Post by tomsgirl on Sept 18, 2006 0:37:08 GMT 1
31 July 2006
EXCLUSIVE: WHY SOAP PLOT HIT HOME FOR EMMERDALE STAR JAMES
"I'VE seen the awful effect that cancer can have on a family.. It's taken my mum two years to beat it"
By Claire Donnelly
THIS is the heartbreaking moment when Sam Dingle helps his terminally-ill wife Alice to die. After being told the cancer she fought so bravely has returned, she begs him to take her life.
And for James Hooton, who plays the nice-but-dim Dingle, the storyline has been an emotional ordeal as his mother battled cancer for two years. Maureen, 64, is now in remission and relieved James explains the toll it has taken.
"Mum has come through it all really well but it was really scary," he says quietly. "When you hear the word cancer, it's terrifying.
"Getting the news was just awful, then watching someone you love having treatment and trying to come to terms with what's happening is hard. I know the effect it has on a family. And it's always there - once you've had cancer, the worry stays with you."
Maureen, a former machinist, may be fine now but when James, 33, first found out she had the disease, he feared the worst.
"She had an aggressive form - inflammatory breast cancer - so she had to have a lot of treatment. They gave her chemotherapy to shrink the tumour in order to operate, then radiotherapy.
"They warn that the danger with breast cancer is if it spreads to the lymph nodes but Mum came through it. I tried to be strong and supportive but there are so many 'what ifs'. You have to face the fact that someone you love might not always be here. It made me very aware that we're all mortal."
To the relief of James and his 43-year-old brother Rob, Maureen responded so well to treatment that she has just left for her first holiday since the diagnosis. "When she was given her clean bill of health and told she was in remission it was fantastic," James smiles. "She only has to have six-monthly check-ups now and, hopefully, the gaps between them will get longer and longer. Mum loves her holidays but she hadn't been well enough to go until now. It's great to see her so happy."
Maureen may, thankfully, be on the mend but her son has also had to deal with a health scare. Despite looking fit and well, James, who has just been shortlisted for the TV Quick Best Actor award, is undergoing further tests after collapsing at a charity football match.
"At first I thought it was a heart problem or it could have just been a one-off," he says. "But it's the not knowing that's worrying. Yet until the tests are done, there isn't much I can do."
JAMES had been warming up when he felt short of breath then passed out before the match in May. "It had never happened before and there didn't seem to be any obvious reason.
"I'm pretty fit, so it definitely wasn't the Jade Goody effect," he says, referring to the Big Brother star collapsing during the London Marathon because she hadn't trained.
"I felt fine afterwards but the doctor wanted me to go to the hospital. It was frightening because suddenly it all seemed very urgent," he explains.
"They carried out some very thorough checks and the ECG and chest X-ray came back normal, as did my blood sugar and pressure tests."
Now doctors believe that his collapse was likely to have been stress-related or a virus. "I'm just keen to get to the bottom of it," he adds.
James, an 11-year Emmerdale veteran, has been supported through his difficulties by his dancer girlfriend, Nancy, 28, who lives with him near Leeds. His face lights up when he talks about their first meeting - on the Emmerdale set two years ago.
"She had a walk-on part and I spotted her because she was very good-looking," he smiles. "I didn't really get a chance to speak to her but I remembered her face.
"Then I was out in Leeds a while later and saw her. I went over, we got chatting and that was that. It was a weird coincidence - it was obviously meant to be.
"The funny thing was that Nancy didn't know who I was because she hadn't really watched Emmerdale."
He adds: "Before we met, I was happily single for about two years. I'd been in a long-term relationship prior to that and needed some time to myself before I got involved again.
"Love does seem to come along when you're not looking for it. But I like to think I'm romantic. I step up to the mark for the big occasions like Valentine's Day and birthdays, and I'm good at remembering things like flowers."
So are they planning to walk down the aisle? "Not yet," he grins. "But I'm sure we will. And we do want to start a family."
As well as a happy home life, James has seen his career go from strength to strength. But it wasn't always such plain sailing.
