Emmerdale viewers reckon Marlon Dingle could have the coronavirus after he collapses with a high temperature and chest pains
Emmerdale viewers were left reeling after Marlon Dingle collapsed suddenly in Thursday night’s episode and some reckon he may have the coronavirus.
Things have taken a turn for the worse for Marlon (Mark Charnock) after he was questioned by the police over missing charity money.
His friend Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) took him out for a drive with Baby Eve to try and get him to relax but he soon said he wasn’t feeling well and complained of chest pains.
Shock: Emmerdale viewers were left reeling after Marlon Dingle collapsed suddenly in Thursday night’s episode and some reckon he may have the coronavirus
Marlon started shaking as he clutched his chest and said he was feeling hot.
‘I really don’t feel well. I ache all over. I keep going hot and cold. Like I can’t catch my breathe,’ he said.
As he grew more panicked, Paddy tried to help Marlon calmed down but then started to fear his friend could be having a heart attack.
While the scene was filmed well in advance of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic currently sweeping through the UK, viewers thought Marlon might have come down with the virus.
Plot: Things have taken a turn for the worse for Marlon (Mark Charnock) after he was questioned by the police over missing charity money
Taking to Twitter, one user said: ‘Looks like Marlon might have Coronavirus’ while another suggested: ‘Coronavirus or heart attack for Marlon?’
Another said: ‘Do we reckon Marlon’s got the coronavirus?’ while a fourth agreed, writing: ‘Thought Marlon had the coronavirus for a minute’.
It comes as ITV soaps Emmerdale and Coronation Street are also reducing their number of weekly episodes in a bid to ration shows they’ve already filmed.
Reaction: While the scene was filmed well in advance of the coronavirus epidemic currently sweeping through the UK, viewers thought Marlon might have come down with the virus
A statement from the broadcaster on Wednesday said: ‘The continued transmission of both soaps is a priority to all of us at ITV and to our audiences who enjoy the shows. Whilst carefully adhering to the latest health advice from the Government and Public Health England, our production teams are continuing to film episodes in Manchester and Leeds.
‘With this change of transmission pattern it will ensure we have great new soap episodes coming to air every weekday night until at least the early summer.’
ITV also confirmed members of the cast aged over 70s are being written out over coronavirus pandemic as bosses ‘adhere to all government guidelines.’
Coronation Street has seven cast members who are over 70 and who have been advised to stay at home while writers work to remove them from plots going forward.
Scare: Marlon’s friend Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) took him out for a drive with Baby Eve to try and get him to relax but he soon said he wasn’t feeling well and complained of chest pains
Health: ‘I really don’t feel well. I ache all over. I keep going hot and cold. Like I can’t catch my breathe,’ he said
These include William Roache, 87 (who plays Ken Barlow), Sue Nicholls, 76 (Audrey Roberts), Barbara Knox, 86 (Rita Sullivan), Malcolm Hebden, 80 (Norris Cole), Maureen Lipman, 73 (Evelyn Plummer), Rula Lenska, 72 (Claudia Colby) and Paul Copley, 75 (Arthur Medwin).
Some of them may still appear regularly until mid-May, in scenes that were filmed before the Covid-19 outbreak forced the government to implement draconian measures.
A Coronation Street spokeswoman told The Mirror: ‘With regards to over 70s we will be adhering to all government guidelines and following the appropriate steps.’
ITV were also recently forced to postpone The Voice’s live semi-final and grand finale amid the pandemic.
Meanwhile, ITVBe’s popular reality show TOWIE is also said to have delayed filming of the new series in the wake of the virus.
Terrified: As he grew more panicked, Paddy tried to help Marlon calmed down but then started to fear he could be having a heart attack