Emmerdale and Coronation Street actor Jonathan Wrather has spoken movingly about his late father’s devastating battle with motor neurone disease (MND), describing it as a “cruel” and “indiscriminate” illness that stripped away his dad’s independence and voice.

“MND Wastes Everything”

In an emotional interview with The Mirror, Jonathan, 56, opened up about his father Bill’s six-year struggle with the terminal condition, which slowly robbed him of his ability to move and communicate. Bill, who was 84 when he passed away in December 2023, was one of around 5,000 people in the UK living with MND at any given time.

“MND is a cruel disease,” Jonathan said. “It wastes everything — even the muscles you don’t see, those you use to breathe and speak. It’s like cancer, it’s indiscriminate.”

A Final Drive to Remember

Reflecting on one of his last precious memories with his father, Jonathan recalled a bittersweet day in Macclesfield Forest when they took one of Bill’s vintage cars out for a drive.

“He was still driving at this point,” Jonathan shared. “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I can remember having to change the gears while he operated the clutch — he didn’t have full use of his arm to do it himself. It’s a fond memory, tearing around the country lanes, but it was also when I realised the disease had really taken hold.”

From Soap Villain to Real-Life Advocate

Jonathan is best known for his chilling portrayal of Pierce Harris on Emmerdale between 2016 and 2017, returning briefly in 2020. He also starred as Joe Carter on Coronation Street from 2002 to 2003.

Now, the actor is using his platform for something deeply personal — raising awareness and funds for MND research. On Saturday, he will appear alongside Sally Bayly at the Rye Arts Festival in Licensed to Thrill, a celebration of James Bond, with all proceeds supporting MND charities.

A Shared Battle Across the Nation

Jonathan’s words come as former England Rugby Union captain Lewis Moody revealed his own MND diagnosis at the age of 47. In a moving interview on BBC Breakfast, Lewis described the “heartbreaking” moment he had to tell his sons, Ethan and Dylan. His courage, like Jonathan’s advocacy, has brought renewed attention to a disease that affects thousands of families every year.

As Jonathan continues to share his father’s story, his message is one of empathy and determination — to keep fighting for awareness, for research, and for hope.