More than 150 people have complained to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over an episode of the ITV soap
Emmerdale has been hit with more than 150 complaints after grisly scenes saw Mackenzie Boyd apparently killed with an arrow.
The character – who is played by Lawrence Robb – came a cropper after going up against villain John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) in dramatic scenes in the instalment of the ITV soap that aired on August 21.
Fans tuning in at the time posted messages on X, calling it “brutal” and suggesting the soap had gone “too far”.
And now broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has confirmed that it has received 158 complaints about the episode.
John has been causing trouble in the Dales since his arrival in the village last year, and Mackenzie had worked out that he killed Nate Robinson.
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The killer refused to let Mack rumble him and ended up hunting him in the woods with a bow and arrow.
As Mack tried to flee, he was shot in the back, before John also whacked him with a heavy rock and left him for dead.
While some fans of the long-running soap were gripped by the action, other viewers were shocked by the scene and expressed their horror on social media.
“Oh, no, no, no,” one fan posted on X. “You’re going too far with the violence. It’s horrific! I will never watch this again. It’s supposed to be late evening entertainment when you come home from work and want something relaxing. You’ve ruined it!”
“Isn’t this a tad violent for early evening?” asked another.
Someone else admitted, “Genuinely don’t know if I can watch this episode. I love Mack, and for him to die in such a brutal way is too much.”
“@ofcom complaints incoming, and this time you take action,” remarked another.
“The writers have really crossed the line, bow and arrow after crossbow killings, not right,” said somebody else.
Emmerdale airs on ITV1.
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