Our Dementia Choir, founded by Line of Duty star Vicky McClure MBE, is set to appear in Hollyoaks this month, filming with character Martha Blake, played by Sherrie Hewson.
The choir will appear on Hollyoaks as Liberty (Jessamy Stoddart) encourages Martha to join the group to give her a supportive community.
In 2019, actor and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador McClure founded Our Dementia Choir, a singing group for people diagnosed with different forms of dementia, to highlight the importance of music therapy. The choir is now a household name following its own BBC documentary, made by McClure in 2018.
McClure said “It was an honour for Our Dementia Choir to be part of this storyline. Music has the power to uplift, connect, and create lasting moments of joy. Seeing that brought to life on screen is so important, and I couldn’t be prouder of the choir.”
Musical director Daniela Smith said: “Filming at Hollyoaks with the cast and crew was such a wonderful experience. Performing on the set and the emotional response from everyone made it very special. It was a great opportunity to showcase the true power of music and how we are living well with Dementia. We can’t wait to watch the episode and Hollyoaks is now firmly part of the Our Dementia Choir family.”
Talking about filming with Our Dementia Choir, Hewson added: “When the choir started to sing, I looked around and including me, we were all in tears, we all felt so joyous and everybody in that room cried that day because we could feel the love.
“Not only were they wonderful voices, but we didn’t expect to be so taken in by the atmosphere they created and the love they brought to set. We were all very moved and it was a very emotional day.”
Hollyoaks continues to work with the Alzheimer’s Society, who are advising on the storyline. Last year, Hollyoaks embarked on a year-long time jump which saw storylines, once bubbling under the surface, appear at the forefront of the show. Martha had received a diagnosis for Alzheimer’s disease during the missing year but started showing signs in earlier episodes. Since then, she has moved back in with her granddaughter Sienna as the Blake family rally around her for support.
Former Corrie star Hewson joined Hollyoaks in May 2024 as Sienna’s mysterious grandmother, Martha Blake. The unconventional, gothic Blake family have a labyrinth of secrets, and with more secrets coming to light over the past year, it’s safe to say Martha is a complex character.
Dara de Burca, Alzheimer’s Society’s executive director of dementia support and Partnerships said: “We are pleased to see Hollyoaks exploring the issues around dementia following character Martha Blake’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Storylines like these have the power to make a huge difference and break down stigma. We’re grateful to the writers and producers who have taken the time to work with us to ensure the depiction of Martha’s dementia is handled as sensitively as possible.”
If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, Alzheimer’s Society is here to help via the website or the Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.
