Chas & Paddy lose their baby
THE PARENTS WELCOME THEIR DAUGHTER INTO THE WORLD FOR HER SHORT LIFE…
The moment that Chas and Paddy have been simultaneously anticipating and dreading finally arrives this week, as their baby Grace is born, before passing away in their arms.
The expectant couple were devastated when they were told that their unborn child has a condition that means she won’t survive long after birth. In the hospital delivery room, Chas gives birth to their daughter – however, both parents realise that it means the countdown to their little girl’s death has begun.
Inside Soap caught up with actors Lucy Pargeter (Chas) and Dominic Brunt ( Paddy) to chat about this very emotional episode of Emmerdale…
Chas and Paddy have been preparing for this for such a long time. How do they feel when she goes into labour?
Lucy I think it’s a bit of excitement, because they’re going to meet Grace for the first time. But they also know that it’s not going to have a happy outcome, so it’s tainted. It’s a bit of blind panic, with a mixture of excitement and anticipation of what they’re both about to go through.
Dominic Once they made the decision to have the baby, they decided to approach it in a positive manner. They say, “Even if the child is alive for three seconds or 30 minutes, then that’s the child’s life.” So they’re going to try to make it so the child is surrounded by love. When Chas’ waters break, it all becomes very real, and I think it frightens the life out of them.
The episode prominently features a clock, as the seconds tick away. Are Chas and Paddy aware of the limited time they have?
Lucy Yes, they don’t know how long it will be. No one can say how long she’s going to live for – it could be seconds, or it could be hours. So time is really of the essence. In the episode, Chas does a speech about all the things that she wanted to talk to Grace about and all the things that she wanted to teach her. But she just wants to be there to love her – to spend as much time loving her and smelling her and kissing her.
Dominic They both look at her and realise that she’s a beautiful baby – she really is. They fall in love with her. Paddy is frightened of holding her at first. I think he’s worried, as he’s a big, clumsy thing. They said they were going to take photographs and play certain music, but that goes out of the window. They just spend time with her – and concentrate on her fully.
Did you film the scenes with a real baby?
Lucy We had three babies. I thought having a real baby there would help – and it did in some scenes – but then it was wriggling too much! Of course, Grace wouldn’t wriggle or cry much, so in some scenes we had to take the baby out.
Paddy also imagines a trip away with their daughter. Was that filmed separately?
Lucy I don’t want to give too much away, but it was really nice to film something slightly different, and happier, and to see them as a couple in different circumstances.
Was it emotional to film?
Dominic It was upsetting – you rehearse it, but it’s for an actual take that you’re kind of saving it. Lucy was so honest and natural in what she was doing that you couldn’t help being swept along with it. We just kept saying, “Thank God we’re not living this”.
Were there tears during the emotional scenes?
Dominic The cameramen were crying! It’s the most engaging, affecting thing I’ve filmed in the 21 years that I’ve been here – by far.
Lucy You knew when you had got the take right, as [cameraman] Amit would just look at you from behind the camera, with tears. The main aim of the game is to make people cry.
Dominic It’s a sad episode for the viewers to watch, but I don’t think anyone will come away from it thinking, ‘I wish I hadn’t watched it.’ It’s hopeful – and it’s very upbeat, strangely.
How will Chas and Paddy cope with their loss in the weeks ahead?
Lucy There’s no manual for grief. Everyone goes through grief in different ways, and it’s not necessarily the same as your partner’s grief – so, we’ll see. We’re filming now, and I’m sure it will be fully experienced between the two of them.
It’s a sad episode, but it’s hopeful – and very upbeat…” DOMINIC