extremes on some issues to make a point and increase viewer ratings.
I thought Harriet said it was medication-based to not worry people into thinking it was something more?
just the impression I got
Kate Oates has said that there is a long journey ahead for Ashley Thomas following the revelation that he may have dementia.
Ashley (John Middleton) was seen receiving the devastating news in the ITV soap's special 'rewind' episode, which took viewers back to the night of Robert Sugden's shooting four weeks ago.
When that fateful evening was first shown to viewers last month, Ashley was seen arriving late to his own birthday party.
Brand new scenes in the flashback explained this late appearance, as Ashley had been busy seeing a doctor who broke the news that he may have early onset dementia and referred him to a specialist.
Speaking about the emotional storyline for the first time, Oates commented: "I think this is going to be a really challenging story for us to tell. John and I have been talking about it for many, many months.
"Ashley has been suffering from epilepsy since his recent accident, as we wanted a bit of a red herring for the audience over what was causing his problems. The trouble with stories like this is that you can often see them coming. We wanted that not to be the case here, so this should hopefully be a really big surprise."
She added: "We have heaped more agony on Ashley, but it's because John is an awesome actor and will do the storyline amazing justice.
"We intend to give this storyline time to breathe. There'll be lots of twists and turns in it and lots of emotion. It should be a fantastic story and I'm very excited by it."
:clap:Reply -Quote:
Originally Posted by tammyy2j
quote from.the producer "trouble with problems
like this -you often see them coming!"
hint " in that case dont pick a character who
seems/acts a couple of decades older than
his actual age"
A story about Early Dementia is a good one
and the condition needs more awareness.
No doubt Ashleys fans will be sympathetic -
but there must surely have been better
candidates ( acting ability / age etc):(
Emmerdale star John Middleton: 'Dementia story will take Ashley out of the show'
By Daniel Kilkelly
Thursday, Oct 22 2015, 21:58 BS
Long-serving Emmerdale star John Middleton has confirmed that he'll be leaving the show at the end of his emotional new storyline.
The actor's character Ashley Thomas received devastating news in Thursday night's special 'rewind' episode as a doctor told him that he may have early onset dementia.
Ashley was referred to a specialist and his diagnosis won't be confirmed officially until next month, when the village vicar has to face up to the reality that there is sadly no cure for his condition.
Speaking about the storyline for the first time, Middleton commented: "I've known about it for a year - since last October. I had a meeting with [producer] Kate [Oates] and she pitched the idea to me. She asked me if I was happy to do the storyline and suggested I might like time to think about it, but I recognised it as the best story I've been given in my life and fully embraced it.
"Inevitably it will take me out of the show. Every year I think, 'Should I go?' It's a bit like a footballer - you should only leave the team when you've had a good season. This, if I'm up to it, will provide me with the best season I've had in my life."
He continued: "In the episode where Ashley is diagnosed, one of his lines is, 'Last time I checked there is no cure' - but it's a very long arc. Time-wise, as far as I know, I'm contracted to the end of next year. Beyond that I don't know.
"I'm finding the prospect of leaving actually very exciting. It's another roll of the dice. I'm very, very excited about that and I couldn't ask for a better storyline to leave the show on, I really couldn't."
Middleton has played the role of Ashley since 1996.
Source:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...-the-show.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...ps8RfumqRsxaqw
Emmerdale star John Middleton: 'Dementia story will take Ashley out of the show'
By Daniel Kilkelly
Thursday, Oct 22 2015, 21:58 BST
83Shares
Long-serving Emmerdale star John Middleton has confirmed that he'll be leaving the show at the end of his emotional new storyline.
The actor's character Ashley Thomas received devastating news in Thursday night's special 'rewind' episode as a doctor told him that he may have early onset dementia.
John Middleton as Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale
© ITV
John Middleton as Ashley Thomas
Ashley was referred to a specialist and his diagnosis won't be confirmed officially until next month, when the village vicar has to face up to the reality that there is sadly no cure for his condition.
Speaking about the storyline for the first time, Middleton commented: "I've known about it for a year - since last October. I had a meeting with [producer] Kate [Oates] and she pitched the idea to me. She asked me if I was happy to do the storyline and suggested I might like time to think about it, but I recognised it as the best story I've been given in my life and fully embraced it.
