hard issue
Emmerdale hit with WARNING ahead of distressing child sex abuse storyline amid flurry of Ofcom complaints
The soap recently found itself facing 61 Ofcom complaints in relation to other shocking scenes
EMMERDALE has been forced to issue a warning ahead of its new harrowing child sex abuse storyline.
The ITV soap opera will be delving into the shocking backstory of Ruby Fox-Milligan and in scenes to be screened today, the show will confirm that she was the victim of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of her father, Anthony.
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Fans of the show have seen Ruby acting increasingly uncomfortable around her father in recent weeks after he made his way into the Dales.
Flashback scenes will now show the truth of Ruby's childhood including a particularly harrowing night on her 16th birthday.
Ahead of the episode, Emmerdale issued a warning to make viewers aware of what was set to come.
It read: "Emmerdale will contain references to sexual violence that viewers could find distressing."
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It is expected that the same message will be read aloud by an ITV continuity announcer ahead of it airing on linear TV this evening.
Discussing the new storyline, Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw said: "Ruby has always been troubled and volatile in nature, and finally our audience will be able to learn more about the past that has haunted her and made Ruby the woman she is today."
After the confirmation of the storyline, Emmerdale viewers shared their shock for the scenes ahead.
One wrote online: "This is going to be a hard watch."
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As another added: "All I can say is poor Ruby."
It has also led to harrowing speculation that Anthony could indeed by both the father and grandfather of Steph - Ruby's daughter.
Emmerdale slammed with Ofcom complaints after April, 15, is kidnapped and thrown over a ledge in violent scenes
"Imagine Ruby’s dad turned out to be Steph’s dad too," one fan speculated.
The new plot comes just days after Emmerdale was hit by a barrage of Ofcom complaints.
Fans were left moaning to the broadcast watchdog after scene showed a teenage April Windsor being kidnapped and dangling over the edge of the same multi-storey car park that her mother died on.
Viewers were so outraged that they lodged 61 complaints with broadcasting regulator Ofcom.
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An Ofcom spokesperson said "complainants objected to a storyline involving child abduction and violence”.
Fans have also threatened to boycott the show after being left so upset by the storyline.
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One wrote on social media: “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 a wall by a grown man?"
Sexual abuse in numbers
669,000 adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales every year
- 1 in 5 women (8m) in the UK have been sexually abused
- 1 in 6 men (5m) in the UK have been sexually abused
- 1 in 20 children in the UK have been sexually abused
Sexual abuse has been attributed to:
- 15% of all suicides in the UK
- 11% of all common mental health disorders in the UK
- 7% of alcohol dependence disorders
- 10% of drug dependence disorders
- 15% of eating disorders
- 17% of post-traumatic stress disorders
(Source: Safeline)
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