 Hollyoaks has taken a bold step by tackling the emotional and psychological impact of disability in a new storyline, proving not just that soaps are the perfect platform to do so, but that they can show the honest, and often messy, reality. Through the character of Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed), who is coming to terms with his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, the show sheds light on the oftenignored reality faced by many disabled individuals. It's also part of a decisive shift in television, as soaps delve deeper into the personal experiences of disabled characters, giving them more fleshed out inner lives and highlighting the messy and unapologetically ugly aspects of living with and accepting a disability – conveying that we're only human. The storyline follows Joel as he grapples with overwhelming emotions after his diagnosis. He goes through shock, denial, anger, and sadness. We're so often told to 'get on' with it — bury it, bottle it. But this is a right-in-your-face, unflinching human honesty. When Joel spits, 'I'm not disabled,' it resonated powerfully with my experience of rejecting the term — forcefully, bitterly, pushing it back. I've had Cerebral Palsy since birth, which leads to stunning pain as spasms rip through my body almost constantly, and I don't talk about it often. Parts of the media and broader society push empty words and sentiments onto us: be brave, resilient, stoic, overcome. As Joel notes from a hospital bed, it's easy to see life in black and white, Normal and different—especially when it's all you're trained for. Rory Douglas-Speed, who plays Joel and has diabetes himself, is enthusiastic about portraying the transition that occurs in life. He vividly remembers the moment when his life took a turn. 'I think everyone goes through that,' he told me. 'I remember feeling like my life changed in an instant. It was as quick as going to the doctor to discu){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Hollyoaks has taken a bold step by tackling the emotional and psychological impact of disability in a new storyline, proving not just that soaps are the perfect platform to do so, but that they can show the honest, and often messy, reality.
Through the character of Joel Dexter (Rory Douglas-Speed), who is coming to terms with his Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, the show sheds light on the oftenignored reality faced by many disabled individuals.
It’s also part of a decisive shift in television, as soaps delve deeper into the personal experiences of disabled characters, giving them more fleshed out inner lives and highlighting the messy and unapologetically ugly aspects of living with and accepting a disability – conveying that we’re only human.
The storyline follows Joel as he grapples with overwhelming emotions after his diagnosis. He goes through shock, denial, anger, and sadness. We’re so often told to ‘get on’ with it – bury it, bottle it. But this is a right-in-your-face, unflinching human honesty.