Emmerdale: ITV soap defends Down's syndrome storyline

3 hours ago

Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) and Jai (Chris Bisson) will be seen deciding to terminate their pregnancy

Emmerdale producers have defended a forthcoming storyline which will see a couple terminate their pregnancy after being told their unborn child has Down's syndrome.

The announcement of the storyline last week prompted a backlash from some viewers, who said the ITV soap was adding to stigma around the condition.

But series producer Laura Shaw has said the storyline had been well researched.

She also urged people to watch the scenes when they air later this year.

What is the storyline?

A forthcoming plotline will see Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) and Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) delighted when they unexpectedly fall pregnant.

But an early scan will show the pregnancy isn't developing as expected and there is the possibility the baby has a chromosomal condition.

'We were offered 15 terminations of our baby girl'

A world without Down's syndrome?

Down's syndrome abortions 'need 24-week limit'

They decide to have a CVS (chorionic villus sampling) test, which is used to determine chromosomal or genetic disorders in a foetus. The result they receive tells them the baby has Down's syndrome.

Laurel and Jai will then be seen agonising over what to do, before ultimately deciding to end the pregnancy.

Emmerdale already has one character with Down's syndrome - Rhona and Marlon's nine-year-old son Leo.

Why are some viewers objecting?

Some Emmerdale fans and Down's syndrome campaigners said the ITV soap was perpetuating the idea that those with Down's syndrome do not lead lives worth living.

Tim Reid, the co-creator and co-writer of Car Share, tweeted: "Dear Emmerdale, are you confident you've tackled this story in a way your audience with Down's syndrome deserve? Have you taken the same approach you would if characters were choosing to end a pregnancy for reason of gender, race or physical disability?"

Wendy O'Carroll, the founder of support charity Ups and Downs Southwest, voiced her concerns in an open letter to Emmerdale which was widely shared on Facebook.

"Your proposed story will further serve to encourage and confirm the opinion that ending the life of a baby just because it has Down syndrome is perfectly acceptable and understandable because maybe it would be better if fewer people 'like them' were in the world," she said.

"Have you considered for even a moment, how children and adults with Down syndrome who follow your programme will react to two of their favourite characters discovering excitedly that they are to have a baby, and then deciding to terminate the life of that child because it has Down syndrome?"

How have Emmerdale responded?

Emmerdale won the National Television Award for best serial drama earlier this year

Laura Shaw, the series producer for the soap, told journalists on Monday the storyline had been thoroughly researched in collaboration with Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC), medical professionals and people with lived experience.

"We're confident that what we've produced has been done in a really balanced and sensitive way," she said. "We haven't gone into this blindly, we've spoken to as many people as we possibly can. We've got the research, this is based on real life, and I think people will see that.

"You're going to feel uncomfortable at times watching it, but I hope that people will then, as they watch it, understand why we've done it."

She said she knew it would be "contentious" but added that was partly what made it "such an important story to tell".

"I'm sure we'll get some mixed reactions, I'm well aware that it's a hugely emotive subject. But I do honestly think that once everyone has watched the episodes play out, they're going to feel huge sympathy for what an impossible and difficult choice these couples face, and an understanding," she said.

"And what you'll see through Jai and Laurel's story is how that decision goes on to affect their lives for years to come."

Who have Emmerdale worked with on the story?

The producers worked with Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) while the storyline was in development.

Its director, Jane Fisher, said: "Soaps in general tend to be keen on high drama, so I was a bit nervous about how it would be presented. But once I saw the script, all those anxieties went out the window, because it was clear from early stages that such a lot of thought and care had been put into getting this right. So our job as advisers was fairly straightforward."

She added: "I think it's really important that people can speak about this, not that they must, because for many people this is a very painful and private experience. And that's fine, they may not want to talk about it openly. But thy need to know that they can, and at the moment many people feel reticent to talk about what's happened to them because they fear judgement."

Fisher said some parents who deal opt for an abortion "very sadly don't feel they have permission to grieve for the baby they've lost, because they feel implicated in that loss".