"Inevitably it will take me out of the show. Every year I think, 'Should I go?' It's a bit like a footballer - you should only leave the team when you've had a good season. This, if I'm up to it, will provide me with the best season I've had in my life."
Harriet tells Ashley she must keep quiet about Ged for Brenda's safety
© ITV
Ashley with on-screen partner Harriet
He continued: "In the episode where Ashley is diagnosed, one of his lines is, 'Last time I checked there is no cure' - but it's a very long arc. Time-wise, as far as I know, I'm contracted to the end of next year. Beyond that I don't know.
"I'm finding the prospect of leaving actually very exciting. It's another roll of the dice. I'm very, very excited about that and I couldn't ask for a better storyline to leave the show on, I really couldn't."
Middleton has played the role of Ashley since 1996.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers and news
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http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...ps8RfumqRsxaqw
Emmerdale star John Middleton: 'Dementia story will take Ashley out of the show'
By Daniel Kilkelly
Thursday, Oct 22 2015, 21:58 BST
83Shares
Long-serving Emmerdale star John Middleton has confirmed that he'll be leaving the show at the end of his emotional new storyline.
The actor's character Ashley Thomas received devastating news in Thursday night's special 'rewind' episode as a doctor told him that he may have early onset dementia.
John Middleton as Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale
© ITV
John Middleton as Ashley Thomas
Ashley was referred to a specialist and his diagnosis won't be confirmed officially until next month, when the village vicar has to face up to the reality that there is sadly no cure for his condition.
Speaking about the storyline for the first time, Middleton commented: "I've known about it for a year - since last October. I had a meeting with [producer] Kate [Oates] and she pitched the idea to me. She asked me if I was happy to do the storyline and suggested I might like time to think about it, but I recognised it as the best story I've been given in my life and fully embraced it.
"Inevitably it will take me out of the show. Every year I think, 'Should I go?' It's a bit like a footballer - you should only leave the team when you've had a good season. This, if I'm up to it, will provide me with the best season I've had in my life."
Harriet tells Ashley she must keep quiet about Ged for Brenda's safety
© ITV
Ashley with on-screen partner Harriet
He continued: "In the episode where Ashley is diagnosed, one of his lines is, 'Last time I checked there is no cure' - but it's a very long arc. Time-wise, as far as I know, I'm contracted to the end of next year. Beyond that I don't know.
"I'm finding the prospect of leaving actually very exciting. It's another roll of the dice. I'm very, very excited about that and I couldn't ask for a better storyline to leave the show on, I really couldn't."
Middleton has played the role of Ashley since 1996.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers and news
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video - hit play below for gossip on EastEnders' Halloween special, Nikhil's Emmerdale return, the Nightingale family's arrival in Hollyoaks and a new romance story for Mary in Coronation Street.
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uberfan, this was already posted right above your post :)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/e...r-john-6691516
a death like mike baldwin
If I remember correctly -that was anotherQuote:
Originally Posted by lizann
soap rush job!!
I know they cant play out illnesses in."real
time" -viewers would get bored??
But it does underplay/undervalue what
patients family &carers undergo!!
dupl
I wonder if Ashley will ask Sandy to assist him with suicide now .....:hmm:
Yes, I suppose Ashley and Sandy could end up having a joint suicide pact by early 2017.
>
Ashley Michael Thomas is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by John Middleton. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 5 December 1996. It was announced on 22 October 2015, following the in-episode revelation that Ashley was suffering from early signs of dementia, that Middleton would be leaving Emmerdale. His contract ends at the end of 2016, meaning his exit scenes would air in early 2017.
>
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Thomas
Emmerdale's Ashley Thomas opens up about heartbreaking scenes as his character is killed off
19:30, 9 Nov 2015
Updated 19:38, 9 Nov 2015
By Vikki White
Emmerdale fans hoped things were looking up for vicar Ashley Thomas after he survived being run over.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTZgQnGWcAAtqDZ.jpg
© ITV
But he has been acting out of character for months – and the plotline will lead to the much loved character being killed off.
This week viewers will watch him begin to crumble when the notebook he has been relying on to conceal his memory loss disappears.
John Middleton, who has played the vicar for almost 20 years, says the scenes when Ashley succumbs to dementia will be some of the toughest in his long stint on the ITV soap.
“Ashley knows that something is desperately wrong and he’s terrified,” says John, 62.
