Emmerdale fans vow to boycott soap over sickening child torture scenes

SHOCKED Emmerdale fans were venting their anger last night at the treatment of one of the village’s youngest cast members.

Fifteen-year-old April found herself the victim of wicked criminal Jade and her gangsters as she was kidnapped and used as leverage in an argument with Ross.

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Jade was convinced that Ross had stolen £10,000 from her at a previous illegal fight held at Moira’s farm.

It transpired that it was Macenzie who had secretly taken the cash and that left Ross out of ideas and on a desperate shake down of anyone he could in the village.

Finding himself still short he received a chilling call from Jade showing him that she had April bound up in her car.

Worse still she was on top of the multi-story car park that April’s mum and the love of Ross’s life, Donna, had fallen from and died years earlier.

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What followed was a stand off between Ross and Jade with April trapped in the middle, being dangled over the edge of the car park roof by one of the criminal gang.

April, played by Amelia Flanagan, was seen screaming for her life, unsure if she would survive.

It was this use of a child being held off a roof that really seemed to anger some viewers who went online to vent.

One said: “I never complain about soaps but tonight was totally inappropriate. Who in their right mind thought it would be fitting to show a young, underage child being dangled over wall by a grown man? It was also mental and physical torture she was enduring. Is this how low soaps have fallen?”

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Another agreed: “That was inappropriate and it made me cringe. Shame on the writers and producers.”

A third was concerned at how prolonged it was: “Yes, it was cruel and also went on far too long.”

Whilst lots of viewers were shocked some wanted to heap praise on actor Amelia Flanagan for her portrayal of the harrowing scenes.

Writing on X one said: “Amelia Flanagan who plays April is FABULOUS tonight!! Amazing talent right in front of our eyes.”

Another agreed, adding: “April is outacting all the adults”

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock...

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) - Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly's drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) - In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale's first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke's rape (2000) - Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs - who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) - Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

One fan was keen for the writers to take note of Amelia’s performance: “April could be in much better storylines & this is how you use her.”

The dramatic episode comes as actor Mike Parr, who plays Ross, has revealed he was recently rushed to hospital suffering from hallucinations.