She acknowledged the contentious nature of the storyline, and said: "There are going to be people, however well this is portrayed, who are always going to have strong views. But I think the majority of people watching the episodes as written will have an insight into the reality, the complexity."

The Down's Syndrome Association have not been involved with the storyline, but have said in a statement: "The DSA can provide balanced and up-to-date information about Down's syndrome for anyone in Laurel and Jai's position.

"We would encourage anyone in this situation to contact our confidential helpline to talk with our trained staff for non-directive information and support."

What is Down's syndrome?

For between 700 and 1,000 babies born, one will have Down's syndrome, meaning they have an extra chromosome and a learning disability

About 40,000 people in the UK have the condition

Around half of those have congenital heart defects with some requiring surgery

80% of children with the condition are born to women younger than 35

In the 1960s, life expectancy was 15 - it is now between 50 and 60

It's thought around 90% of people in the UK who know their child will be born with Down's syndrome have an abortion

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Emmerdale Down's syndrome Soap opera

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Scandal MirrorNov 12, 2020Read original

Back in the days, Ernest Obi, actor cum director used to be one of the most-seen Nollywood faces on the screen.

Even those who don't know his name know him by face because he was doing so well in the industry.

He became more popular in 2007 not because of his career this time, but a scandal he would live to remember.

It was one of the biggest scandals that rocked the nation. The actor got entangled in a weighty rape allegation.

His 15-year old stepdaughter, Vennessa who was living with him alleged that he raped her, got her pregnant, and even made her have abortion two different times. Ernest however, claimed the allegations were false.

Ernest and Joanne were married for 10 years, Joanne had Vanessa and her younger brother Emmanuel, for another man before her marriage to Ernest. After their marriage crashed, both parties moved on amicably until the enormous rape accusations.

In a separate interview, Joanne and Ernest told their sides of the story

Joanne's side of the story

First was Joanne (based in the UK...her interview was via phone)

One of the hottest stories in town is the allegation that your estranged husband Ernest Obi, impregnated your daughter, Vanessa, how true is it?

Joanne "It's true. A friend of mine (Titilayo Oyekola) called me that my ex-husband had s3xually abused my daughter and even gotten her pregnant. I didn't believe it, moreso a child he raised, a child who knew no other man as her father but him. 

What happened was that at that point, Ernest had called me that my daughter ran away from. My response was that 'you are in Nigeria, she is your daughter. You don't expect me to leave England to look for her. This is a child you raised yourself, why should she have the effrontery to abscond. I didn't know that something else was happening

I called her and she picked the call. I told her I'm your mother, whatever happened, I will stand by you, but I just want you to tell me the truth. She was crying. Her words were 'I'm not fit to live'.I just don't want to live. I want to commit suicide. 

I said 'you cannot do that to me. There is nothing we cannot handle together. I calmed her down and she told me exactly what happened. She said she made him coffee that morning, he gave her some to drink, after drinking halfway, she said she discovered she was feeling a bit dizzy and dozed off. And Ernest forced his way into her"

Was it a one-off thing or did she tell you about others that he took advantage of her?

"She said mummy I cannot count how many times. I asked where I was the first time it happened and she said 'I was in the hospital ' (At that time I was in Nigeria). I said how long did it continue? She said it went on and on until she took ill. When she took it, she started going to the hospital, finally, she discovered she was pregnant."

Did your daughter tell you the hospital Ernest took her to or the hospital she went on her own?

"She said she went with a girl called Chioma. Ernest knows this girl"

Where's your daughter now?

"Right now, she is in Lagos. She just came back from Ogun State because I told her to go there. She hasn't been to school, I didn't know Ernest was not paying her school fees anymore. So, I sent her to Ogun State."

Don't you think that you didn't handle the matter well when you got the complaint that your estranged husband was allegedly violating your daughter?

