Jason Watkins opens up on ‘difficult’ days filming drama about child loss after daughter’s death 10 years ago-Aisha Nozari-Entertainment – Metro

Jason Watkins has revealed how the death of his two-year-old daughter Maude on New Year’s Day 2011 influenced his latest role (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Jason Watkins has spoken candidly about how the death of his two-year-old daughter Maude on New Year’s Day 2011 influenced his latest role.

The Bafta-winning star, 60, is currently starring in Channel 5’s The Catch, in which he plays a fisherman struggling to cope with the death of his son.

Watkins and his wife Clara Francis’ daughter died of sepsis more than a decade ago, and while the doting dad admitted his new role involved some ‘difficult scenes’, he spoke optimistically of the chance to ‘explore with an audience what it’s like to lose a child’.

Appearing on Wednesday’s This Morning, Watkins was asked by host Holly Willoughby whether it was hard playing a character who is grieving a child given his own loss.  

‘It is,’ the actor began. ‘Our family in the show has lost a child. We lost our daughter ten years ago. You think, “why on earth would you do something [like that]?”

‘It’s a good script and it feels real and it seemed to be a good chance to explore with an audience what it’s like to lose a child.’

Watkins confessed: ‘I knew there were a few scenes that were going to be difficult’ (Picture: ITV)

Maude was taken to hospital in 2010 with a persistent cough and was eventually diagnosed with a respiratory infection called croup (Picture: Instagram/@Jason__Watkins)

He went on: ‘I knew there were a few scenes that were going to be difficult. I feel if you use a lot of yourself – I prepared for days that I knew were going to be difficult – then that really connects with an audience.’

Watkins also spoke about his forthcoming documentary, which is dedicated to Maude.

‘It’s about spreading awareness of sepsis,’ the star explained. ‘And it’s about letting people know that if you’ve lost a child – always mention it.

‘There’s nothing worse than feeling a child has never existed because it’s not welcome.’

Watkins is currently starring in Channel 5’s The Catch, in which he plays a fisherman struggling to cope with the death of his son (Picture: Photographer Patrick Redmond / Channel 5 Television)

Watkins and his wife Clara Francis’, pictured, daughter died of sepsis more than a decade ago (Picture: Dan Wooller/REX)

He continued: ‘If you know somebody who’s lost a child, do mention, “how are you feeling?”

‘Give them the right to talk about it […] the reason for doing [the documentary] is to say to other families, “we’re alright. We got through it, it’s difficult [but] you are not alone”.’

Maude was taken to hospital in 2010 with a persistent cough and was eventually diagnosed with a respiratory infection called croup.

However, she died within two weeks after contracting sepsis, which the NHS describes as ‘a life-threatening reaction to an infection’.

Maude’s mum marked the 12-year anniversary of her little girl’s passing this month on social media, writing in part: ‘My beautiful Maudie it is the time when I sit down and write to you and place you front and centre in the world for 24 whole glorious hours and in that 24 hours people remember you and send me messages of love, courage and hope.

‘Send me beautiful memories of you They remember your beautiful soul and gentle spirit. I hate this day – this day and your birthday are the worst days of the year but I find messages from friends and strangers alike hugely comforting.

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‘Of course every single day of my life is a day without you. I would put you front and centre ALL the time if I felt I could.

‘You loved all animals drank lots of Diet Coke ate too many sweets moaned about your teenage acne swore lots, had big dreams and the whole world was yours for the taking.’

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