Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe inundated by fans reaching out with cancer symptoms after heartbreaking storyline
10/01/2024 12:23 PM
HOLLYOAKS actress Jennifer Metcalfe has confessed that she has been inundated with messages from other cancer sufferers in the wake of her heartbreaking storyline.
In the Channel 4 soap, her character Mercedes McQueen was left devastated to learn that she was suffering from bowel cancer.
Scenes have shown Mercedes bravely fighting the disease and now Jennifer has admitted that the support she had received from the public amid the delicate plot has been incredible.
Jennifer spoke out about the story and how it had affected her at the Inside Soap Awards.
She exclusively told The Sun: “I’ve heard from a lot of people who have gone through similar things to what Mercedes is going through and having that direct contact with them and how they’ve said how much it has helped them and raised awareness around bowel cancer has just been overwhelming.
“I’ve sat there for hours on a nighttime, just responding to everyone, we have been voice noting between us and it has just had a powerful impact.”
Jen admitted that her followers had also been reaching out to share their own symptoms with the star having watched what Mercedes has gone through on-screens.
In response, the star said: “I’m no nurse or doctor but it does just feel massive to know I’ve had that impact.
“I will sit there and chat to anyone about if they have symptoms or where they need to go to get tested or if they are experiencing changes.”
Amidst her current battle, Jennifer admitted that she was hoping that Mercedes could finally find love amid her ongoing health turmoil.
She added: “It would be nice if she could find love at her lowest.
“I think she has such a big bravado all the time and she slaps on her red lipstick and goes out and gets what she wants.
“I think at a time to see her so vulnerable, it would be nice to see the pure love she could find.
“Knowing Mercedes, it will be round the corner somewhere!”
When the storyline was revealed last month, Jennifer told of her real-life heartbreaking connection to the disease.
It is the same disease that claimed her beloved dad Colin's life when she was just 15.
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Jen had the story broached with her by new Hollyoaks boss Hannah Cheers at a restaurant in Cheshire where they both live.
After a three hour deep discussion of the inspiration behind the story – Hannah's dear friend Sophie's battle with cancer – and Jen's history, the pair hit the town to blow off some steam.
Jen previously told The Sun: "So when Hannah said that I just thought, yes, challenge me right up. It’s a time when I wanted to be challenged, the show needed to be, well we had massive challenges anyway, let’s throw some more in there.
"And I just sort of lent into it. Did you speak to other people who have gone through with cancer? I lived through it with my dad at such an early age. Things have moved on and changed from then, like the treatments and stuff.
"But I felt like I know everything pretty much first hand. We have been working about Bowel Cancer UK, they answered any questions that I had. They sent me case studies of women in very similar situations. Hannah, one of her best friends, went through it and we spoke at length about that.”
