At his impromptu stag do Marlon tries to get to his feet but his legs suddenly buckle and he falls to the ground. Paddy suggests that Marlon get checked out at the hospital. Marlon agrees just as long as there’s no ambulance and Rhona is left out of the loop. Later at the Hospital, an utterly devastated Marlon is knocked for six when the doctor informs him that he’ll have to stay overnight, due to the results indicating an extremely high blood pressure.
Mark Charnock who plays Marlon told ALT A REVIEW about how he approached playing a stroke victim . “It was quite daunting as I was quite nervous to get it right as it feels like a big responsibility as it happens to so many people. It was a fascinating journey, I was lucky because our research team had huge volumes of information so once we started I felt so well prepared but that does not mean I was not a nervous wreak as up to a certain point you are doing calculated guesses about the condition as it is quite different for so many people so I had to do what was bespoke for Marlon. I was lucky the script was so brilliant and the people from The Stroke Society were so helpful. What it meant I could select certain troupes that made it specific to him. For example the speech and I know someone who has a stutter and when he comes to a word that begins with a vowel of an H he does a little (makes sound) so basically I stole that”
The morning of the wedding arrives and an ecstatic Rhona is still in the dark. Marlon’s utterly bewildered when the doctor tells him that his blood pressure readings are still too high for him to be discharged. As Paddy tries to keep Marlon calm, they both become equally stressed out. Mary and Vanessa’s attempts to delay Rhona from attending the church are thwarted but Rhona can feel that something’s wrong.
Everyone is emotional as Marlon and Rhona Goskirk [ZOE HENRY] exchange their vows. As Marlon and Rhona kiss, their happiness beams.
Still hoping that Marlon will turn up, Vanessa reassures her. Priya’s awash with relief as Paddy whizzes a determined Marlon in his pimped up wedding wheelchair towards her; both dressed in their wedding suits. Rhona concludes that something is wrong with Marlon just as Paddy bursts through the door and wheels Marlon in. Everyone is emotional as Marlon and Rhona exchange their vows.
