Emmerdale fans will be given insight into the reality of living with dementia in a special upcoming episode.
This December, viewers will be able to experience the world from Ashley Thomas's (John Middleton) eyes in a one-off special.
It was only last year that it was revealed that the former vicar had early onset vascular dementia.
The team behind Emmerdale are set to produce a realistic perspective on Ashley's dementia diagnosis and its progression, which viewers have seen steadily worsen over the past few months.
![Emma Barton [GILLIAN KEARNEY] tries to persuade Ashley Thomas [JOHN MIDDLETON] his mind is playing tricks on him. His memory persists however and she's at breaking point. Hating herself, Emma deliberately confuses Ashley by switching between different conversations rapidly and has he gets agitated she soothes him](https://hips.hearstapps.com/digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/45/1478520986-vicar-ashley-emmerdale.JPG?resize=980:* "Emma Barton and Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale")
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The crew will recreate Ashley's perspective using specific cinematography techniques. They have been challenged to try and picture the disorientation and confusion the condition creates and how everyday experience can become distressing when seen through the lens of dementia.
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"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", said Emmerdale Series Producer, Iain MacLeod.
Currently, the exact storyline of this one-off broadcast remains under wraps.
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He added: "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."
Theresa Knight, Media Relationships Manager for MHA revealed: "We have been closely involved with Emmerdale since the team contacted us wanting John to visit one of our care homes for people living with dementia.
"Since then we have been involved in feeding back on scripts and storylines involving Ashley as his condition deteriorates.
"We have been delighted as to how seriously the whole team at Emmerdale is taking the storyline and the lengths they are going to in their research.
"We know from having had discussions about and given feedback on the episode from Ashley's viewpoint that it will be an exceptionally moving piece of drama."
The special has been informed by and produced with the support of the Alzheimer's Society and MHA.
Emmerdale airs tonight at 7pm on ITV.
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