Emmerdale star Danny Miller opened up about the devasting impact of his father’s dementia on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain.
The actor, 35, who is best known for playing Aaron Dingle in the ITV soap, appeared on the latest instalment of the ITV show to chat to Susanna Reid, 55, and Ed Balls, 59, about his father Vince.
Soap star Danny revealed that his dad had been diagnosed with dementia back in May 2025, and has been very honest about his health, as well as how he deals with the disease as a family member.
‘Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning,’ according to the NHS website.
‘It’s sad, me and my dad were thick as thieves at one point, and losing him over and over again, it’s awful,’ Danny told the hosts.
Ed brought in his own experience to the chat as his mother Carolyn was diagnosed with dementia in her late 60s, and in 2023, he revealed she had been living with the disease for ‘almost 20 years’.
Emmerdale star Danny Miller opened up about the devasting impact of his father’s dementia on Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain
The actor, 35, who is best known for playing Aaron Dingle in the ITV soap, appeared on the latest instalment of the ITV show to chat to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls about his father Vince
Soap star Danny revealed that his dad had been diagnosed with dementia back in May 2025, and has been very honest and open about his health, as well as dealing with the disease as a family member
He said: Those words “losing” are important, you mis the man he was, when you are with your dad there will be moments you will see him flick of his old self.
‘At the same time, I always feel guilty about this, you’re also slightly in mourning aren’t you?
‘You feel as though they are alive, but the person you knew, has gone, it’s not the same. There is a loss, isn’t there?’
Danny replied: ‘Absolutely. Over and over again. I live a couple of hours drive from my dad now, which breaks my heart.
‘I have my own family, i have a job in Yorkshire, Emmerdale. Being around in Manchester isn’t easy anymore, so I moved my family up there.
‘It was a really tough thing to do because I am not there as much as I would like to be. I miss him, terribly.
‘The days I do see him, I often get a good visit. I usually find if I play Matt Monro, my dad was a comedian, but he was a singer as well.
‘Matt Munro was a friend of his. I played it one day and he pointed and it and said “10 December 1970 whatever”, I googled it and he was right!
‘It was his birthday or when it was released. Then on, it’s a normal thing now, I put it on the side and play and just talk to him normally.
‘I tend to get a better visit. It took us quite a while.’
Susanna asked: ‘Just talk to us, for those who don’t know what it is like to interreact, especially with a parent, what is it like having a conversation with your dad right now?’
Danny explained: ‘There are good days and bad days.
‘There was a time last week where I didn’t know if I would be sat here, he’s up and down with his general health, anyway.
‘But Dementia does make it feel some what worse, water infections or urine infections that suddenly make them more confused.
‘Then his health declined, he looked ill, he looked ill.’
Ed asked: ‘Does he sometimes know it’s not you?’
‘That will break my heart, I’m not there yet. We’re not there yet, luckily, but it will break my heart,’ an emotional Danny confessed.
Ed bravely told Danny: ‘I’ve been there for seven years, and sometimes she won’t speak at all.
‘But you still believe deep within her, I know she watches videos of us on television, I’m sure your dad watches you.
‘Even when they are not speaking, they are still recognising and reacting.
‘I think you always have to find the positive, even when it gets hard.’
Danny continued: ‘It’s tough because I was always “This is my son, Danny from Emmerdale”. It was never “This is my son, Danny.”
‘Because he was so proud of me. I struggle to have the same relationship, and I feel selfish for that.’
At the end of the interview, Danny said of his dad: ‘I miss him so much, he used to call me a lot and just rant, and then put the phone down without saying “How are you?”
‘I’d give anything back to have those conversations.’
It’s not the first time that Danny has spoken out about his dad Vince’s health.
During an appearance on Loose Women last year, panelist Denise Welch brought up Danny’s dad Vince – who she has been good pals with for a number of years.
Danny said: ‘The truth of the matter is that I have lost my dad. That’s hard for me to cope with.
‘Because I really, really, miss him.
‘I really miss picking up the phone to him, it’s just not possible anymore.
‘Sometimes when we visit the care home we get the opportunity to have a good visit, and there are bad visits as well.’
The soap star has previously opened up about his father’s battle with dementia with his followers on Instagram.
He continued: ‘I’ve started to log that and put that in almost an Instagram journal because I know there are lots of people, and people that I’ve touched, made relationships in America, that have got the same thing and are looking after their dad.
‘It pains me that I can’t pick up the phone to my dad anymore.’
Danny continued: ‘I always want to make sure that people out there suffering with dementia first hand, or second hand, you’re not alone.
‘It’s a horrible, horrible, terminal illness and it’s long goodbye.
‘There’s a great short film on that and it’s hard to watch but I love my dad so much and he’s the reason that I am sat here talking to you today.’
He finished with: ‘I love you dad. Keep smiling.
Danny and dad Vince have both had successful careers in the showbiz industry – and Vince has been known as ‘King of comperes’ for years.
Vince worked at Old Trafford for 29 years and worked closely with Sir Alex Ferguson.
He also worked with the likes of Johnny Mathis and Shirley Bassey.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
