Ryan’s storyline looks at fatherhood (Picture: ITV)
Ryan Stocks (James Moore) is still coming to terms with the fact his son has entered his life again in Emmerdale.
A few weeks ago, girlfriend Gail (Rachael Gill-Davis) confirmed to Ryan that their teenage son, Oscar, is unwell in hospital and needs a stem cell transplant as part of his ongoing treatment.
We learnt that Oscar was put up for adoption because Gail and Ryan became parents when they were very young, and felt he could have a better life with another couple. At first, Ryan struggled with Gail’s news but fortunately, upcoming episodes will see him bond with Oscar while at the hospital.
As this storyline develops, James Moore has been speaking to Metro.co.uk about what’s ahead for Ryan and how he felt when he was told his character is actually a father.
‘I was really happy at the character of Gail returning because me and Rachael worked together, I think it was three or four years ago, when I came in. We got on really well and I really enjoyed working with her so I was really happy that they were bringing her back for this. Then we got this news that Ryan and Gail had a son way back and I thought wow, I never saw that coming.’
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‘It’s a totally new thing for Ryan’, he added.
‘In a way I understand where Ryan is coming from because you find out that the child you had 13, 14 years ago and you haven’t seen in that time is in hospital. It would be a shock and it would be something you would spend a while coming to terms with. These things that Ryan is having to go through, it’s emotionally very hard-hitting. These scenes that are going to play out are very emotional and authentic and real.
‘I think scenes like that are really important because they really add to the humanity of it. How this situation would really have a deeply emotional effect on people.’
Gail secretly met up with Sophie, who told her about Oscar being unwell (Picture: ITV)
Reflecting on Ryan’s initial reaction to Oscar’s return, James said that ‘he [Ryan] had a hard time with meeting Oscar and him being sick because he’s battling his own internal fear he has where he thinks Oscar will reject him because of his disability because that’s what he’s experienced so he’s got that internalised fear of that happening again. I think that’s playing on his mind for quite a long time.’
As James continued, he explained that while Ryan has expressed these thoughts, it hasn’t neccesarily made his fears go away: ‘I think it’s sort of dwindles at points but it’s sort of push and pull, it comes and goes. Sometimes it’s quite hard to gauge where his head’s at in terms of Oscar and also there’s the guilt that Ryan feels’, he said.
‘He feels that he abandoned Oscar, that he would “abandon my child.” He has that same fear and that same guilt. It’s not just his disability but wondering whether Oscar will judge him.’
Ryan struggled to accept the news about Oscar (Picture: ITV)
Future episodes of the ITV soap will see Gail confirm that she is a match for the transplant Oscar needs.
‘I think he definitely feels the fear’, James said, revealing Ryan’s worries surrounding the upcoming surgery.
‘Maybe to a certain extent because of her anxieties if anything he would have to keep it together for Gail’s sake, but he’s definitely feeling it underneath.’
While Gail’s mind turns to the operation, Ryan is given the chance to spend time with Oscar. At first, things are a little awkward but once topic of conversation turns to music, the ice begins to break.
Ryan and Gail chat to Oscar at hospital (Picture: ITV)
‘I think it must be a bit of relief that he finally manages to break through that shell that mainly he created himself. All of a sudden he’s not thinking about the larger consequences of it when he realises he can actually just sit there and have a conversation and it doesn’t have to be a big deal. I think that really helps.
‘Also it puts a face to Oscar and gives him a personality to Ryan. Throughout all his fears and all his anxieties about Oscar, he’s now getting to see the person Oscar really is.’
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Teasing what’s ahead for Ryan and Gail, James hinted that there may be some trouble with Oscar’s adoptive mother Sophie (Martha Cope):
‘What we can look forward to is potentially Ryan and Gail having a relationship with their son. There’ll be a lot to catch up on because they haven’t really seen him for about 13, 14 years. But the issue is they’re not sure about how Sophie, the adoptive mother, feels about that.
‘She’s not sure whether it’s a good idea or not. There’s a worry that Ryan and Gail are going to replace her…’
MORE : Emmerdale spoiler video: Devastated Sam breaks down in heartbreaking clip
Ryan and Gail’s powerful storyline continues to develop.