Emmerdale hit with complaints over ‘distressing’ April Windsor scenes

Emmerdale fans have been left ‘distressed’ and ‘disturbed’ by a new storyline involving April Windsor

Emmerdale viewers have lodged complaints with the television watchdog Ofcom following a “harrowing” episode featuring April Windsor (portrayed by Amelia Flanagan) that aired on Friday evening.

The special instalment saw teenager April embroiled in a tragic trafficking plot, nearly prostituting herself to an older man as part of an ongoing county lines storyline.

This comes as characters Celia Anderson (played by Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) have been leading April down an incredibly dark path – and it appears no one will be able to rescue the young girl. April has been involved in drug dealing for months and has found herself in significant debt on the ITV soap.

Viewers were divided after the episode – while many praised it, others switched off. One viewer commented: “This is dire, I’m switching off #emmerdale.”

Another wrote: “Tonight’s episode was very good. Everyone did an amazing job!!”

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A third viewer noted: “That scene right about the break was incredibly distressing. Well done, April, for getting away.”

Another viewer shared: “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.”

Yet another viewer expressed, “I think I may stop watching Emmerdale as I found this evening very disturbing for April. When will it end?”

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, reports the Express.

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 broadcasts on weeknight evenings at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.