Behind The Scenes look at The 'All Male' Episode (on Loose Women)
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00But before all of that, just so that she can prepare herself for that shock news,
00:04since January, Emmerdale fans will have seen long-running character Pally Dingle suffer from depression.
00:11And for the last few years, our Stand By Your Men campaign has encouraged and supported men
00:16when it comes to opening up about mental health.
00:19So we sent loose man Jake Quickenden down to the Dales ahead of a special all-male episode.
00:25Today, I'm at the set of Emmerdale to meet some of the cast involved in a very special episode,
00:31which sees the men in the village come together in the war pack to encourage each other to talk about their own mental health
00:36and rally around their friend Paddy, who has been battling depression for the past few months on screen.
00:42This is the hardest thing I've ever had to write. I'm not strong enough anymore.
00:47No, no, no, no.
00:50I have to make it stop.
00:52I've been given special access for a look behind the scenes as the cameras roll on tonight's all-male episode.
01:00This centres around Paddy, played by Dominic Brunt,
01:02and I sat down with him to find out what impact he hopes his storyline will have.
01:06Thank you so much for meeting me here in the village cafe for a brew.
01:09You're welcome.
01:09I've actually got you a special present.
01:11I've got you a loose men cup.
01:14Can I keep that?
01:15You can keep that.
01:15It's not just a prop you're going to give to everyone.
01:17Cheers.
01:17So, your character Paddy has been involved in some massive storylines over the years.
01:22How did you feel when they came to you with this storyline?
01:25A huge sense of responsibility, I suppose.
01:28Very lucky that they're still writing for me.
01:32And I think it's only every decade or so that you kind of get given the responsibility of a storyline like this.
01:38I remember years ago we had the Aaron coming out episodes and that seemed to transcend what soaps do.
01:44It was kind of educational and it had a moral purpose.
01:47And I remember a relative of mine that was not bigoted, but, you know, like generationally ignorant of that sort of thing.
01:56And he was going, I understood that.
01:58That made it human for me, that.
01:59And I was like, yes, job done.
02:00So, I think this is on a par with that.
02:04That it's, we're trying to educate people and show them around the other side of the subject of being a man and not talking.
02:13The numbers of men committing suicide is unacceptable.
02:19This makes it easier for everyone.
02:21No, no, no.
02:22You, you've got, you, you, you've got, what have I got?
02:27Has doing a storyline like this made you think about your own mental health?
02:31Personally, I'm, I'm kind of, I've always had strong mental fortitude.
02:36I was a welder for years and I was in the middle of many men that didn't talk.
02:41But they, it was full of what, I suppose, I hate the word, it was banter.
02:47Yeah.
02:48And then there was the pub at night or football or the release.
02:51I, myself, was actually a bricklayer, so I had that kind of male influence, but we never really spoke about anything serious.
02:59You have that kind of thing.
03:00You have the, the chats, but it's never really important chats that you have.
03:05Yeah.
03:05Because you are too kind of scared to be the one that opened it up.
03:09And I think people at home watching this, when somebody starts that conversation, that would be great.
03:13When it comes to mental health, it's often those closest to us that are affected, as well as being the ones that spot the signs.
03:19And in tonight's episode, it's Paddy's best friend, Marlon, and his dad, Bear, that will hopefully have a big impact.
03:26Right, Marlon, back again.
03:28That's why you brought me down.
03:30I didn't want to miss out.
03:32Miss out on what?
03:33Well, come through, see for yourself.
03:35A bit of a lock-in going on, lad, that's all.
03:38Right, well, enjoy yourselves.
03:39Oh, Paddy, give it a chance.
03:40Matt, you play Paddy's best friend.
03:42How hard has it been for Marlon seeing Paddy go through what he's going through?
03:46It's been horrendous and shocking.
03:50It's taken him, he knew that Paddy was in a dark place, but he didn't realise quite how far he'd gone.
03:57Whether he'll have the answers from him, I don't know, because I don't know as much as friends might want to try and commit to that role.
04:05Sometimes it takes professional help to get people through that.
04:09I don't know if Marlon's going to be the person who does it.
04:12So this particular scene in the wall pack, how did that come about and how do you think that's going to help?
04:17So Marlon's arranged, with Bear, Marlon's arranged this sort of, like, lock-in with the lads to get men talking, you know,
04:24which is, as we all know, is a massive issue.
04:27We don't, we talk about, we talk a good game, men, about talking with each other,
04:32but actually we're still quite restricted in our emotional outpouring.
04:35It's a beautiful script and it's just nice to hear men opening up to each other about the darkest things that have happened to them.
04:43And it's, you know, even now, it doesn't happen enough.
04:45What's the impact that you want this to have on the people watching at home, on the men at home?
04:51Talk about it.
04:52Yeah.
04:52I've seen a lot of changes in my life, and thank God they've all, for the better,
04:57that people communicate better, that it's fine to talk about anything on the table now.
05:01In my time as a very young man, you couldn't.
05:04Yeah, it's a generational thing.
05:05Because British Reserve is still a thing.
05:07That's the way we are.
05:07It's still there, but we are getting better.
05:09We're sort of massaging that out of our mindsets, and I think the more we do it, the more it will be gone.
05:15It's not just Paddy's mental health that will be the focus.
05:17Tonight, we'll also see the so-called tougher men in the village open up,
05:21such as businessman Jimmy King, played by Nick Miles.
05:24This kind of thing today, when men start actually opening up about their feelings,
05:28is a big thing for his character, because although he's become more emotionally honest recently,
05:35he doesn't talk as much as he should, and he doesn't even manage it today.
05:39It takes another day for Jimmy to come out of his shell.
05:41Yeah, yeah.
05:42Tony, men often find it hard to talk about their feelings, and why do you think that is,
05:47and why do you think it's maybe a bit more of a generational thing?
05:50I think it's just the way we're brought up, really, being of that age.
05:53You know, we're both in our early 40s, aren't we, Nick?
05:56I think the important thing is that if you talk to somebody, that's all that matters.
06:01He might be a mate, he might be a family friend.
06:03You know, it's funny.
06:04Things can come sideways at you sometimes.
06:06You find yourself struggling in other areas,
06:08but it can be about something else psychologically that happened to you.
06:11Definitely, definitely.
06:12Well, guys, thank you so much for having a little chat with me.
06:14I know you're very busy.
06:15Probably want to go get a cup of tea or something now.
06:17We're going straight off stage.
06:19I'm sorry.
06:20You've got the beers off.
06:21Sorry, yeah.
06:22I really appreciate it.
06:24Cheers, mate.
06:24Nice to meet you.
06:24It's an amazing, amazing team.
06:25Pleasure.
06:25Lovely to see you.
06:26Cheers.
06:26Right, I'm going to let these guys get on with it,
06:28but I'm sure tonight's episode will make a huge impact
06:30and encourage us men to open up more about Men Not Health.
06:34Cheers.
06:36And Jake joins us now.
06:38I do.