Emmerdale has been hit with multiple Ofcom complaints after airing a ‘dark episode’ that saw April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) kidnapped and held over the edge of a carpark.
Dangerous boxing promoter Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore) was convinced that Ross Barton (Michael Parr) had stolen a large sum of money from her, and decided to use April to get it back.
After kidnapping the teenager, she took her to the carpark where mum Donna died, before one of her henchmen held terrified April over the edge, much to Ross’ – and viewers’ – horror.
As April screamed for help, Ross tried to convince Jade that he hadn’t taken her money, as he begged her to let April go.
Thankfully, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Mack Boyd (Lawrence Robb) came speeding to the rescue, with Mack finally admitting to being the one to take the cash.
With April having been released, Ross attempted to comfort her, but ended up confiding the truth about Donna’s d.e.a.t.h, leaving her heartbroken.
Viewers will know that Donna fell to her d.e.a.t.h from the carpark while handcuffed to a criminal.
Though April believed that he had pulled her over the edge, Ross had no choice but to admit that Donna had been the one pull them both over, knowing that she had terminal cancer.
The recent episode wracked up 61 complaints from upset Emmerdale fans, who deemed that April’s ordeal was taken too far.
Fans also took to social media site Twitter/X to share their thoughts, with many branding it ‘shocking’ and ‘dark’.
This isn’t the first time Emmerdale viewers have submitted complaints about the show, with scenes earlier this year depicting Tom King (James Chase) abusing pet dog Piper wracking up 826 complaints.
In the first half of 2024, Emmerdale had amassed a whopping 1,189 complaints.
Some of the most complained about soap storylines of all time have also come from Emmerdale, with its 2016 dognapping plot receiving 448 complaints.
Following that, Ross’ acid a.t.t.a.c.k garnered 438 complaints in 2018, while Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) and Jai Sharma’s (Chris Bisson) decision to abort their baby received 447.