“He’s been using a notebook and is getting increasingly dependent on it for everyday things. When he loses it he’s devastated because it’s his lifeline.”
In a heart-wrenching episode, Ashley will confide in his friend Bob Page, played by Tony Audenshaw, that he suspects he has the incurable condition.
A doctor will confirm the vicar’s worst fears – and he doesn’t take the news well.
“Ashley gets the diagnosis and feels like his life is over,” says John.
“He knows it will depend on how quickly the disease progresses and feels it is desperately unfair. It will shatter him.”
In John’s first full interview since the dementia storyline became public knowledge, he said researching the condition, which included working with an Alzheimer’s disease charity and speaking to the wife of a dementia sufferer, was harrowing.
“I was intimidated when I was first told about the storyline,” says John.
“And there was a certain side of me that was a little sad, because I knew there was only one outcome of this.
“Doing the research, there comes a certain point of the day where I just have to stop, because it gets too much.
“But at the same time I recognise this as an incredibly good story.
"We have no cure for dementia at the moment and it’s so prevalent because we are living for longer.”
As he contemplates the end of an era, John says he’ll look back fondly on his time in the soap – especially because of his fans.
Even those who seem convinced he’s a real vicar.
“I’ve had some bizarre fanmail,” he says, laughing.
“I get confessionals and people expect me to have solutions to their problems. I’m quite frank with them and say I’m not a vicar.
"I even got a letter from ‘God’. I didn’t reply because the one thing we know about God is that he’s omniscient so he’d know what I was thinking.”
For a vicar, Ashley has had a fair amount of scandal in his life. He married Bernice but she had an affair and ditched him.
He then got hitched to Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy, but she left him for Marlon Dingle.
Ashley went downhill fast, attacking his dad, losing his job and becoming homeless.
He bounced back and found comfort in the arms of Harriet Finch, played by Katherine Dow Blyton.
Ashley’s love life has been a rollercoaster but, in contrast, John has been married to Christine for 36 years.
“We met through friends in Newcastle when I first started acting,” he says. “It was love at first sight.”
He adds: “She is amused by the fact a lot of people think I’m like Ashley, because she knows the real me and I am very different.
"I’m glad I don’t live in Emmerdale – the most combustible village in North Yorkshire – and that I’m not Ashley.”
Christine has been understanding about the fame that comes with his soap role, including his fan club, the Ashley Appreciation Society, which cheers him on at his charity cricket matches near his hometown of Whitley Bay, in Tyne and Wear.
“My wife accepts that Emmerdale is a bizarre part of my life,” adds John, who has two sons – George, 26, and Jack, 34 – with Christine.
“My boys might have found it harder, particularly at school. Having a dad on the telly is an odd one.
“But the worst mistake you can make is assuming people know you.
“I was in the pub in Whitley Bay and got up to go to the bar and a chap said ‘oh, I know you’. I said ‘yes, yes’ and he said ‘no, you’re in my computer class’.”
From the sound of things, John’s wife keeps his feet firmly on the ground.
“When I was run over in the soap recently I had a stunt double who had just stood in for Ralph Fiennes in James Bond,” he says.
“He was a really nice chap and I felt distinguished to have him as my stunt double.
"I’m a huge fan of James Bond and I told my wife when I got home. But she was totally unimpressed.”
And while Ashley has done well to survive so long in the deadly village of Emmerdale, it has also led to perilous moments.
“Zoe Tate was going bonkers for some reason and set the church alight,” he recalls.
“I dived forward when the explosion happened, on to the crash mat and it was all fine.
“Two nights later I woke up on the floor next to the bed, with my wife going ‘what are you doing?’
“I’d thrown myself out of bed, recreating the stunt. I think I’d been slightly traumatised.”
While John has a few months to go before leaving the soap he is ambitious for his future beyond Emmerdale.
Born in Bradford, John appeared in a Swinton Insurance ad in the early-1990s before a part in Coronation Street as John Hargreaves, who knocked down and killed Lisa Duckworth.
John also had a small part in Emmerdale in 1994 as PC John Jarvis who was investigating the Post Office raid before he came back as Ashley in 1996.
After two decades of playing a man of the cloth, he fancies going to the dark side for his next job.
“I’d love to play a villain, any actor would tell you that,” he says smiling.
“And I’d still love to do theatre where I cut my teeth.
