Emmerdale viewers in TEARS as Ashley shares heartbreaking scene with kids
EMMERDALE fans were left in tears during last night's episode after a particularly emotional moment which saw dementia sufferer Ashley Thomas go missing after a touching scene with his children.
Emmerdale's Ashley goes missing from his care home
Emmerdale viewers in tears as Ashley shares emotional scene with his kids before disappearing
Ashley (played by John Middleton) returned from his residential home for his dad's birthday and it appeared that things went back to normal for the vicar who started recognising his old life.
He then got changed into his cassock and began asking when the group were leaving for the service.
However, an emotional scene later saw Ashley hold hands with his children as he failed to read the Lord's prayer.
Ashley's little son Arthur was devastated when Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) - who he failed to recognise - announced it was his dad's time to return to his residential home.
Jimmy (Nick Miles) and Bob (Tony Audenshaw) took Ashley back and upon arrival, the vicar begged them not to leave him there.
After being returned to his home, Ashley slipped out unnoticed
The demetia sufferer was left to navigate the streets by himself as he slid out of the home
Alone and confused, Ashley slipped out of the home and went missing, while Laurel was told the worrying developments over the phone.
Viewers were quick to Twitter to praise the storyline with one posting: "As ever @john_Middleton & @MissCBellamy are amazing and heartbreaking @emmerdale #Emmerdale #Ashley."
Another added: "Oh Ashley… @emmerdale I have to keep telling myself it's only acting, it's not real whilst trying not to cry."
A third tweeted: "My heart breaks for Ashley and the Thomas family #Emmerdale."
A fourth commented: "Oh God, Ashley's back in the village tonight, here come the tears."
Will Ashley be found before it's too late?
John Middleton opened up about his final scenes, descibing them as "intensely moving"
Over the past few weeks, fans have watched Ashley's dementia get increasingly worse.
It is currently unknown how the emotional storyline will end, but John has discussed his final scenes on the show.
He told the Daily Mirror: "That's it, I'm done. It was odd but also intensely moving.
"The filming of the last scenes was somewhat emotional, within the whole studio, you could have heard a pin drop," John added.