Emmerdale has faced backlash from viewers after airing a 'horrendous' sexual assault scene in Sunday night's episode, with many calling it the soap's darkest storyline yet. The plot involved longtime character Charity Dingle, played by Emma Atkins, being assaulted by Dr. Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker) after a confrontation over blackmail.
Fans took to social media to express their outrage, with one describing the scene as 'disturbing' and another saying they felt 'physically sick'. Some called for Ofcom to fine the show, while others said the actors should be 'ashamed' for taking part. The episode aired on 7 June.
This is not the first time Emmerdale has courted controversy with dark storylines. In 2020, Nurse Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) embarked on a killing spree, murdering multiple characters including Leanna Cavanagh and Andrea Tate. Her violent scenes left some viewers 'traumatised', and Ofcom received complaints over Ben Tucker's death.
Earlier, in 2013, Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) took hostages at The Woolpack after killing three people, including Gennie Walker, whom he suffocated after a car crash. More recently, a modern slavery plot involving Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) was criticised as 'too dark', though Richards defended it, noting that slavery 'is happening under our very own noses'.
