“Happy to have woken up”: Actor opens up about unexpected health scare amid emotional memories of Will Taylor’s dramatic exit

A Quiet Procedure, A Loud Reaction

Emmerdale fans were left shocked and concerned this week after Dean Andrews, who portrayed Will Taylor, revealed he had undergone secret eye surgery. The actor took to Instagram to post a photo of himself post-op, seated in his car with both eyes bandaged and a quiet but impactful caption:

“Eye surgery went ok thankfully.”

Though Dean downplayed the moment, fans quickly flooded the comments with well wishes and concern.

A Surge of Support from Fans

Messages of encouragement poured in from across the Emmerdale fandom.
“Glad it’s gone well,” wrote one fan, prompting Dean to respond with honesty:

“We’ll find out on Tuesday.”

Others expressed their empathy, sharing their own experiences. “Hope the healing goes well,” one commenter wrote. “My sister found it hard at first, but it was worth it.” Another added: “I had laser surgery too—those eye shields are no joke!”

Dean also received love from former co-stars and followers still reeling from his dramatic exit on the soap.

Not His First Medical Scare

This isn’t the first time Dean Andrews has undergone surgery. Last year, he posted a photo from a hospital bed after a separate, undisclosed procedure, simply writing:

“Surgery went well. Very happy to have woken up. Many thanks to my surgeon Chris and all the staff.”

Though he never clarified the nature of that earlier health issue, his latest surgery has again raised concern and admiration for his openness and resilience.

Remembering Will Taylor’s Final Moments

Dean’s character Will Taylor met a tragic end on Emmerdale in a powerful Christmas Day episode in 2024. After a tense confrontation with wife Kim Tate, Will collapsed from a heart attack—while Kim, believing he was still manipulating her, hesitated too long to call for help.

The scene ended in heartbreak as Kim watched him die, only for Joe Tate to cover up her delay with a lie that placed her further in his debt.

Dean later admitted that Emmerdale had become like a second home to him, saying producers would have had to “kick me out” to get him to leave. And they did—on one of the most emotionally charged days in soap history.