It’s official: Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) suffers from Parkinson’s disease, the neurological ailment that is rising the fastest in the globe.
On Wednesday, November 1, the cherished figure disclosed his prognosis to Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) in the ITV serial opera.
The Dingle family has been central to Lydia’s (Karen Blick) investigation into Craig Reed’s (Ben Addis) death this week.
There have been flashback scenes involving each character, and it was Mandy’s time.
Mandy was observed at the hair salon attempting to mend the problem till Eric gave it to her.
When he came in, a furious and exasperated Mandy greeted him and instructed him to take action.
Eric eventually started crying. Mandy first thought she could have disturbed him, but he ultimately admitted he had Parkinson’s disease.
Mandy listened as Eric talked about the symptoms he’s having and his fear for the future. Additionally, he informed Mandy that it must remain a secret since he wants to fight the war alone, away from the knowledge of his loved ones.
Although Mandy didn’t tell the Dingles about Eric when they were back in the bar, we saw her crying when she was with herself because the weight of his secret was getting to her.
Parkinson’s UK, a charity, and Emmerdale collaborated closely to prepare this plot. They will keep helping the programme to portray Eric’s tale in a genuine and realistic way while also raising awareness of the illness.
“When Eric Pollard receives a Parkinson’s diagnosis, he is naturally very scared and unsure of what the condition means for his future,” said Laura Shaw, producer of Emmerdale. Because of Emmerdale’s special status, we are able to tell this narrative over an extended period of time in a really true manner, shed light on what a diagnosis like this implies, and follow Pollard as he learns to live with it.
“We hope that sharing Pollard’s story helps to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and show the day-to-day reality of those living with it, as well as the impact it can have on friends, family, and the local community,” said the statement released in collaboration with Parkinson’s UK, who have been our guiding light throughout the entire process.
The longest-serving cast member of Emmerdale, actor Chris Chittell, shared his sentiments, saying, “I feel really privileged to be given this storyline.” Parkinson’s disease targets a great deal of people in an indiscriminate, dishonest, and cruel way. I want to tell this narrative in a way that honours the bravest individuals who are suffering the most from this illness.
“Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, but is still misunderstood by many,” stated Caroline Rassell, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK. Receiving a diagnosis can be devastating because it forces a person to face a future that is not what they had planned.
“We hope that Eric’s storyline will foster conversations about the effects of Parkinson’s on those who live with the disease and their loved ones, as well as raise awareness and understanding of a condition that approximately 153,000 people in the UK live with.”
“It’s an honour to be supporting the Emmerdale cast as they depict Eric’s journey, and Parkinson’s UK is available to support anyone impacted by the illness via our website, local groups, and helpline.”
Parkinson’s UK offers further information and resources on their website.
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