Emmerdale sparks uproar over 'grim' April storyline as fans brand it 'sick'

Fans of Emmerdale were left feeling queasy on Thursday evening as they bashed a storyline for being too "grim". In gripping scenes, April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) was seen getting a stern warning from drug dealer Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) - and their confrontation left viewers' skin crawling.

Catching up with the youngster outside David's shop, April asked what Ray had done to Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) as the soap villain pulled her to one side and warned her that she needed to remember who she was talking to. He said to her: "Right now, Dylan should be the last thing on your mind. You have other things that need taking care of." Ray then creepily added: "I suggest that you go back and make yourself look pretty. We don't want to be disappointing the client, do we?" He then went on to warn that April might never see her boyfriend, Dylan, again unless she makes sure she was "on top of her game" before saying that a taxi would pick her up later to take her to the client's place. "Be ready," Ray sniped.

"Be the top of your game. You are running out of chances, April. You really don't want this to be the last one."

Later, April appeared with a face full of makeup as she ran into Ray's boss, Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths). The last time April met with a private client, she ran out of the room after the man made it clear that he was sexually attracted to her.

This time Celia warned the youngster that the situation could've impacted her reputation and the next time, April won't have any choice but to do as the man requests.

However, the storyline left fans feeling "sick" as they complained that it was "too grim". Taking to social media, one complained: "I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'd rather watch John Sugden than this storyline with April.It's hard to watch #emmerdale."

Another added: "#Emmerdale Can't watch this storyline, it's sick. I don't know what you're achieving with the drugs story. It seems pointless to me."

While a third said: "No! JUST NO! Why do they think we want to watch young girls being pimped out?#Emmerdale."

"God, this is proper grim #Emmerdale," one more fumed while someone else echoed: "This storyline is just grim. Vile to think this happens everyday in real life though. #Emmerdale."

Actor Mark Charnock, who plays April's dad Marlon, recently told press that the storyline will "get considerably worse before they get better".

Charnock said he couldn't reveal too much about the special instalment - but he did share that "there's a twist in it that will stagger the audience."

Expanding on the big moment, the actor added: "Something happens that when I read it, it shocked me so much that I thought, 'Oh god, I wish I'd known about it before I read it' because it really threw me, it's just a great twist of drama."