WATCH: Ruth Langsford breaks down talking about dementia with Emmerdale star

Ruth Langsford wept on ‘This Morning’ today as she reacted to a hard-hitting dementia storyline on ‘Emmerdale’.

The 56-year-old TV presenter broke down as she expressed her gratitude to actor John Middleton for portraying dementia “so well” with his character Ashley Thomas, following the news that a groundbreaking episode will air tonight through the eyes of Ashley, who has the disease.

Ruth’s father Dennis passed away from dementia in 2012 and the host admitted it was heartbreaking seeing the “shell” of her dad as he deteriorated.

“My dad was there in body, the shell of my dad, but it’s like he wasn’t there. His eyes had changed,” she told John.

She added: “I do appreciate how you’ve done this slow burn. It’s all about talking about dementia. Fifteen years ago when my dad had dementia, we wouldn’t have talked about it like this. There was still a slight stigma attached.

“I would like to say thank you from families because it’s not often that dementia gets represented so well and I think, as programme and as an actor – you particularly John – have done it so brilliantly so thank you.”

The past few months have seen Ashley – who is a vicar at the village church – deteriorate and lose control but this week is set to particularly bad for him after he manages to leave his bed and escape the hospital without anyone seeing.

And with his mindset that of a 19 year old, Ashley attempts to go back to his family home to visit his terminally ill mother but, with his condition plaguing him, he fails to realise the dangers of the outside world.

The disease will ultimately lead to his death over the festive season and, although he’s sad to be leaving the show after 20 years in the village, John can’t wait to explore other ventures.

The soap star said: “I’m very sad to be leaving ‘Emmerdale’. I love the place, I love everyone who works there and I’ve got some great friends there. Some of them will be great friends of mine for the rest of my life … I’m very sad to leave.”