While some fans went to Ofcom to complain about an episode featuring violence against a child, others demanded for writers to be fired or for ITV to scrap the show completely

Emmerdale fans have taken official steps to complain about a recent wild storyline.

The ITV show aired a terrifying scene featuring a child on November 5, and viewers turned to Ofcom to make their thoughts known. In the scene, 15-year-old April (Amelia Falangan) was kidnapped by new mega-villain Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore), and taken to a rooftop.

Jade was going to extreme measures to get money from Ross, who’d been taking part in her underground boxing ring and was accused of stealing cash from the crime boss. Ross used to be in love with April’s mum Donna, and rushed to save her after Jade had one of her bulky minions dangle her from the roof while she begged for her life. In a heart breaking twist, it turned out that it was the very same roof where Donna committed suicide when April was just a few years old.

Evil Jade ignored young April’s pleas for her life, and fans said Emmerdale should be ‘ashamed’ of the intense scene
Fans were shocked by the intense scene featuring a child used as leverage in such a dangerous situation, and flocked to complain that the soap had gone too far. Ofcom received 61 complaints over the episode, according to the Daily Mail, with the regulator commenting: “Complainants objected to a storyline involving child abduction and violence.” Alongside complaining to Ofcom, many fans also raged against the episode on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Many viewers voiced how shocked and upset they were by the content of the show, and urged production to calm things down. Others were so angry that they went a step further, and demanded the episode’s writers be fired – or even for Emmerdale to be taken off air for good.

One person wrote: “#emmerdale tonight was a dark episode a bit much dangling a young girl where her Mam fell to her death Jade and her heavies need to go as do the writers,” with a second agreeing: “Give me strength…Emmerdale is turning into a horror show, what a vile episode with poor April”

Many others targeted the writers directly, with one exclaiming: “The scriptwriters have stooped to a new low with this April/Ross/Jade storyline….shocking!” A second viewer wrote: “Absolutely awful episode! Poor April, no screen time in ages then they do this to her! Emmerdale needs new writers now! The level of violence and threat is totally unacceptable,” and a third blasted: “Think this was really in bad taste to put April through this traumatic experience after what happened to her Mum. Shame on you writers for being so desperate.”

“Okay. Own up. Who is responsible for this jarring Jade storyline? Get rid quick! Chuffing awful,” another demanded. Other viewers hinted that Emmerdale itself needed a complete revamp. One person claimed: “Emmerdale should be ashamed this is child abuse poor April she be terrified for life now,” while another very extreme opinion read: “Watching Emmerdale and it is way out of line what they are doing to April. It’s far too early in the evening. It’s just getting violent all the time. Time it was taken off.”