Emmerdale’s tragic and gutwrenching episode showing extent of Ashley Thomas’ dementia overwhelmingly praised by ‘heartbroken’ fans
The innovative episode left many viewers in tears this evening
TONIGHT's tragic Emmerdale episode showing Ashley Thomas' dementia from his point of view has been overwhelmingly praised by fans.
Many viewers said that the episode gave a "brilliant insight into dementia".
The most heartbreaking moment came at the end of the episode when it was revealed that the former Vicar had forgotten his wife Laurel.
The special episode of the ITV soap had been shot specially to show how someone who is living with dementia sees the world and used a variety of techniques to give the viewer an insight into their reality.
But at the end of the episode Ashley looked at Laurel and asked who Laurel was, leaving her utterly devastated.
The special episode had different actors were used to play familiar parts, while music played on repeat and in broken patterns to simulate how those with dementia see the world.
Flashes the original actors were used to show the confusion that Ashley feels on a daily basis, while coins were left blank and faces were removed from photographs.
Fortunately Ashley was found by Aaron Dingle and he attempted to take him home, but with a confused Ashley trying to find his way back to his childhood home to see his mum and brother, he panicked and got out of the car and walked into the path of an oncoming car.
Narrowly avoiding being hit, Aaron managed to get him back in the car and keep him calm enough before taking him back to Emmerdale.
With a different actress playing Laurel, viewers will have gained an insight into how difficult Ashley's life has been since the illness began.
The episode was conceived and produced with support from both the Alzheimer’s Society and MHA (Methodist Homes) who have been working closely with the Emmerdale production team from the start of this storyline to give the most realistic depiction of Ashley’s dementia as it progresses.
Time jumps were used to show Ashley's blank moments, where he forgets where he is.
In this special one off episode the camerawork and editing will be given a distinctively different feel to show Ashley's point of view.
Emmerdale showrunner Iain MacLeod, explained the concept behind this episode: “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 when refracted through the lens of dementia.
"Catching a bus, the apparently simple act of buying something in a shop, holding a conversation - all of these become tasks of Herculean scale.
"By telling the episode solely from Ashley's point of view and seeing things the way he sees them, I hope we're showing a side of dementia that is seldom represented on television.
"At its core, though, this has always been a love story between Ashley and his wife Laurel, and this episode is a heart-breaking landmark in the evolution of their relationship."
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In support of the awareness Emmerdale is achieving Kathryn Smith, Director of Operations at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We are incredibly moved that Emmerdale will be filming an episode dedicated to showing the audience the world from Ashley’s point of view.
"Storylines like this can help people raise awareness of dementia and help them to understand how dementia can impact a person’s ability to think, communicate, process new information and break down the stigma that is still associated with the disease.”
Ashley's storyline will continue for some time yet with the actor eventually bowing out of the soap to show a realistic outcome.
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