Six years ago, he was accused of hitting a man with a champagne bottle during a Millennium Eve brawl in Nottingham.
LATER cleared of unlawful wounding and wounding I with intent, he tells how his V work had made him a target for drunken yobs, which almost cost him his job.
"It was a really awful time," he explains. "I could have lost everything and seen my career in ruins.
"Basically, I was a young bloke on a big show and being recognised for it. Most people were fine but sometimes I attracted attention of the wrong kind.
"Some people aren't so positive about what you do and they'll tell you so. And if someone has a pop at me, I'll have a pop back at them. But I didn't go looking for trouble so I'm glad I had my day in court because I was vindicated.
"I spoke to the producer at the time and explained what had happened and he was great. He said they'd write me out while it was dealt with and then welcome me back. I really appreciated it."
But there were more shocks in store in 2004, when new producer Steve Frost told him his contract wouldn't be renewed - only for James to be given his job back last year.
"I got the sack on the day Portugal beat England in Euro 2004," he laughs. "I was very upset about it because the role had been a big part of my life.
"But, at the same time, I accepted it quickly. I'd taken breaks from Emmerdale of my own accord before and always had work so I thought I'd keep my head down for a few months then get looking."
But before James had a chance to update his CV, the show's bosses asked him back. "I didn't hesitate," he says. "And, touch wood, it has been great."
Now, James and co-star Ursula Holden-Gill, who plays Alice, have become one of the soap's best-loved couples.
"It has been fantastic," he says. "My character has been revitalised because we've created another side to him - as well as the comedy and scrapes, he is more serious now."
And it doesn't get more serious than the current storyline. "In real life, I couldn't even contemplate euthanasia," says James with a sigh. "It's not something I could do. It would be such a difficult decision for anyone to have to make - that's why it's so hard for Sam."
The reaction to this new, deeper Sam has really pleased James. "Since I came back to the show, things have really changed for me. Now, the reaction I get from people is really good. Viewers think Sam's really sweet.
"And once people start chatting to me, they always say: 'You're different in real life - you're not as daft as Sam.' To which I usually reply: 'Thank goodness for that!'"
www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=17475622%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
EXCLUSIVE: WHY SOAP PLOT HIT HOME FOR EMMERDALE STAR JAMES
"I'VE seen the awful effect that cancer can have on a family.. It's taken my mum two years to beat it"
By Claire Donnelly
THIS is the heartbreaking moment when Sam Dingle helps his terminally-ill wife Alice to die. After being told the cancer she fought so bravely has returned, she begs him to take her life.
And for James Hooton, who plays the nice-but-dim Dingle, the storyline has been an emotional ordeal as his mother battled cancer for two years. Maureen, 64, is now in remission and relieved James explains the toll it has taken.
"Mum has come through it all really well but it was really scary," he says quietly. "When you hear the word cancer, it's terrifying.
"Getting the news was just awful, then watching someone you love having treatment and trying to come to terms with what's happening is hard. I know the effect it has on a family. And it's always there - once you've had cancer, the worry stays with you."
Maureen, a former machinist, may be fine now but when James, 33, first found out she had the disease, he feared the worst.
"She had an aggressive form - inflammatory breast cancer - so she had to have a lot of treatment. They gave her chemotherapy to shrink the tumour in order to operate, then radiotherapy.
"They warn that the danger with breast cancer is if it spreads to the lymph nodes but Mum came through it. I tried to be strong and supportive but there are so many 'what ifs'. You have to face the fact that someone you love might not always be here. It made me very aware that we're all mortal."
To the relief of James and his 43-year-old brother Rob, Maureen responded so well to treatment that she has just left for her first holiday since the diagnosis. "When she was given her clean bill of health and told she was in remission it was fantastic," James smiles. "She only has to have six-monthly check-ups now and, hopefully, the gaps between them will get longer and longer. Mum loves her holidays but she hadn't been well enough to go until now. It's great to see her so happy."
Maureen may, thankfully, be on the mend but her son has also had to deal with a health scare. Despite looking fit and well, James, who has just been shortlisted for the TV Quick Best Actor award, is undergoing further tests after collapsing at a charity football match.
