Emmerdale fans have issued complaints after a 'difficult watch' episode that featured a sexual assault storyline. Viewers tuned in to the ITV soap on Sunday evening, which replaced Friday's cancelled episode due to football coverage. Charity Dingle, played by Emma Atkins, became the victim of a 'horrendous' sexual assault that left many viewers struggling to watch.
Charity's Ordeal
The Woolpack landlady has become entangled with the manipulative Dr Caitlin Todd, portrayed by Caroline Harker, who is aware of the secrets surrounding baby Leyla. Charity gave birth in April, claiming to be a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah Sugden and her husband Jacob. However, the truth is that Charity slept with Ross Barton and became pregnant, and Sarah and Jacob remain unaware that the baby is not biologically theirs.
Dr Todd, who previously bullied student nurse Jacob before retiring from Hotten General, discovered the truth and has been blackmailing Charity for money. In the latest episode, Dr Todd visited Charity and noticed she had been drinking but continued to demand payment. Dr Todd remarked, 'Gosh. Very few women can carry off that mad drunk thing, but you? Actually quite sexy! I want my money now.'
After a brief trip to the Woolpack, the pair returned home, and Todd leaned in to kiss Charity. Charity rejected her and laughed drunkenly, calling her a 'desperate, pathetic witch.' When Charity fell asleep on the sofa, Todd looked over her and said, 'Wake up. Drunk, disgusting w****! One too many? Bad, bad girl. You should know better... than to lose control.' Todd then climbed on top of Charity as she slept, and Charity awoke in horror, begging her to stop. Charity sat up, and Todd simply got up, collected her belongings, and left.
Viewer Reactions
Viewers took to social media to react to the shocking scene. On X, one user said, 'The SA scene in #Emmerdale is horrendous, please take care of yourselves, very difficult watch. Charity [crying emoji]. I can't post the clip it's so disturbing.' Another wrote, 'Did #emmerdale have a warning for tonight's episode? They should have done because that was grim.' A third added, 'I can't watch, I think the writers have gone too far,' while a fourth commented, 'I didn't see the warning. I'm physically ill.'
However, others praised the soap for tackling the sensitive subject. One viewer wrote, 'Tonight's #Emmerdale is an extremely difficult watch but it was handled absolutely perfectly. Amazing performances from Emma Atkins and Caroline Harker and the directing of the end scene by Yvonne Wells and Haley Muraleedharan was outstanding. Please take care when watching.' Another added, 'This storyline WILL help so many people. It doesn't matter the gender, SA happens. Let's open that conversation and get victims justice.'
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
