Emmerdale slapped with Ofcom complaints after airing 'distressing' episode

Emmerdale viewers have issued complaints to the television watchdogOfcom after a "harrowing" episode about April Windsor (played by Amelia Flanagan) aired on Friday evening. During the special instalment, teenager April was part of a tragic trafficking plot and almost prostituted herself to an older man as part of an ongoing countylines plot.

It comes as Celia Anderson (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) have been leading April down an incredible dark path - and it looks like no one will be able to save the youngster. April has been dealing drugs for months and has landed herself in masses of debt on the ITV soap. Fans were torn after the episode - many praised, but others turned off. One wrote: "This is dire, I'm switching off #emmerdale." Another penned: "Tonight's episode was very good. Everyone did an amazing job!!"

A third wrote: "That scene right about the break was incredibly distressing. Well done, April, for getting away."

Someone else wrote: "I just had a chance to watch Friday's episode. I have to say I found it very disturbing and way outside of the usual Emmerdale type episode. I know things like this need to be highlighted, but this was over the top, in my opinion, for a 7:30 p.m. show."

Another wrote, " I think I may stop watching Emmerdale as I found this evening very disturbing for April. When will it end? Nothing has changed for young women in 20 years."

Releasing its latest figures, a spokesperson for Ofcom told express.co.uk the complaints "related to the April Windsor storyline appearing pre-watershed". The episode, as usual, aired at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.

A total of 62 complaints were lodged with the watchdog about the instalment.

After the episode was broadcast, the Emmerdale team shared a link viewers could click on for any support.

A spokesperson shared a clip from the instalment and wrote on X: "Will April find the strength to escape? Advice and support can be found at http://itv.com/advice."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.

If you have been affected by this story, you can **contact the Samaritans, call 116 123, email **jo@samaritans.org or visithttps://www.samaritans.org/