IT seems perfectly right that Emmerdale scored so highly in the British Soap Awards and another illustration that soaps do reflect real-life.

Emmerdale won six awards, including the prestigious Best Soap, and the main reason was its handling of the storyline surrounding Ashley’s dementia.

I think many of us gained a genuine insight into not only the random cruelty of dementia as it robs individuals of their personality but also the terrible toll on close relatives and friends.

The Dales-set drama gained recognition for Best Single Episode when producers bravely staged a whole episode from the dementia sufferer’s point of view. The result was a glimpse into the frightening confusion that many suffer.

John Middleton’s performances as Ashley were deeply moving and very accomplished throughout and the daily plight of his wife, Laurel, played by Charlotte Bellamy, equally affecting.

The soaps are sometimes criticised for outlandish storylines and ridiculous characters but, generally, the good outweighs the bad. And when they do get it right, they really do a brilliant job.