Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt, first appeared in Emmerdale in 1997. Over the years, the character has become involved in several significant stories. Paddy’s mental health began to deteriorate earlier this year, and the plot is now nominated for a British Soap Award.
One of the cast members of Emmerdale who has been around the longest is Dominic Brunt, whose upbeat persona is a staple among ITV soap opera fans.
For Emmerdale watchers, it was painful to watch Paddy Kirk’s character hit rock bottom earlier this year after learning that Chas Dingle, played by Lucy Pargeter, had been having an affair with Al Chapman, portrayed by Michael Wildman.
The lovable vet’s personality abruptly altered, and he soon fell into a profound despair from which he believed he could not recover.
Paddy’s situation only became worse, and the protagonist of a suicide attempt plot line intended to increase mental health awareness was Paddy.
Fortunately, Paddy’s closest friend Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) managed to locate the soap icon in time and persuaded him to go back to the village in order to obtain the assistance he so sorely needed.
Dominic, who plays Paddy, is up for the Best Storyline award at the British Soap Awards this weekend, which are being presented by Jane McDonald.
The death of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) due to a brain tumour in EastEnders and Daisy Midgeley’s (Charlotte Jordan) stalker plotline on Coronation Street present challenges for the 53-year-old.
Dominic is also nominated for Scene of the Year for Paddy’s attempted suicide, which was depicted on the soap in March.
Since Marlon has been helping Paddy during his rehabilitation, Dominic and Marlon’s on-screen partnership has also been recognised.
Dominic expressed his opinion that men seem to “suffer in secret” while dealing with mental health issues in an earlier interview with Express.co.uk about Paddy’s suicide attempt.
“[Paddy] has opened the door to [suicide] now, he can have those thoughts of trying to take his own life, and he’s going to have to watch that for the rest of his life,” the statement reads.
“I was hoping this story might make a difference and normalise talking,” Dominic concluded.
“Talking is the only thing that will help you, whether it ends with medication or not, no matter what you are going through, whether it’s a mental bump or a terrible lifestyle choice.”
Emmerdale viewers were moved to tears by the poignant plot, hoping Paddy would begin to feel better about his situation in life.
Paddy has made significant progress in recent months and now frequents a men’s club in Emmerdale where members can air their grievances.
This evening, Saturday, June 3, The Lowry in Salford will host the British Soap Awards 2023.
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