“But I wouldn’t want to do another soap because it can be exhausting.
"If you’ve got a very heavy storyline, you’re in on camera at 8am and you can be doing scenes to do with the death of your child all day.
“If you’re doing that for weeks, it can take its toll emotionally. But a lot of the time it’s a doddle – ‘a pint please, Diane’ and that’s your scene.”
The actor is also a member of the Labour Party and revealed that his career could have been very different.
“I stood as a councillor in the North East and got beat, just at the point when I got the Emmerdale job,” he says.
“I toyed with the idea of becoming an MP and I’m still very close to the party in some respects.
“I could have gone into politics but that’s it... for the time being.”
Read more at:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/e...FB_mirror_main
Dementia death trebles in 10 years
The Sun, 10 November 2015
Deaths from dementia in the UK have trebled over the past decade - and it is now the biggest killer of women.
Some 34,000 females died from the brain-wasting disease last year. It accounted for 13.4 per cent of female deaths, up from 4.7% in 2004.
Overall it claimed more than 51,000 lives. In men, figures have risen from two to seven per cent in a decade.
Dementia claimed 17,177 male lives last year making it the second biggest killer for men behind heart disease.
Cancer remains the largest killer of men and women when all its subtypes are combined, but dementia accounts for more than one in ten deaths.
Dementia now affects 850,000 people but the number of sufferers is expected to top two million by 2051. Jeremy Hughes, head of the Alzheimer's Society said: "It is an alarming reminder of the desperate need for more investment into research to ultimately find a cure.
Data from the Office for National Statistics showed 501,424 people died last year, a fall of one per cent from 2013.
Emmerdale star John Middleton has been visiting a care home to research his latest storyline.
The actor's character Ashley Thomas was recently diagnosed with early onset vascular dementia, which has no cure.
Emmerdale researchers approached MHA - a charity that provides a range of care services for older people around the UK - in preparation for the storyline.
The charity subsequently arranged for Middleton to visit a home in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, which cares for 14 residents in its specialist Kitwood House dementia wing and a further 33 people in the home.
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/15/45/...7-e7349-01.jpg
It's all too much for Ashley
© ITV
Middleton said to The Telegraph and Argus: "The research I started was because I want everything to be accurate.
"I was anxious and careful to be specific about the type of dementia Ashley develops and what we can say about it. What surprised me was how much dementia varies from person to person. People's dementia is as different as their personalities. I very much saw that when I visited Glen Rosa.
"What I have taken away from my visits to Glen Rosa is what friends and relatives notice more about personality changes. We have built that into the scripts. You will notice Ashley will lose his temper with somebody."
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/15/45/...7-e7350-02.jpg
When Ashley suggests they split up, Harriet it left hurt and confused
© ITV
He added: "We are very proud of the show and we like to get things right. If we get things right, it reaches out to people."
Emmerdale researcher Liam Johnson added:"When we were first told about the storyline involving Ashley being diagnosed with dementia, we knew we needed to get it right. Despite what people think, dementia is an overarching term for a number of forms so we needed the scripts and storyline to be accurate."
Middleton has confirmed that Ashley's dementia storyline will eventually take him out of the show.
Living with a person who had advanced dementia is hard. Really hard and i hope they show the impact on others with this storyline. Only today i took my dad who i care for full time to a church fair and cried on the vicars shoulder during a low moment. Dad was a lay preacher but dementia brought out a vocab in him that couldnt be shown on primetime tv. Also hitting and spitting etc. How much of this could they show on tv?
We have seen outbursts of anger already, might revisit Ashley abusing his dad again or maybe somebody else like Harriet, Laurel or maybe even ArthurQuote:
Originally Posted by suzewebb
I feel for you, suzewebb, my mum was only in her early 60s when she started with this horrible illness http://www.picgifs.com/smileys/smile...ugs-227563.gif
Ashley has a blackout and stumbles during Bob's birthday hunt, leaving him helpless until he comes across a car. Later in the pub, Bob is alarmed when he realises that Ashley hasn't come back.
At the hospital, a doctor explains to Ashley that he had a mini-stroke, but he makes a hasty departure from the wards on his own. A worried Bob is about to tell Harriet the truth when Bob suddenly returns, saying he got waylaid with parish business. Bob is appalled to hear about Ashley's mini-stroke, not wanting to keep his secret anymore.
