Emmerdale’s latest storyline surrounding April Windsor’s (Amelia Flanagan) exploitation has triggered a wave of Ofcom complaints, with viewers expressing discomfort over the soap’s disturbing pre-watershed scenes.

According to reports, 60 complaints have been filed with the broadcasting regulator following graphic episodes depicting county lines grooming, sex trafficking, and abuse — one of the darkest plots in the show’s recent history.

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The Episode That Sparked the Complaints

The controversial scenes aired last week, showing young April being sold for sex by manipulative Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom). When April’s abuser Callum attempted to assault her, she struck him over the head with a vodka bottle in self-defense.

Believing she had killed him, April begged Ray and Celia for help. The pair then covered up the incident, with Celia chillingly telling April that she now “owed” her — deepening the teen’s psychological torment.

Later episodes confirmed Callum had survived, with Ray using the revelation to further manipulate April into silence.

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Viewers Divided Over Disturbing Storyline

While Emmerdale’s writers intended the storyline to raise awareness of exploitation and grooming, some viewers argued that the scenes were too intense for a 7:30pm broadcast slot.

“Ofcom confirmed receiving 60 complaints linked to the episode,” reports Metro, “most citing the level of distressing content before the watershed.”

However, many fans — and critics — have praised the performances and storytelling for handling an uncomfortable but important topic with realism.

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Cast and Crew Defend the Story’s Importance

Mark Charnock, who plays April’s father Marlon Dingle, spoke to Metro about his young co-star’s extraordinary performance.

“She is a remarkable actress,” he said. “She can summon emotion on the spot. You can see so much going on in her eyes as well as her voice and her physicality. She’s got all the tools to carry on being a really quite brilliant actress.”

Charnock also praised his co-stars Joe Absolom and Jaye Griffiths, who play the story’s villains.

“Joe’s fascinating to watch — you always want to know what his character is thinking. And Jaye has been remarkable. The whole team has come together for this storyline because it’s such an important one.”

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More Dark Drama to Come

The plot shows no signs of slowing down, as April’s trauma continues to build. Recent scenes revealed her imagining Marlon’s death after being threatened by Celia — a devastating visual that left many viewers shaken.

With Emmerdale continuing to explore grooming and psychological abuse through April’s eyes, producers are expected to balance realism with sensitivity in upcoming episodes.

But if the latest backlash is any indication, the show’s boldest storyline in years is far from over — both on-screen and off.