Faith Dingle (Sally Dexter)’s story on Emmerdale currently has viewers feeling intensely moved by the depiction of her final days, during which she remains determined to stay in as much control of her life as she can to the very end.
After Faith discovered that her cancer was terminal, she set out to wring every last drop out of the time she had left, often getting old friend Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) involved in her schemes, such as driving a fast car around the winding lanes of the Dales or stealing a golf buggy.
Now, as her health has deteriorated badly, she has confided in Moira (Natalie J. Robb) that she intends to take her own life before she loses the capacity to be in control of what happens and viewers will see the sad scenes play out this week.
Emmerdale wanted to do as much justice to this story as possible, according to Sally Dexter. ‘We agreed all sides of this debate needed to be heard and respected,’ she has explained.
The show took advice from the charity Dignity in Dying, and from a man called Steve Jetley, whose wife Tina Humphrey also made the decision to end her own life when she became seriously ill with metastasised melanoma.
Tina died in April 2013, at the age of 45, with Steve by her side.
He has told The Sun: ‘She said she didn’t want her last moments to be clouded by drugs or unconsciousness. She wanted her wits about her.
“She wanted to be able to hold my hand and tell me she loved me, and for me to tell her the same and to just hold each other
‘Tina was a very clever, determined woman who knew her own mind and I wanted her to have what she wanted.’
Tina became too ill to travel abroad Dignitas in Switzerland and made preparations to end her life at home.
But Steve explained that it took her 15 hours to die.
‘I don’t know if Tina suffered or not but it was not the death she wanted,’ he shared.
‘She was unconscious and I could only listen for 15 hours as her breathing grew ragged, then she was gasping. It was terrible. I will never forget those long hours.’
It is illegal in the UK to assist someone to take their own life, and carries a prison sentence of 14 years.
Following Tina’s experience, Steve now works with Dignity In Dying in their campaign to have the law changed.
Sally Dexter and the Emmerdale team were ‘all extremely moved’ by Steve’s story.
‘We were all in great awe of the work done by all organisations and charities used for this storyline,’ the actress said.
‘I only hope we have done as much justice as we could.’
Tina and her blue merle collie dog Chandi came fourth in Britain’s Got Talent in 2012.
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Tina said at the time that, ‘Chandi isn’t distracted by the lights or the audience when on stage because she knows I wouldn’t take her anywhere where anything bad could happen. She watches me and is totally focused on me. Chandi completely trusts me and I trust her.’
Chandi won four Crufts finals and she and Tina also won first prize in Graham Norton’s When Will I Be Famous.
She also wrote a book about her beloved dog, ‘Chandi: The Rescue Dog Who Stole A Nation’s Heart.’
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