Emmerdale is set to air its first ever episode featuring only male actors, amid an ongoing story championing men’s mental health.
The ITV soap will air the ensemble episode in upcoming weeks, following the horrifying discovery that fan favourite Paddy Kirk, who is played by long-time soap star Dominic Brunt, had tried to take his own life.
The soap previously confirmed that, feeling alone and struggling to find his place in people’s lives, Paddy begins having suicidal thoughts.
In March, Paddy will return to his village, when completely unbeknownst to his close friends he will say some veiled goodbyes before leaving again with the aim of ending his own life.
Coronation Street has now confirmed the all-male episode will see Paddy’s close friend Marlon Dingle, played by Mark Charnock, set up a late night lock-in at the Emmerdale Woolpack, with one thing on the agenda: men talking to each other.
With Paddy's mental health still fragile after he has been brought home safely, Marlon endeavours to do anything he can to help his friend.
On Friday March 10, the front doors of the Woolpack will be locked and the men of the village will stay behind for a late night lock-in with the hope of using the night as a forum to talk.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw explained the soap consulted Samaritans and Andy’s Man Club when writing the storyline, adding: “When we embarked on this heartbreaking storyline about Paddy's depression and attempted suicide we knew we wanted to shine a light on how important it is to just talk.
“Inspired by listening to real stories from the charity Andy's Man Club, we decided to have some of the men in our village come together for a very special episode which purely focuses on them and seeing them talking about whatever they are feeling or thinking.
“If watching some of our most loved characters opening up to each other encourages just one person to reach out and start talking, we will be extremely thankful.”
She continued: “Despite Paddy being home and safe back in the heart of the village Marlon is finding it hard to get through to him and is worried Paddy will never find the courage to open up and talk.
“When Chas and Jimmy both unwittingly give Marlon this idea it’s not long before Marlon is acting on their information and setting up this lock-in. He just hopes it will help.”
Andy’s Man Club spokesperson Neil Waine noted that three in four suicides in the UK are committed by men, stressing the Emmerdale storyline could raise awareness for the mental health crisis among men.
He said: “If this episode of Emmerdale can shed a light on how important it is for men to talk we will be delighted as it may just reach that one man who sees that #ItsOkayToTalk and makes that brave, life changing step to go to an Andy’s Man Club.
“Kudos to Emmerdale for approaching this subject so head on and with such accuracy which we all felt was important."
