Eric’s secret was revealed (Picture: ITV)

It’s been confirmed that Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) has Parkinson’s disease – the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

The beloved character revealed his diagnosis to Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) in Wednesday’s (November 1) episode of the ITV soap.

This week, the Dingle family have been at the centre of Lydia (Karen Blick) trying to work out who killed Craig Reed (Ben Addis).

Each character has featured in some flashback scenes and tonight, it was Mandy’s turn.

Mandy was seen in the salon trying to fix the dodgy till she got from Eric.

He then entered and was confronted by an angry and frustrated Mandy, who told him to do something about it.

Eric ended up breaking down in tears. At first, Mandy wondered if she had upset him, but he eventually confirmed he is unwell with Parkinson’s.

Mandy listened as Eric revealed the symptoms he is experiencing and how terrified he is about the future. He also told Mandy that it has to be their secret, as he wants to face the battle without any of his loved ones knowing.

Mandy agreed to keep Eric’s secret (Picture: ITV)

Back in the pub, Mandy failed to tell the Dingles about Eric but when she was alone, we saw her in tears, the weight of his secret becoming overwhelming.

Emmerdale has worked closely with the charity Parkinson’s UK for preparation of this storyline. They will continue to support the show to give Eric’s story a realistic and authentic depiction, all while creating awareness of the condition.

Emmerdale Producer, Laura Shaw, said: ‘When Eric Pollard is diagnosed with Parkinson’s he’s naturally very scared and unsure of what the condition means for his future. The unique position of a show like Emmerdale means we can tell this story really authentically over a long period of time and we can really shine a light on what a diagnosis like this means and follow Pollard on his journey of learning to live with it.

Chris Chittel is Emmerdale’s longest serving cast member (Picture: ITV)

‘Working closely with Parkinson’s UK, who have been guiding us through every step of the way, we hope seeing Pollard’s story helps to raise awareness of Parkinson’s and show the day to day reality of those living with it, as well as the impact it can have on friends, family and the local community.’

Actor Chris Chittell, who is Emmerdale’s longest serving cast member, gave his thoughts: ‘I feel really privileged to be given this storyline. Parkinson’s is indiscriminate, deceptive and wickedly unkind targeting so many. I want to do this storyline justice for the most courageous of people who are having to bear the brunt of this condition.’

Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK, Caroline Rassell added: ‘Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, but is still misunderstood by many. A diagnosis can be a blow, forcing people to confront a future different from the one they had imagined.

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‘We hope that Eric’s storyline will increase awareness and understanding of a condition that around 153,000 people in the UK live with, and encourage discussions about the impact it has on those living with Parkinson’s and their loved ones.’

‘It’s a privilege to be assisting the Emmerdale team in portraying Eric’s journey, and Parkinson’s UK is here to support anyone affected by the condition through our helpline, local groups and website.’

You can find more information and support on the website of Parkinson’s UK.

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