It’s been a powerful and heartbreaking watch as Emmerdale’s Ashley Thomas’s dementia takes hold of him.
But despite the struggles and upset, the show’s boss Iain MacLeod has revealed the vicar and his wife will have a relatively happy ending.
Taking to Emmerdale’s Twitter feed in an #AskIain Q&A, the producer was asked in a video link what was coming next for Ashley and Laurel’s story. He replied:
“There’s an interesting episode in Ashley’s story that you’ll get to see before the summer.”
“One of the things we’re trying to do between now and the summer is find ways to make this a joyful story.
“Something that really warms the cockles as well as breaking your heart.”
It’s not been easy for Ashley and Laurel or their family as they navigate living with his condition, which is getting worse.
Laurel’s trying her hardest to cope, but the strain is clear to see, and this week it’s crunch time as she realises things can’t go on like this. But what decision will she make about Ashley’s future?
Read more: Emmerdale’s Laurel makes a heartbreaking choice
Back in December the show aired a whole episode told from Ashley’s perspective.
The Emmerdale team worked very closely with Alzeimer’s Society and MHA (Methodist Homes) to produce the episode that gave viewers a chance to see what it is really like to have the disease on a day-to-day basis.
Speaking to The Sun at the time of the episode, John Middleton, who plays Ashley said: “It’s watching someone diminish.
“Every aspect of this story is true and has come directly from someone we’ve spoken to who has experienced it.
“We had to do this accurately and the way you do that is from the research because we’ve always maintained that this story will come from real stories.”
John joined the soap in 1996, and it was announced that Ashley’s dementia diagnosis would see him leave the show this year.
We just hope Ashley and Laurel can find some peace before he does.