Meanwhile, Ross is looking after Moses and agrees to let a desperate Emma take him for a while. Emma wants to make a deal where she gets to look after Moses regularly, but Ross makes her swear that Debbie won't find out.
Elsewhere, Joanie is delighted as she tells Lisa that she got a job at the factory.
Also today, Laurel is floored when Harriet reveals that she's going to ask Ashley to marry her.
Finding the Ashley storyline far more interesting than the Robert /Chas /Dianne /Emma business, which is rapidly getting boring for me.
I find them both interesting .. Ashley´s because I hope they will show how quickly Alzheimers can develop and how patients behave .. Robert, Chas, Diane and Emma storyline is fascinating for me :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Glen1
Fair comment Perdita , I'm getting on a wee bit in years and occasionally forgetful , so this storyline may be a bit of a learning curve for me , looking for any clues I guess. Couldn't bare to inflict any burden on family.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
Aww Glen, sorry to hear that but most people start losing short term memory once they are in mid 40s ... Best thing is to do as Ashley did.. get proper medical tests done and get advice, there is a lot they can do now to help with this illness :)
Ashley & Laurel... BACK ON!
Then, on New Year's Eve, Ashley shocks Laurel with a suggestion.
'He says they should look into care homes for him'.
Spoiler from Soaplife newswriter
Soaplife, 19 Dec 2015 - 1 Jan 2016
feel sorry for harriet, she deserves the truthQuote:
Originally Posted by Telly Watcher
john is doing an amazing job with the storyline
feel sorry for harriet, she deserves the truthQuote:
Originally Posted by Telly Watcher
john is doing an amazing job with the storyline
There are emotional scenes ahead in Emmerdale as Ashley Thomas continues his tragic journey – by finally confessing to his children and his father Sandy that he is suffering from dementia.
The difficult moment comes as Sandy discovers leaflets for a care home – and makes the assumption that Ashley making plans for him. As Ashley and Laurel return home, they are confronted and Ashley is forced to sit his dad down and explain the truth of the bleak situation.
The news hits poor Sandy hard and, despite trying to put on a brave face, he later opens up to Doug about his fears for his son.
With the news spreading, Laurel and Ashley face the terrible prospect of telling the kids and, even though Ashley desperately tries to put it off, he eventually tells them directly.
Explaining the difficult situation, Charlotte Bellamy told Metro.co.uk: ‘The little boy, Alfie, who plays Arthur is an absolute gem he doesn’t really understand it. I was trying to explain it to him yesterday. I said do you know what’s going on with the story, do you know about… And his Mum’s tried to explain, and he says, “his brain goes funny, doesn’t it? Does he get better?”
‘So I’m like, “no he doesn’t get better”, and I tried to explain. But it’s awful. It’s hard, a boy of six years old, how do you tell them their Dad is going to lose their mind?’
Revealing an upcoming scene which sees a sad Ashley take the children out of school on a whim, Charlotte added: ‘He takes them out one day, he knows what he is doing. They have this picnic during the day by this stream and they have sausage rolls and cups of tea and the kids are on deckchairs and he thinks, “why don’t I do that more often?”
‘That’s quite nice. Course the kids don’t know what they are doing, they have a day off, there will be lots of moments like that I think.’
In the wake of confiding in his children, the news starts to spread around the village, leaving everyone shocked and devastated by what is happening to their friend. And as Ashley then builds bridges with Harriet, it’s clear he will have a strong support network.
But how long before the one closest to him starts to really feel the strain? As Laurel breaks down while alone, the cracks are already starting to show…
Read more at:
http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/24/emmerd...llage-5555082/
is ashley moving laurel into harriet's rented house
ashley laurel and kids move back into debbie's house their old place
Emmerdale producer Iain MacLeod has confirmed that Ashley and Laurel are planning to recommit themselves to one another by remarrying.
The couple tied the knot years previously on the soap, and will do so again in around six weeks time.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other press, MacLeod confirmed that Laurel will continue supporting Ashley following his dementia diagnosis, and the pair will eventually remarry.
He said: "The Ashley story is one I'm really personally very invested in. I think it's everything that our show does brilliantly.
"It's heartbreaking and it deals with the minutiae of human experience but it's also got huge emotional stakes attached to it."
MacLeod went on to say: "That's something that we'll be running for at least the rest of the year and beyond if we can find enough heartbreaking chapters in it.
