UNACCEPTABLE: Emmerdale HIT with Ofcom Complaints After ‘Vile’ Plot—Viewers Outraged as Controversial Storyline Sparks Backlash

Emmerdale has faced a barrage of 60 Ofcom complaints following a distressing storyline that has left viewers feeling “depressed and disturbed”.

The ITV soap has been exploring the serious issue of county lines trafficking and sexual exploitation through a challenging plot centred on April (Amelia Flanagan).

Viewers will recall that April became entangled in drug dealing for Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) in an attempt to clear her boyfriend Dylan’s (Fred Kettle) mounting debt.

The storyline took a darker turn when it emerged that Ray’s mother Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) was orchestrating the criminal operation and had coerced April into sex work.

The distressing scenes showed April, having consumed large quantities of alcohol, refusing to comply, which enraged Callum who then tried to force himself upon her, prompting her to strike him over the head with a bottle, believing she had k!ll3d him.

Viewers were horrified watching the scenes unfold, as one wrote: “Soaps are meant to be light relief after a hard days work. We see enough of this in dramas so we do not need to see it in soaps.”

“It was very painful to watch, awful,” another said, while someone else called the storyline “dreadful”.

“This story is vile I am going to stop watching Emmerdale,” someone else wrote.

Another said: “So disappointed with this it’s sick, such a shame it used to be a good soap.”

Someone else said: “I agree, have had enough of these story lines. Yes I understand they are trying to portray real life but it’s just too much now to sit and watch this…we used to watch for entertainment to lighten our days so to speak but to have a voice say after every episode If you have been affected by this. What is going on x.”

Another fumed: “It’s no wonder this show is going down the pan with harrowing and violent storylines like this one and I’m so glad that I don’t watch this rubbish anymore as I want to watch something on the TV in the evening that is going to cheer and uplift me and not this depressing and disturbing nonsense.”

Another viewer meanwhile shared: “It may only be a soap but it has highlighted how young people are drawn into the world of drugs and sexual exploitation. Personally, I think the writers have done a great job in raising our awareness.”

In scenes that followed, April confessed everything that had happened to her to her dad Marlon (Mark Charnock), who vowed to help her and keep her safe, but as he prepared to go to the police, Ray stormed in and shot Marlon, with April watching him di3 in front of her.

It was then revealed that the shooting had been a daydream, and Marlon was still alive, though April’s future is uncertain.

The actress took to Instagram to reshare a clip from the episode, paying tribute to her co-star, and writing: “@markcharnock No one I would rather have done this ep with (sic).”