"I blame myself for everything that happened. Oh my God! My intention was to come to Nigeria and unravel the whole thing. My plan was to come to Nigeria and hound him behind bars. If it were in England, he would suffer. I failed in my duty to protect my child because I didn't believe her father would violate her."

How long were you married to Ernest?

"officially we were married for ten years. And we have two children together. I have two other kids from another man, Vanessa, and Emmanuel"

How long ago did you leave his house?

"I left Nigeria on November 6, 2004"

How is your daughter handling the situation, considering that it has become a public issue now?

"A lot of stress. All through yesterday, she was crying, I was crying. I cried because it will not go out of her for the rest of her life"

When was the last time you spoke to Ernest?

"That was this week (Last week). He said there was a publication in Encomium on the front page. He said you guys wrote that he impregnated Vanessa twice and aborted the pregnancy. He called me again yesterday and said he had lost a contract of N36m. He said he just won Chairmanship of AGN, that he wanted to go ahead and resign, that Vanessa said he raped her constantly. I said yes, Vanessa said so!"

What about Vanessa's father?

"I didn't have the nerve to tell him. He lives in Lagos. He is aged"

When you confronted Ernest about this allegation, was he remorseful?

"He was not remorseful"

When did Vanessa tell you that Ernest had been violating her?

"It was in November last year. From what I understand, she ran away from home last year

You knew about this since last year, how come the press is just getting to know about the story now?

"First of all, I was too embarrassed. Too ashamed of what happened. I didn't know what to do?

When you were in Nigeria, did you at any time suspect them?

"No, I never. There was no sign of anything at all"

Considering the situation of things now, are you making plans to come to Nigeria to see one or two things you can do to remedy the situation?

"Three times I had tried to come to Nigeria, once in February, July and last in October but I had a lot of problems. Actually because of my kids here. The social services wanted to know who my kids are going to be with."

You said your daughter told you she will commit suicide, don't you think it would be nice to come back as early as possible so that she can stop thinking about that drastic step?

"Yes, I actually told somebody that if it means moving back to Nigeria, I will do it. I will do it (Starts crying).

Ernest Obi's side of the story

According to Encomium, on Saturday, Dec 1, 2007, the star actor kept his words by coming to our office. And he was here for over three hours, explaining why he couldn't have slept with a girl he calls his daughter. Ernest Obi, at a point, broke down and cried. And this much he said; 

"I will start first and foremost by saying that whatever they told you, go ahead and print it. Do not remove a word from whatever they said. I do not want to join issues with them. I just want you to realise something. The same man she's painting as being evil, who she said raped or slept with Vanessa severally is the same man she went to when she has nowhere to go. When nobody wanted to accommodate her, I took her in with two kids who are not mine. I took them in, trained them in school, I even trained the boy in University in my house, even after Joanne left.

"She left me and we knew it was over. So whatever story she tells, well, that's too bad. And they still were in my house for two years after she left. Does that not tell her anything? Because there was nowhere else for them to go. If it makes her happy to say things like this, I say more grease to her elbow".

"But if I was Joanne, and heard that my daughter was raped, I will come back home and lock that person up. That is what I expected she should have done. That is why I said she is the lovely mother that she is. Joanne, pls come home, com and find out the fact; find out the hospital where the D&C was done. Where I took her for abortion, bring your witnesses, arrest me, and I will not argue with you. I will not say anything evil about you"

"I'm the new AGN (Actor's Guild of Nigeria) Chairman in Lagos. There is nothing anybody can do about that. I have reported this to my guild, national, and state and I'm sure they believe in me as I believe in myself. whatever anybody says that is their business. I'm saying this out of respect for this magazine, for calling me to hear my own side of the story.

And I'm happy it is all out. I didn't want to say anything before because there are children involved, but now it is obvious it does not matter. She can go on, keep the shame factor on. I'm okay. God bless you"

After he quietly dealt with the scandal, Obi seems to be living a new life. In 2018, the actor and his wife welcomed a new baby boy which he joyously announced on his Instagram page.