A Midland mother and daughter will appear as extras on EastEnders after being specially invited to the set to help actors research the latest storyline.Jo Yarnall and four-year-old Hannah, of Aldridge, spent a day at Elstree Studios in London for the day of filming.
The pair, of St Mary’s Road, met the actors who play Billy and Honey Mitchell, whose newborn baby was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome in Thursday night’s episode.
Producers of the TV show contacted the Down’s Syndrome Association, based in the capital, and asked the team to find families affected by the condition to help the actors understand more about what it meant.
Mrs Yarnall, aged 38, received a telephone call and happily accepted the invitation. She set up Parents, Relatives and Others Understanding Down’s Syndrome (Proud) two years ago and it was the first support group of its kind in the area.
She said all the issues covered in the latest emotional roller coaster storyline had more than struck a chord with her and husband Mark, 33.
“When we got the news it was a complete and utter shock. We didn’t know she was a Down’s Syndrome baby until she was born. I think we felt a bit devastated about it,” said Mrs Yarnall.
She said the couple knew nothing about Down’s Syndrome and were full of uncertainty about what the future held.
“I found it very difficult to cope with in the beginning because like Honey I felt nobody would want to talk to me and I wanted to lock myself away from the outside world,” Mrs Yarnall said.
“There’s a scene where Honey looks at the other mums, looking at their so-called normal babies, and I felt exactly like that. I also had a lot of questions.
“Since this storyline took off we have been inundated with requests from the media about our experience. We are trying to treat the opportunity as a positive thing to raise awareness.
“Down’s Syndrome is the most common learning disability, but it is the least known about and we want to help change people’s perception.”
She explained that Hannah was able to attend a mainstream school and received extra support in lessons from a special teaching assistant.
The support group meets on the first Saturday of the month between 2pm to 4pm at Hot House in Aldridge and has 42 children on its books.
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