Fletch

Alex Walkinshaw

Fletch recently underwent surgery for prostate cancer – how has he coped as a patient?

He’s struggled with paranoia, uncertainty and insecurity in the way most people would around surgery. As for whether he’s a good patient, he would never be horrible to his nurses. But it’s a shame Jac Naylor [Rosie Marcel] wasn’t there to do his observations – he would have relished giving her a hard time!

This week, Fletch and Essie are in the hospital’s cancer suite to support Jasper, a teenage patient with bowel cancer... With people of all ages in the cancer suite, all suffering from the same thing, it’s where unlikely relationships are formed. There’s a bond between everyone that nobody else will understand. Fletch and Jasper are on different parts of the journey. It shows how some people are fine with it, while others are learning to process their experiences.

Jasper appears to think he’s invincible, which really annoys Fletch, who’s worried about dying and leaving his kids without a dad, isn’t he?

Yes, being a single father comes with its own pressures. Fletch should be focusing on his treatment but it’s hard to do that when you’re the sole carer for your children. Fletch’s kids are always at the forefront of his mind. He might not be the most conventional dad – but he’s the best dad he can be.

What’s it been like working with Kaye on this storyline? Kaye and I go way back, so it’s been an absolute delight to work with her. We’ve had so many heartfelt scenes where we can just be open and honest because we know each other so well. The emotional scenes have been very challenging, often exhausting, to film but Kaye makes things easier because she gives so much.

Why is this such an important story to tell?

It’s nice to have an opportunity to tell a story about an illness that is so awful for so many people, but that also has light at the end of the tunnel for others. Everyone’s journey is very personal to them. Is there light at the end of the tunnel for

Fletch? There’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

You’ve just got to look for it.

And what do you hope that viewers will learn from Fletch’s situation?

That people should just get themselves checked. Why put it off? Especially men, like Fletch, who’ll just go, ‘Oh, it’ll be all right, it’ll work itself out.’ Just go and get checked out! A 10-minute session with your GP could save your life.

WE CAN BE OPEN AND HONEST – WE KNOW

EACH OTHER SO WELL