When Hannah Barton returned to Emmerdale as a man, mum Moira was shocked to the core.
Almost as surprised as actor Ash Palmisciano when he won the role as the transgender character in the first place!
Read more: Two new divorce battles to rock Emmerdale
The soap newcomer has revealed he wasn’t even supposed to audition for the part of Matty Barton, and was originally called in to be a consultant.
Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday 12 July, he explained: “It is crazy. There’s an amazing charity called All About Trans. They work with just positive representations in the media of trans people.
“They said to me, ‘We’re doing interaction with Emmerdale, they’re thinking about doing this storyline, they’re looking for some advice on positive reps’. They said, ‘Do you want to come?’ And I said, ‘Sure, cheeky day out!’
“I went along, and the next thing they said, ‘Do you want to audition?’ Being an actor, I said, ‘Of course!’ And, here I am.”
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Ash is the ITV soap’s first transgender star, and his new storyline is set to shed a light on some of the difficulties faced by the trans community at home.
But he admits “a few years ago I didn’t have the confidence to hold my head up”.
Talking about the positive affect the role is having on the wider community, he told Lorraine: “It’s a big thing. I was kind of expecting it to create a bit of a stir.
“I wasn’t expecting how much of an impact it was going to have. I’ve had so many lovely messages about the nature of the storyline and how it’s affected people.”
Matty arrived in the Dales last month and was rejected by mum Moira, who has struggled to accept him following the revelation that he’s transitioned during his years away from the village.
Ash told Lorraine: “It’s great that I’ve got a similar background story to the character, because I can bring something to that.
“But also, as an actor, what a fantastic first job to work on a soap like Emmerdale!”
He added: “And I just hope it’s a great message to show that, yeah, you might have a past, a bit of a journey to be who you are, but also, you can achieve your dreams and ambitions.”
Ash also told viewers that Matty being beaten up in tonight’s episode beings him closer to his mum Moira, but admits “it’s not an easy ride for both of them”.
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