Charley Webb has bravely opened up about her mum’s devastating battle with early-onset dementia – and the struggle she had to get her diagnosed at the age of just 64.
The actress, 37, who is best known for her portrayal of Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale, explained that when her mum Helen forgot an important piece of personal information – which she did not disclose – she knew that something was seriously wrong.
Charley said on Monday’s Good Morning Britain: ‘She was 64 and she got the diagnosis. But of course, the symptoms come before that. You know, it takes time.
‘She actually forgot something quite huge, which is quite a personal thing, and I just knew in that moment it was something that she wouldn’t have forgotten.
‘I think everyone around me at the time was like, you’re being dramatic, everything’s fine. I was like, “No, something is not right.”‘
The actress’s revelation prompted the show’s host, Ed Balls, 58, to share a similar revelation he had ahead of his own mum being diagnosed with dementia and he explained that despite being a keen cook, she attempted to serve an uncooked chicken casserole.
Charley Webb, 37, has bravely opened up about her mum’s devastating battle with early-onset dementia – and the struggle she had to get her diagnosed at the age of just 64
The actress, who is best known for her portrayal of Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale, explained that when her mum Helen (R) forgot an important piece of personal information – which she did not disclose – she knew that something was seriously wrong
Charley said that following her mum’s diagnosis, she would urge anyone who suspects that a loved one has dementia to push for the right answer.
She explained: ‘I wouldn’t delay getting diagnosed. The process is quite long, especially for someone who’s younger, because they sort of go, “Oh, I think it could be this or [that].”
‘I mean, we got fobbed off with water infections and all sorts of things which can affect your memory.’
The actress said that she ultimately felt like her GP did and didn’t listen to her concerns and advised anyone who believes that their loved one could have early-onset dementia to ‘not take no for an answer.’
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
According to Dementia UK, dementia is a degeneration of the brain that causes a progressive decline in people’s ability to think, reason, communicate and remember. Their personality, behaviour and mood can also be affected. Early-onset dementia is when a person develops symptoms early, between the ages of 35 and 65.
Charley said that due to her mum’s specific care needs, she had to move her into a home for elderly people.
She admitted: ‘And as much as you want to be there and have them at your house, even if it’s not safe, it is such a relief.
The actress added: ‘It’s a massive decision, but actually, once you make that choice, you [get to] see them in a much healthier environment.’
The actress said that she ultimately felt like her GP did and didn’t listen to her concerns and advised anyone who believes that their loved one could have early-onset dementia to ‘not take no for an answer’
Charley told Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls that due to her mum’s specific care needs, she had to move her into a home for elderly people
The star’s appearance on Good Morning Britain comes after she said her mum’s illness left her feeling very isolated.
Appearing on the Mail’s The Life of Bryony podcast, Charley explained why she had chosen to share Helen’s dementia battle after keeping it private for so long.
She explained she had been motivated to speak out in order to do more for Alzheimer’s charities, and also because she knew how isolating it could be.
She said: ‘I felt selfish not talking about it because I knew how alone I’d felt, so I thought if I can just do a little bit more for the charity, I really want to do that.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone as when that diagnosis happened.’
While the actress also described how she’d felt conflicted about keeping it secret, as she knew her mother wouldn’t want it public.
The star’s appearance on Good Morning Britain comes after she said her mum’s illness left her feeling very isolated
While the actress also described how she’d felt conflicted about keeping it secret, as she knew her mother wouldn’t want it public as she was a ‘glamorous’ person
Charley said: ‘My mum was all about makeup and being glamorous and I just felt like I wanted to protect her privacy. Even though she wouldn’t have known that it was being spoken about, I think in in the back of my mind, I was like she would hate this.’
She continued to host Bryony Gordon: ‘To be honest, I still don’t think I’ve processed it. They say that you grieve when they’re here and you grieve when they’re gone’.
While she then became overcome with tears as she got honest about how she struggles to go visit her mum, who lives in a home with round-the-clock care.
She then candidly explained how she felt ‘selfish’ because she didn’t enjoy visits with her mother, instead seeing them as reminders of what she had lost.
‘My sister is so much better than me, she finds it so uplifting when she sees her,’ she said. ‘And I feel selfish, because I’m literally like, “Oh God I’ve got to go see my mum”.
‘And that is a controversial thing to say and I’m sure people will be like you’re awful, but I have to be honest, it’s not something I enjoy. It’s s**t.
‘I really wish I could be that person that was like “I’m going to see my mum and it’s so great she’s still here”. I really don’t feel that, I do struggle with it.’
Charley said that while she anticipated some people would judge her for being honest about her struggles, she knew that others going through the same ordeal would understand.
Charley said that while she anticipated some people would judge her for being honest about her struggles, she knew that others going through the same ordeal would understand
The actress also revealed the ‘most annoying question’ that she gets following Helen’s diagnosis, was when people asked how her mum was.
While she said she knew they were doing it out of kindness, she lamented that ‘there is no answer’ to give.
‘You’re not going to be able to say, “Oh she’s doing really well,” because she’s not doing really well,’ she explained.
‘It’s an illness where they don’t get better. So, it’s like you have the same conversation on a loop.’
Charley first opened up on Helen’s diagnosis in 2023, as she detailed how her family had been through ‘hell’ as they were forced to ‘grieve for the person’ her mother once was.
The soap star appeared on This Morning, where she told hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary about getting the diagnosis.
