He was incredible tonight

Agree he been marvellous through out this storyline.

Hes beem brilliant

Excellent,understated actor

I think his performance in this storyline has been of BAFTA quality. Hopefully panel voted awards recognise his talents.

I agree. Having seen my late grandfather with dementia (alzheimers) John's portrayal of Ashley is so realistic.

John Middleton has been brilliant.

Will be Emmerdale's loss when he leaves.

I don't think he's been as good as everyone is saying, in fact he's kind of getting on my nerves

I think he's been great - really not easy to play.

That scene with Ashley and Emma last night was fantastic. Scary stuff.

John Middleton has always been excellent but he has totally surpassed himself with the whole dementia sl. His performance last night was absolutely gripping and genuinely upsetting. ED really won't be the same without him.

Credit too to Gillian Kearney who also just gets better and better.

Totally agree.

Sadly I doubt John will get the recognition he deserves

I don't think he's carrying it off very well, but I've always thought he's a bad actor.
The writing for his character has been excellent, though.
I just don't think he's doing it justice.

That scene between Ashley and Emma was brilliant. Probably written by the same people responsible for the 'discovery of Holly's body' episode. Some of the writing on Emmerdale lately has been beyond soap and they definitely should get all the 'best soap' gongs this year.

I asked my husband if that was a true portrayal as I've (thankfully) never had any experience of dealing with dementia/alzheimers. Hubby lived through it with close family members and said it was spot on.
The scene between Ashley and Emma really upset me, I was willing someone to walk in and hit her. Horrid bullying.

Ive just written in another thread how marvelous they both were last night, john is a great actor i well remember when the baby died how he portrayed his grief so well.

Don't agree with you on John Middleton, but do about the writing. They've had some really properly grown-up stuff recently, which has surprised me. The scenes between Rakesh and Priya on their marriage were really well-written as well, when she said she couldn't cope with a relapse and a baby and him, and felt like she was drowning, and they were making each other miserable by trying to be perfect. It made me sit up and take notice.

Plus that stuff from Finn yesterday, being angry with Ross's middle son syndrome, and how lonely he was. That really got me as well.

Cracking stuff - don't know if they've got new writers in, or got old ones back, but they're doing something right.

I've dipped in and out of ED for years now, there was never a storyline that really got me hooked. Now, I am totally engrossed - I LOVE the stuff with Emma/James/Ashley.
I think the reactions of the children are very realistic, although I'd like Pete to show SOME emotion.
Priya and Rakesh have also intrigued me now, I like the way she has offered to support him.

John Middleton is brilliant in his portrayal, and he does deserve recognition.

I can confirm that Ashley is spot on. My Dad has dementia/Alzheimers and is now in a care home, I see an 'Ashley' everytime I go there, they are the ones in the first stages, who get very easily confused and upset. The latter stages are horrific, and that's the sad part, Ashley will continually deteriorate, probably over years.

However, off key a bit, but in my view, Ashley is played to perfection by John, it's very upsetting, but accurate.

He's always been a very capable actor and he has done brilliantly throughout this story - very convincing

it won't be that long John's leaving next year

I think he's been good, but the character is getting on my nerves a bit too. It might be more the fact that Laurel is being such a martyr.

John has been fantastic throughout this storyline. I felt so bad for Ashley last night, the scenes between him and Emma were so dark and intense, really uncomfortable to watch,but I loved them. It was quite a unique villainous moment.
John and Gillian Kearney should win all the best acting awards...but we all know Danny and Lacey will win again

He deserves a Soap Award

He was very good, I'd still have to go with Jack P Shepard for Kylie's Death scene though. Nothing can top that IMHO.

He was very good last night, as he generally is. Definitely one of ED' s best. I really wanted to hug Ashley last night. The writing for his scenes was very good too. The only bit that annoyed me was when the camera kept switching from Emma to Ashley, but at the same time I thought that was quite an unusual technique for a soap to use, so well done to them for ' pushing the biundaries' a bit. The scene with Ross and Cain in the village was very good too. Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of episodes. Well done ED!

I agree with the last part you have written... the writing on Emmerdale has been fantastic. For a while the writing seemed terrible with some awful attempts at slapstick humour (especially David asking Tracy to marry him every episode) but recently the episodes have been very gripping.

I can't agree with the first part of your post though. I'm trying to think who else could pull off the dementia storyline in Emmerdale. He has been spot on so far and seems to research a lot to ensure he is playing the part of a dementia sufferer right. When John Middleton was on Loose Women Ruth Langsford applauded him for doing the story justice as her Father had dementia - I think that says it all when people who have had a relative etc with dementia are applauding John and Emmerdale for the acting/writing of the storyline. That speaks volumes to me that they are doing something right.

What stood out to me last night was when Emma was swapping conversations you could see how quickly John was changing his emotions. He was going from confused to crying back to confused as the drop of a hat. I hope he does get some sort of recognition. It'd be a shame if he didn't.