Danny Miller has emotionally admitted to understanding what former Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb is going through – as they both have parents experiencing a dementia diagnosis.

Charley spoke publicly back in 2023, revealing her mum, Helen was diagnosed with early-onset dementia ten years ago, at the age of just 64, as she appeared on This Morning as part of her role as an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Research.

Now, in a new appearance on The Life Of Bryony podcast, Charley, who played Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale 2002 to 2021, has told why she had chosen to share Helen’s dementia battle, after keeping it private for so long.

After saying she wanted to do more for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the 37-year-old shared: “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.”

Getting emotional as she spoke candidly about how she struggles to go visit her mum, who lives in a home with round-the-clock care, Charley said: “I think I have dealt with this situation in a bizarre way. I’m definitely a compartmentaliser, but I have to be honest, and I know this is controversial. But I really struggle to go see my mum without getting upset.”

Getting visibly emotional, Charley said: “Sorry, give me a second,” as she struggled to compose herself. Still choked up, she tried to continue and said: “It’s hard, it’s not the person that you love…”

A clip of her conversation with the podcast’s host, Briony Gordon, was shared on social media and caught the attention of Danny, who fans know for playing Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale.

The actor’s father is popular Manchester entertainer Vince Miller. Known as ‘king of comperes’ he was the VIP host at Manchester United for 29 years. Manchester City fan Vince was a popular figure at the Theatre of Dreams and counted former manager Sir Alex Ferguson among his friends.

Last year, Danny opened up about his father’s dementia, and responding to Charley’s recent conversation, he wrote in an Instagram comment: “I get you @miss_charleywebb I’m exactly the same.” Charley then acknowledged Danny’s message by responding with a simple red heart.

Appearing on Loose Women last year, Danny mentioned his dad, to which Denise Welch said: “Vince and I go back many, many, many years. Believe you, me… He’s a great comic, but I know that you’ve been open about the fact that he’s suffering from dementia , and I just want you to give him my love and our love…

“I know it’s hard, because like you said, you’re mourning the person that was before they’ve actually gone.” Danny thanked Denise as he replied: “He’s watching in his care home in Manchester… But, yeah, my dad is the reason I’m in the business. The truth of the matter is I’ve lost my dad and that’s hard for me to cope with because I really, really miss him.

“I really miss speaking on the phone to him, it’s just not possible anymore. Sometimes when we visit him we get the opportunity to have a good visit, and his bad visits as well… It’s a horrible, horrible, terminal illness and it’s the long goodbye.” He added: “I love my dad so much, and he’s the reason that I’m sat here talking to you today.”