A MENTAL health group that runs sessions in the Bradford district is set to play a further part in a TV soap opera’s storyline.

Andy’s Man Club Bradford posted about Emmerdale's current storyline around one of its male characters' mental health.

Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt, has experienced fragile mental health in recent episodes, which culminated in him trying to take his own life.

Scenes for an episode of the long-running Yorkshire soap have been filmed at the home of Bradford City, Valley Parade, where the Andy’s Man Club holds one of its weekly sessions.

The episode, to be broadcast on ITV1 on Thursday, May 11, will show Paddy attending a meeting a distance away from where he lives in the fictional village.

Andy’s Man Club posted on its Facebook page about the upcoming programme alongside an image of Paddy during the meeting.

The group wrote: “Filming took place at Bradford City’s ground in the very room where regular Andy’s Man Club meetings are held.

“This was the deliberate intention of the programme makers to use an authentic meeting point for Paddy’s visit to seek help.”

Neil Waine, of Andy’s Man Club, thanked City officials for providing the venue for the TV scenes and explained how it was set up with his group and show bosses.

He said: “When Laura Shaw (Emmerdale producer) first asked me about doing this episode I jumped at the opportunity to let men see a bit of how Andy’s Man Club runs and this will hopefully help us challenge the stigmas around men talking.

“In reality many men take the step to travel out of their area to attend clubs so they can really be themselves and talk freely with strangers and to see Paddy doing this is a real-life snapshot of the thought process for many men.

“A huge thank you to Emmerdale for their support in highlighting the struggles men go through and that, through talking, we all have hope of brighter days ahead.”

It is the latest link-up between Andy’s Man Club and Emmerdale for the soap’s storyline. In March this year, Paddy and his friend Marlon Dingle, played by Mark Charnock, featured in Emmerdale’s first male-only cast episode when they met to chat during a lock-in at the soap village’s pub, The Woolpack.

Andy’s Man Club meetings are held every Monday from 7pm at a host of venues across the UK.

The group’s Bradford Central sessions take place at Bradford City’s Valley Parade ground from 7pm.