Everybody is praising both Emmerdale and actor John Middleton for the portrayal of dementia in a special one-off episode.
Tuesday night’s emotional programme followed a day in the life of long-running character Ashley Thomas, who has been battling with stroke-related early onset vascular dementia.
As viewers watched him struggle to understand his surroundings and recognise the people and places around him, they took to Twitter to show their appreciation of how the condition was shown.
John Middleton deserves a BAFTA and an NTV award for tonight's episode so moving and brilliantly portrayed then not know Laurel #emmerdale
— carole beattie (@carolebeattie2) December 20, 2016
@emmerdale Such a sad episode makes you think what all these people are going through. Well done in bringing this to the forefront.
— susan love (@misssusanlove) December 20, 2016
That surely is an award winning episode. Poignant, realistic, scary, deeply moving & superbly written & acted @emmerdale @john_Middleton_
— Phoenix Holistics (@jackiefurby7) December 20, 2016
Just been forced to sit through @emmerdale all I can say is what an amazing piece of acting from @john_Middleton_ I can feel a soap award
— Kyle Partington (@kylep2308) December 20, 2016
Oh #Emmerdale. I'm at a complete loss for words. If that isn't an award winning performance from John Middleton I don't know what is 👏👏👏
— Allison Leveridge (@dali_leveridge) December 20, 2016
What a powerful and heart wrenching episode of #Emmerdale #Dementia well done all involved in raising awareness of such a cruel disease
— shell.monk (@shell_monk) December 20, 2016
@emmerdale wow what an episode emotional and moving great writing and great acting back to it's best well-done
— Barbara boyles (@Barbaraboyles2) December 20, 2016
Emmerdale needs so many awards just for that episode
— Cody💗 (@codyandrews1599) December 20, 2016
Sadly, different forms of dementia are not uncommon, and viewers who have experience of dealing with its effects were first to congratulate the programme.
@WeLoveEmmerdale @john_Middleton_ @emmerdale give that man an award......fantastic acting,highlights my mums plight! 👍
— Jeanette Benge (@BengeJeanette) December 20, 2016
My Nan suffers from dementia and @emmerdale has been portraying this storyline perfectly. Well done to @john_Middleton_ #Emmerdale
— Ronnie Warren (@121Warren) December 20, 2016
Incredible ep of #emmerdale. Heart-breaking & insightful. like watching my dearly loved grandad on screen 😥 well done to all involved x
— andrea plumpton (@andreaplumpton) December 20, 2016
@emmerdale what a brilliant episode. My grandad has dementia and it's definitely opened up my eyes. Well done to everyone involved. 👏👏👏
— Lewis Holgate (@holgate90) December 20, 2016
It certainly wasn’t easy watching at times, but it gave everybody something serious to think about.
