Emmerdale star's devastating injury written into script as truth revealed

Emmerdalewriters had to incorporate the real-life injury of one of its stars into Monday night's episode. The ITV soap was in its usual slot at the beginning of the week, and Mary Goskirk (Louise Jameson) was seen walking with a cane.

In the Woolpack, Tracy Robinson (Amy Walsh) spotted Mary's ailment when she ordered a drink and asked: "So, did you have a fall?", but Mary seemingly issued a joke back.

As Mary handed her a glass of white wine, she told her: "No, I did it bungee jumping!"

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Soaps tend to film around six to eight weeks ahead of broadcast, and actress Louise, 74, who is also known for her roles in other TV staples like EastEnders and Doctor Who, first told her fans of her leg injury in July, and noted that it had forced her to take time out of a her one woman show.

At the time, she wrote on X: "I've taken the 'break a leg' advice to its extreme. Apologies for the cancelled shows in Harrogate and Leeds of SHAKESPEARE'S MISTRESS. Rescheduling for the Autumn.

"In the meantime I lie here in my splint. Big shout out to LGI @NHS who took care of me last Monday [heart emoji]."

When a fan asked her: "Get well soon Louise is there an exciting tale behind the injury? Xx," she replied: "Nope... A boring old fall xxx"

Earlier this year, fans were left uncertain whether an injury had actually occurred in real life after Mary sported a bandage wrapped around her hand and lower arm.

The character Mary explained that she'd fallen down the last couple of steps of the staircase at home, no doubt hitting or landing on the arm. She didn't say specially what the injury was or if it was broken or sprained.

What she did say though was that she was fine after the fall, and would need a few weeks of rest before she could get the bandages off. Jacob appeared alarmed though, offering to take a look at the injury. She seemed keen to brush it under the carpet while it was clear Jacob was worried. It wasn't made clear if Mary went to hospital or a doctor to get it checked out, or if she bandaged it up herself.

It was not clarified at the time whether it was an injury that had happened in real life, but it could have been a similar situation with scriptwriters having to work it into the story.

This often happens, and just recently on Coronation Street Kit Green actor Jacob Roberts had surgery on his leg and it was seemingly written into the show. There have been many other instances over the years where an injury or something else is written in.

Prior to that, Simon Gregson, who has played taxi driver Steve McDonald on Coronation Street since 1989, sustained a leg injury and it had to be put into the show.

He said: "I've broken my leg. I literally just went over and rolled my ankle, outside the back of the house. It was done in six places.

"I'm able to drive now, but walking across wet fields is a no for me. Because if I slip it's back to square one."

Asked if Corrie had to write his broken leg into the script, he said: "Yeah, they've written it in. They just kind of spoke about it. It's like when Bobby Ewing woke up in the shower [in Dallas]. No one cares after about five minutes."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.