EastEnders SPOILER: Stuart Highway set to battle postnatal depression

EastEnders is set to air a father’s postnatal depression storyline for the first time, as Stuart Highway struggles to bond with his newborn son, Roland.

Stuart – played by 41-year-old Ricky Champ – was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and recently agreed to treatment for the sake of his son.  

In the coming weeks, viewers of the BBC soap will see heartbreaking scenes of Stuart struggling to connect with Roland leading him to eventually question his love for the baby.

Heartbreaking: EastEnders is set to air a father’s postnatal depression storyline as Stuart Highway struggles to bond with his newborn son, Roland

The programme has worked closely with PANDAS and Mind on the mental health storyline to ensure it is portrayed as realistically and as sensitively as possible.

Annie Belasco, Head of the Charity, said: ‘PANDAS Foundation were delighted to hear that EastEnders intended to produce a storyline highlighting postnatal depression in men.

‘We enjoyed advising the team around the postnatal depression aspect of Stuart’s journey which we feel will be relatable to many fathers struggling to bond with their baby. 

Tragic: Stuart – played by 41-year-old Ricky Champ – was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and recently agreed to treatment for the sake of his son

‘Postnatal depression in fathers is still a much undiscovered and stigmatised area, which is why it is so imperative that awareness is shared in no doubt that men who may be feeling unwell with symptoms of postnatal depression can seek the support that they need at an early interventional stage.

Annie emphasised the point that seeking help when struggling with mental health is crucial: ‘A full recovery of any low level perinatal mental illness, with the right support is possible.’

Alex Bushill, Head of Media and PR at Mind, added: ‘When people see mental health problems portrayed sensitively on screen, it raises awareness and encourages people to seek support for their mental health. So, it’s great to see EastEnders dedicating airtime to exploring such an important issue.  

‘I hope this story helps highlight how depression can impact new dads and encourage dads to seek help if they need it. Whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. And you deserve respect and support.’ 

Important: In the coming weeks, viewers of the BBC soap will see heartbreaking scenes of Stuart struggling to connect with Roland

Teenager Bernadette Taylor was acting as a surrogate for Stuart and his wife Rainie, who are infertile. 

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Bernie went into labour believing Stuart has been undergoing treatment for male breast cancer, before learning the truth after she delivered a baby boy.

Rainie eventually broke down and revealed all to Bernie, leaving her to question giving up the newborn in the new circumstances.

Support: Teenager Bernadette Taylor was acting as a surrogate for Stuart and his wife Rainie, who are infertile

But after some thought and a lot of persuasion, Stuart decided to undergo treatment for the sake of his son.

The BBC soap has also been working closely with Macmillan Cancer Support on Stuart’s storyline and will continue to do so to ensure that a realistic cancer experience is represented.

Of his poignant storyline, Ricky said: ‘I feel honoured to be trusted with such an important storyline. We will see Stuart really struggle with the fact he has cancer, and to learn that it’s breast cancer is really difficult for him to understand. 

Poignant: The BBC soap has been working closely with Macmillan Cancer Support on the storyline

Dany Bell, a strategic advisor for treatment, medicines and genomics at the charity, is hopeful that the storyline will encourage people to become more aware of the signs of breast cancer. 

She said: ‘It’s brilliant to see EastEnders release this very important and poignant storyline. We hope it encourages people to become more aware of the signs of breast cancer, regularly check their own chests and reach out for help if needed. 

‘Macmillan is here to offer advice and support to anyone impacted by the storyline and we encourage anyone experiencing signs or symptoms of cancer to visit their GP.’

Ricky first set foot in Albert Square back in 2018 and has landed a spell of intense storylines, including confessing to accidentally killing DI Steve Thompson (Philip Wright) – who later turned out be alive.  

He also admitted to being a vigilante paedophile hunter which stemmed from being sexually abused as a child.

The actor’s additional ventures include his role as Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her and a Games Of Thrones appearance as Gatins.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One. 

Roles: The actor’s additional ventures include his role as Paul Parker in the BBC Three sitcom Him & Her (pictured) and a Games Of Thrones appearance as Gatins