"For me it's a good example of my favourite kind of story really. At its core, it's a love story."
Speaking about Ashley's dementia storyline, he added: "I know it centres around a big medical issue but the bits of it that I'm most interested in, much like the Paddy/Rhona story, it's how it affects these human beings, how it affects these relationships.
"When it boils down to it, it's stories about love and loyalty and loss. Yes, the Ashley story is at its core a medical story but I just think there's tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of warmth and humanity to get from it."
Speaking about the couple's future, the producer said: "The next big chapter in that, incidentally, is their wedding which is coming up in about six weeks' time.
"That has a really interesting twist within it, but at its core it's a really poignant, sad, joyous, complicated day.
"I'm so looking forward to seeing those episodes. The scripts are just starting to come through now," he added.
"Much as Kate set the ball rolling on those, just reading it on the page, it's just heartbreaking and heartwarming and gorgeous, that's one of the big stories that's going to play out over 2016."
Digital Spy
Emmerdale star John Middleton has revealed that Ashley and Laurel's plans to remarry will come as a "happy accident".
The show's new producer Iain MacLeod recently announced that Ashley and Laurel will be tying the knot again in around six weeks' time, keen to make the most of the time they have left together.
Ashley and Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) start making their plans next week, both looking to the future after an eventful few days.
First of all there's a big misunderstanding when Ashley wrongly accuses Laurel of hitting the bottle again, and things get even more complicated when Laurel discovers that she's still pregnant following her recent scare.
Middleton, who has played Ashley since 1996, explained: "When Ashley and Laurel start planning to remarry, it's a very happy accident! It comes after it's revealed that Laurel isn't drinking after all, and also that she hasn't lost the baby.
"That to Ashley is God finally giving him a gift beyond anything he could have asked for. He's desperate to tell someone, and even though he's sworn to secrecy, he can't help but blurt out to Laurel's father Doug that there is impending fantastic news.
"Laurel really doesn't want to say anything at that point, so she then diverts attention by saying that she and Ashley are thinking of getting married. That's a surprise to both Ashley and Doug!
"I think it's a great idea, though, because what neither of them have at the moment is any stability. It's a reaffirmation of their very great love for one another."
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/05/...-2nd-ep-06.JPG
© ITV
Harriet hears about Laurel and Ashley's wedding
Ashley was diagnosed with early onset dementia last year and the tragic storyline will ultimately see the character leave Emmerdale. He won't be going too soon, though, as Middleton is currently contracted for the rest of this year at least.
Discusssing how the story will progress, Middleton added: "I've done a lot of research and I know that Ashley has a very rocky road in front of him. I'm very much at the mercy now of the writers, because it depends on how rapidly they want to progress this.
"Ashley could plateau for a long time, or he could have catastrophic collapses brought on by mini-strokes. As an actor I don't yet know which route they'll take or how long I'm going to be here.
"This is a question which I'm hoping to get an answer to shortly, because I need to be planning for this! But at the moment I absolutely genuinely don't know."
By Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emme...de-to-remarry/
John Middleton has spoken out about his uncertain future on Emmerdale.
The 62-year-old actor knows his days on the popular long-running soap are numbered as his alter-ego Ashley Thomas - who he has played since 1996 - will soon lose his battle with dementia but he has admitted bosses haven't told him how long he has left on the Dales before he's sadly killed off.
He explained: "I am very much at the mercy of the writers - I don't know how long I'm going to be here. It depends on how rapidly they progress his dementia, because he could plateau for a long time. I don't know which route they will take."
However, although he's concerned about his exit scenes creeping up on him before he's ready to wave goodbye to the show, John feels incredibly honoured producers chose him to portray such a hard-hitting and emotional storyline.
John continued: "It's a big challenge, so it's not a very comfortable journey for an actor but it is an exciting one. I'm getting to explore things that you never normally do. I know it seems wrong but I'm actually thoroughly enjoying it."
I don't like Ashley leaving Emmerdale as especially with Edna gone, Ashley is the only character offering a bit of calmness in the middle of all madness..
Emmerdale star Charlotte Bellamy has praised Ashley Thomas's current dementia storyline for its longevity, revealing that John Middleton won't be bowing out of the role any time soon.
Viewers know that Ashley has early onset dementia and Middleton confirmed last year that he will be leaving the show at the end of the emotional storyline.
