Emmerdale fan favourite Mark Charnock has touched the nation's hearts in recent scenes after his on-screen character, Marlon, suffered a heartbreaking stroke.
The actor, who has worked closely with the charity, Stroke Association, to give a "realistic and authentic depiction" of Marlon's journey, has been praised by fans for his portrayal of a stroke victim as he takes on the important role of raising awareness.
The episode, which aired on Monday, March 21, received thousands of comments with some fans even reaching out to the actor after the “powerful” scene.
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What made scenes even more heartbreaking was how quickly the day went from seemingly perfect to catastrophic in a matter of moments. Things seemed to be off to a good start as both he and Rhona were overcome with excitement after their joint marriage proposal to each other.
But happiness quickly turned into absolute horror for Marlon when his life suddenly changed forever, it all took a turn for the worse when the chef went home for five minutes and while looking in the mirror suddenly dropped to the floor.
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Viewers have watched on as the gripping storyline has progressed with Marlon making improvements in hospital and being released to continue his recovery at home, only to contract aspiration pneumonia and be rushed to hospital again. It's been an emotional rollercoaster for Marlon and his family, especially Rhona and his daughter April and for viewers alike, but now many are wondering how the story will pan out and will this be the end of the road for Emmerdale stalwart Marlon Dingle?
Here's everything you need to know about the storyline going forward.
Is Marlon Dingle set to leave Emmerdale?
It's good news for Marlon Dingle fans as the soap has confirmed that the iconic character will not be leaving the show.
While Marlon Dingle has suffered a traumatic and life-changing stroke, the storyline has not been written to pave way for an exit for actor Mark Charnock. Instead, Emmerdale bosses aim to raise awareness of the debilitating illness including how to spot the warning signs as well as deliver hope for recovery.
The ITV soap has worked closely with the Stroke Association in a bid to portray a realistic representation of the condition that aims to reflect true-to-life experiences.
Chief Executive of the charity, Juliet Bouverie OBE, recently told Radio Times.com and other press: "It is very sudden, and it is very frightening, but there are things that the public can do both to recognise stroke symptoms but also to recover afterwards. So hopefully [from this storyline] there's a message of hope as well about stroke."
What happens next in Marlon Dingle's stroke storyline?
Marlon has a long road ahead of him in terms of his recovery, far beyond his operation and fans can expect the storyline to focus on a realistic and lengthy rehabilitation as the character adapts to a new way of life.
Actor Mark Charnock recently revealed in an interview: "He has a thrombectomy, and they drag the clot out, but of course, it's only the beginning of the story really. [The surgery] helps with his facial drooping in the first instance, but he's still got a very long journey about learning how to move and to speak and do all that stuff again."
Speaking more about the physical consequences of Marlon's stroke, Charnock added: "It's all down his right side, and it's his arm, his leg, his mouth is all quite badly affected. He's got aphasia, which affects his speech and being able to express himself properly.
"Words, in the first few episodes, he just can't get to at all; but he often makes mistakes with words. He can see what he wants to say often, but can't express it."
The 53-year-old actor explained how Marlon struggled with his loss of independence as he found himself relying more on more on Rhonda and those around him to care for him. Mark added: "He's devastated, his life really is all about being able to use his hands. It's everything to him, his dexterity is everything, and all that's taken away. It's just like the rug's been pulled from under every aspect of his life. He's crushed by it.
"It's a mountain to climb. For Marlon, I think in particular, because he's such a mouthy character and physically expressive person, it's reducing him down to his eyes, really, is how he expresses himself in the first few days and weeks."
However, the actor is also keen to portray the positive moments among the more emotive scenes and is passionate about sending a message that things will get better. He said: "There’s also a great deal of hope that things can only get better from where they are. There’s positivity to be had from it too, so hopefully apart from it being distressing, apart from it being traumatic for the characters, also it will inspire them to get their lives back."
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