Emmerdale’s Charley Webb choked to tears as she discussed her mother Helen’s battle with dementia on Friday This Morning.
The former soap actress, 35, revealed that her beloved parent was diagnosed with early-onset eight years ago at the age of 64.
Charley, who played Debbie Dingle in the ITV show from 2002 to 2021, revealed that her family had been through “hell” and she was forced to “mourn for the person” her mother once was.
Presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary: ‘There was no support, no help, it was shocking actually, and it’s been eight years of hell for me and my siblings’.
“She’s gone to a home now and it was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.”
Candid: Emmerdale’s Charley Webb, 35, choked back tears as she discussed her mum Helen’s battle with dementia on Friday This Morning
Heartbreak: The former soap opera actress revealed that her beloved parent was diagnosed with ‘early-onset’ eight years ago at age 64 (pictured together)
According to Dementia UKDementia is a degeneration of the brain that causes a progressive decline in people’s ability to think, reason, communicate and remember.
Their personality, behavior and mood can also be affected. Early onset is when a person develops symptoms early, between the ages of 35 and 65.
Charley, who shares three sons with Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden, said her mother was once a big part of her career, so she was one of the first to notice the forgetfulness.
“When I started working so young, my mom took over and started forgetting things. She forgot something big for me financially.”
Further on: “She thought she was going to lose her house, and I thought this made no sense. People thought I was just being dramatic, but I just knew something wasn’t right.’
“Getting the diagnosis was a long process. It was very stressful. She had a big personality and was much wilder than me. She was great. Seeing that decline is just horrible.”
A tearful Charley continued, “I was pregnant from my waist [son] Bowie. That was traumatic, trying to get the diagnosis is actually a long process’.
“It’s hard, it’s hard, it’s been stressful. She had a big personality, she was much wilder than me. She stayed up until 4am with my friends, so it was horrible to see that decline.”
Honest and open: She told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary, “There was no support, no help, it was actually shocking, and for me and my siblings it’s been eight years of hell.”
Grief: The actress revealed she’s been forced to “mourn for the person” her mother once was. (pictured together at Charley’s wedding in 2018)
Heartbreak: Charley said how her mother was once a big part of her career, so she was one of the first to notice the forgetfulness (pictured with co-stars Jane Cox and Steve Halliwell in 2002)
She went on to say that she now believes her mother was in denial: “She was young, she was 64, she never wanted to go to the doctor for anything. They looked for everything else, they checked her thyroid, ran tests because I don’t think they thought it was.”
‘My mother is so fit and healthy. Very glamorous, hair was always perfect, make-up perfect. You lose them right before your eyes,” she explained.
“That’s the hardest part, because you’re grieving for the person they were.”
Before revealing, “She’s like a little girl now and it’s taken me a long time to talk about it, it’s so personal and big, but it feels like now is the right time.”
“One in two gets dementia or cares for someone with dementia, if we can do something about it now, we should.”
Speaking out: Charley went on to say she now believes her mother was in denial: “She was young, she was 64, she never wanted to go to the doctor for anything. They looked for everything else, they checked her thyroid, did tests because I don’t think they thought it was’
Family: Charley shares three sons with Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden and said dealing with her mother’s illness while pregnant was ‘traumatic’
Family: She is also the younger sister of Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas, 48
Charley revealed that she wanted to talk about it, not make others going through a similar situation feel alone.
“You get the diagnosis and are left to your own devices. And I worry about people who have no family or siblings. We’re really lucky. The support needs to be so much better.’
It comes after Coronation Street icon and fellow soap star Julie Goodyear revealed this week that she suffers from dementia.
The actress, 81, is famous for playing leopard print-loving Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in the ITV soap for more than 25 years, starting in the role in 1966.
Her beloved husband Scott Brand, 55, released a statement on Wednesday that said: “My dear wife and I have had to accept this heartbreaking diagnosis.
“Unfortunately Julie has been suffering from forgetfulness for some time and we have sought medical advice and help.
‘No hope for a turnaround’: It comes after Coronation Street icon and fellow soap star Julie Goodyear revealed this week that she is suffering from dementia (pictured as Bet Lynch in a still from the ITV soap)
“But we now know there is no hope of a turnaround – and that her condition will gradually, if not soon, get worse.
“We have made the decision to make the diagnosis public as Julie still enjoys visiting friends and going out for dinner.
Inevitably, she’s recognized and fans love meeting her — and them them — but she can get confused, especially when she’s tired. I hope people will understand.’
Julie remains a patron of Willow Wood Hospice in Greater Manchester and has said she wants to highlight the great work of the hospices who do so much to support patients and families with dementia.