It has been a year since the cherished Emmerdale character Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) received his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
Producer Laura Shaw noted at the beginning of the storyline that “Emmerdale’s unique position allows us to authentically tell this story over an extended period, shining a light on what such a diagnosis entails as we follow Pollard’s journey in learning to live with it.”
As a result, Eric’s diagnosis has been a central theme, depicting his struggle to come to terms with the condition while accepting support from Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop), even as he initially attempted to push her away.
To realistically represent Eric’s experience, his Parkinson’s has been woven into various storylines, becoming just one aspect of his character. Recently, Eric has grown frustrated with the increased traffic caused by Caleb Miligan’s (William Ash) warehouse, disrupting his tranquility. True to his nature, Eric confronts Caleb about the situation, only to be met with indifference.
Irritated by Caleb’s lack of concern, Eric decides to take action and climbs into the driver’s seat of one of Caleb’s lorries, neglecting to take his medication beforehand. The stress exacerbates his condition, causing his hand to tremble uncontrollably, leading to a crash into a stack of crates.
This incident is a significant shock for Eric, leaving him shaken and distressed. Later, when Caleb comes to the shop to warn him about meddling in his affairs, Eric struggles to keep his composure.
The following day, Caleb notices Eric looking unwell in the village and offers him a ride. Although Eric’s initial response is to decline out of stubbornness, he ultimately recognizes his need for assistance and swallows his pride to accept Caleb’s help.
Caleb drives Eric to the home of Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson), where the doctor examines him and reassures him that his symptoms were simply due to missing his usual medication.
Eric makes Liam promise to keep the incident a secret from his family. When Caleb later sees Eric back at work in the shop, he is taken aback by his recovery, but he respects Eric’s determination to not let his illness defeat him.
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