'Emmerdale' Spoiler: John Middleton To Stay On, As Ashley Thomas's Dementia Storyline Is Extended

‘Emmerdale’ actor John Middleton has revealed he’ll be sticking around in the soap longer than he intended, so the soap can further explore his character’s devastating dementia storyline.

John has played fan favourite Ashley Thomas since the vicar made his debut in the dales back in 1996, but it was recently revealed that his current storyline would be his last.

However, he won’t be going anywhere just yet, with ‘Emmerdale’ producers convincing John to stay around so they could delve deeper into the hard-hitting dementia plot.

Speaking to the Daily Star, John explained: “The storyline is going to be extended a little bit. That was the first thing I wanted to ask [producer] Iain MacLeod.

"I had a meeting with him and said, 'Iain, I just need to know when I'm going, my agent's chomping at the bit. Iain did say he wanted to get as many chapters, as he put it, out of it as he can. He also wants to give the story its due."

He also confirmed that he’ll be on screen until next spring, when the story will end in his character’s sad death.

John added: “What we’re dealing with here is a love story where you know there is only one ending for Ashley and Laurel.”

Ashley Thomas’s dementia is just one of many real-life issues that ‘Emmerdale’ has tackled in recent time, with other recent storylines rotating around subjects like infant mortality and child sex abuse.

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