Sally Dexter can relate to Emmerdale's heart transplant surgery after her own father was given just 10 years to live when he was 29 years old.
Sally Dexter
The 58-year-old actress' character Faith Dingle is in trouble after her comments to great granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) led the youngster to reject the chance to have the potentially life-saving operation, much to her mum Debbie Dingle's (Charley Webb) fury.
And the plot is close to the former 'A Touch of Frost' star's heart because her father and brother both suffered from heart problems.
She said: "My father when he was 29 was told he had 10 years to live. He was 29 with three small children - that's not what you want to hear.
"But, through diet and exercise he made it to 70. Which I kind of think is one heck of a success story.
"[My brother] went the other way - but he had a great time doing it. He went out earlier, he was only 58 when he died."
Sarah insists she doesn't want the heart transplant because she wants to "enjoy the time [she's] got left" - but Sally has revealed Faith will kidnap her great granddaughter on tonight's episode (14.08.18) to show her how great life can be.
Speaking on 'This Morning', Sally said: "She takes the most enormous risk.
"She kidnaps Sarah from the hospital and takes her on a big adventure to show her that life is worth living.
"She has to try, but it's worth trying."
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