"At first I thought it was a heart problem or it could have just been a one-off," he says. "But it's the not knowing that's worrying. Yet until the tests are done, there isn't much I can do."
JAMES had been warming up when he felt short of breath then passed out before the match in May. "It had never happened before and there didn't seem to be any obvious reason.
"I'm pretty fit, so it definitely wasn't the Jade Goody effect," he says, referring to the Big Brother star collapsing during the London Marathon because she hadn't trained.
"I felt fine afterwards but the doctor wanted me to go to the hospital. It was frightening because suddenly it all seemed very urgent," he explains.
"They carried out some very thorough checks and the ECG and chest X-ray came back normal, as did my blood sugar and pressure tests."
Now doctors believe that his collapse was likely to have been stress-related or a virus. "I'm just keen to get to the bottom of it," he adds.
James, an 11-year Emmerdale veteran, has been supported through his difficulties by his dancer girlfriend, Nancy, 28, who lives with him near Leeds. His face lights up when he talks about their first meeting - on the Emmerdale set two years ago.
"She had a walk-on part and I spotted her because she was very good-looking," he smiles. "I didn't really get a chance to speak to her but I remembered her face.
"Then I was out in Leeds a while later and saw her. I went over, we got chatting and that was that. It was a weird coincidence - it was obviously meant to be.
"The funny thing was that Nancy didn't know who I was because she hadn't really watched Emmerdale."
He adds: "Before we met, I was happily single for about two years. I'd been in a long-term relationship prior to that and needed some time to myself before I got involved again.
"Love does seem to come along when you're not looking for it. But I like to think I'm romantic. I step up to the mark for the big occasions like Valentine's Day and birthdays, and I'm good at remembering things like flowers."
So are they planning to walk down the aisle? "Not yet," he grins. "But I'm sure we will. And we do want to start a family."
As well as a happy home life, James has seen his career go from strength to strength. But it wasn't always such plain sailing.
Six years ago, he was accused of hitting a man with a champagne bottle during a Millennium Eve brawl in Nottingham.
LATER cleared of unlawful wounding and wounding I with intent, he tells how his V work had made him a target for drunken yobs, which almost cost him his job.
"It was a really awful time," he explains. "I could have lost everything and seen my career in ruins.
"Basically, I was a young bloke on a big show and being recognised for it. Most people were fine but sometimes I attracted attention of the wrong kind.
"Some people aren't so positive about what you do and they'll tell you so. And if someone has a pop at me, I'll have a pop back at them. But I didn't go looking for trouble so I'm glad I had my day in court because I was vindicated.
"I spoke to the producer at the time and explained what had happened and he was great. He said they'd write me out while it was dealt with and then welcome me back. I really appreciated it."
But there were more shocks in store in 2004, when new producer Steve Frost told him his contract wouldn't be renewed - only for James to be given his job back last year.
"I got the sack on the day Portugal beat England in Euro 2004," he laughs. "I was very upset about it because the role had been a big part of my life.
"But, at the same time, I accepted it quickly. I'd taken breaks from Emmerdale of my own accord before and always had work so I thought I'd keep my head down for a few months then get looking."
But before James had a chance to update his CV, the show's bosses asked him back. "I didn't hesitate," he says. "And, touch wood, it has been great."
Now, James and co-star Ursula Holden-Gill, who plays Alice, have become one of the soap's best-loved couples.
"It has been fantastic," he says. "My character has been revitalised because we've created another side to him - as well as the comedy and scrapes, he is more serious now."
And it doesn't get more serious than the current storyline. "In real life, I couldn't even contemplate euthanasia," says James with a sigh. "It's not something I could do. It would be such a difficult decision for anyone to have to make - that's why it's so hard for Sam."
The reaction to this new, deeper Sam has really pleased James. "Since I came back to the show, things have really changed for me. Now, the reaction I get from people is really good. Viewers think Sam's really sweet.
"And once people start chatting to me, they always say: 'You're different in real life - you're not as daft as Sam.' To which I usually reply: 'Thank goodness for that!'"
www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=17475622%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html