Speaking about the plot on Lorraine today (March 17), Bellamy - who plays Ashley's partner Laurel - said: "They are going to take their time with this story and I think that's really important.
"Emmerdale has a responsibility to tell this story right and that's what they do really well. They take these big issues and they research them.
"We have a fantastic research team and the writers and the producers all want to get it right and tell it well. He is not leaving quite yet."
Recent episodes have seen Laurel discover that she is expecting Ashley's child, and the reunited couple will tie the knot again in scenes airing tomorrow night.
However, Bellamy explained that there is still be a challenging road ahead for the pair.
She said: "They are meant to be together. He has been diagnosed with dementia but you feel like the audience are behind you. They want them to be happy for the time he has left.
"It's a really important issue to tackle and it's ongoing, because you don't know when Laurel is going to go back on the drink.
"But she's going to be his carer, ultimately, so she's going to be caring for a baby and for him. You will be wondering when the stress is going to get to her."
The show's new producer Iain MacLeod recently reiterated that Ashley's story would run for a while yet, saying: "That's something that we'll be running for at least the rest of the year and beyond if we can find enough heartbreaking chapters in it.
"For me, it's a good example of my favourite kind of story really. At its core, it's a love story."
Digital Spy
A video of Charlotte Bellamy's interview on ITV's Lorraine show can be seen at:Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
"Emmerdale's Charlotte Bellamy On Laurel and Ashley's Big Day | Lorraine", 4m 48s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a4-IVLzWSQ
Laurel and Ashley's wedding ceremony will be aired later today on ITV from 7pm.
Spoilers suggest something adverse happens after the ceremony whilst the guests are at the reception. The storyline continues during Monday's episode (21 March).
I previously posted some suggestions about what might happen after the wedding in a post on 12 March.
(But don't peek if you haven't already read it and don't want any surprise spoiled early!)
Previous suggestion post at:
http://www.soapboards.co.uk/forums/s...393#post844393
It’s the most haunting and bittersweet story in soap at the moment – the beauty of Ashley and Laurel Thomas finding love again and reuniting their family being spliced with the tragedy of the devastating illness that is making him slowly fade away is an emotional watch for viewers.
And the combination of joy and heartache has never been more evident in our minds than when those credits rolled following the wedding episode that saw poor Ashley suffer a seizure after an otherwise fairytale day.
With Doug having put aside his doubts and fears for his daughter’s futures and Harriet having proven that there are no hard feelings by agreeing to be the one to marry them, the couple were set to enjoy their love witnessed by the village.
With Laurel looking beautiful and Ashley never being more proud, our eyes were already pretty moisturised by the time the cruel twist unfolded.
And now we are just left with a lot of questions as we await for the next chapter in Ashley’s poignant tale.
Will he be okay? Will he even remember his wedding day? If he doesn’t, will it be a permanent or temporary lapse in memory? Will Laurel cope? Is this the beginning of Ashley taking a turn for the worse?
While we can’t give any specific answers to those queries right now, we can guarantee several things. Firstly, that the road ahead will remain full of challenges and difficulties for Laurel and Ashley and the wedding day’s ending will prove a devastating reminder that Ashley’s illness is very much still there and unable to be ignored.
Secondly, that the performances from John Middleton, Charlotte Bellamy and the cast involved on the outskirts will continue to blow us away and pull at our heart strings.
And thirdly, that there will continue to be uplifting moments weaved through the tragedy of what is, at the core, a story of illness and eventual loss – but also a story of love and warmth.
We are sworn to secrecy over what Ashley’s seizure means for him and his wife in the immediate future – but what we can say is that this is just the start of another chapter in the long running saga that will continue to deliver all of the emotions that will keep you engaged until the very end and beyond.
By Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.uk
http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/18/emmerd...-next-5755704/
A video about Emmerdale was shown on ITV's Lorraine show on Friday 18 March 2016.
In this, TV presenter Martel Maxwell took a trip to the Dales to get some behind the scenes gossip ahead of Laurel and Ashley's soap wedding of the year. Interviews were shown for the actors playing the characters of Laurel, Ashley, Doug, Paddy, Rhona and Harriet.
"Emmerdale Behind The Scenes: Laurel And Ashley's Wedding | Lorraine", 3m 20s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-d3oi9TLis