Emmerdale viewers were left in shock after brutal scenes showing the violent rape of Victoria Sugden in last night’s episode
Airing at 7pm, many fans were quick to point out that the scenes were too graphic for a pre-watershed (9pm) programme.
It comes after we reported on Emmerdale's controversial decision to cast an actor previously convicted of supplying date rape drug GBH and perverting the course of justice.
Wednesday night’s programme ended with Victoria being attacked by a man named Lee, who she’d met on the night out in Hotten and who’d stepped in after another man wouldn’t take Victoria’s “no” for an answer.
After losing her friends and brother, Lee walked Victoria home and manipulated his way into her house, before turning nasty and forcing sex on her after she asked him to leave.
CHECK OUT Emmerdale spoilers: Lisa Dingle reveals heartbreaking truth behind her return
Emmerdale spoilers: week 20 SLIDER
Emmerdale spoilers
When Belle hears that Lisa and Zak are returning to the village, she excitedly begins planning a welcome home party.r
Emmerdale spoilers
Zak and Lisa are overwhelmed with all the attention from their friends and family. . .
Emmerdale spoilers
. . . but despite the high spirits and big smiles, Zak and Lisa begin to feel the pressure to reveal the real reason they are home.
Emmerdale spoilers
As Charity begins to get upset, Lisa steels herself to tell Belle exactly why they're back – Lisa is dying.
Emmerdale spoilers
Belle is heartbroken, especially when she realises that Charity knew about Lisa's illness all along and had kept the truth from her.
Emmerdale spoilers
But Lisa tells Belle not to waste her emotions. Will Belle forgive Charity on focus on enjoying the time Lisa has left as a family?
Emmerdale spoilers
Later on, Lisa confides in Zak about how scared she is about dying, and how everyone will cope when she's gone.
Emmerdale spoilers
Zak tries his best to comfort her, even though he's scared too. Struggling to cope himself, Zak goes missing – will he return before it's too late?
Emmerdale spoilers
Meanwhile, Dawn is shocked when she comes across serviced leaflets made by Will, to "celebrate Harriet's life".
Emmerdale spoilers
She's horrified by the lengths he's gone to to get revenge on Harriet, and worries about what he's capable of.
Emmerdale spoilers
Steeling herself for a confrontation, the next day Dawn follows Will to Woodbine to ask him about the leaflets.
Emmerdale spoilers
A scuffle ensues and Will pushes Dawn and she falls over knocking her head on the coffee table and falling unconscious.
Emmerdale spoilers
When Dawn arrives to find an injured Dawn she is furious, and vows to track down Will.
Emmerdale spoilers
Arriving at the church, Harriet is horrified when she finds it set up for her own funeral, including the service leaflets Will made.
Emmerdale spoilers
Unnoticed by Harriet, Will has entered the church himself and watches her menacingly from the entry way.
Emmerdale spoilers
Facing each other for the first time, things quickly turn sinister when Will quickly overpowers Harriet and begins crushing her with the coffin.
Emmerdale spoilers
Will he stop himself before it's too late? And if not – Can Dawn get to the church to save Harriet herself?
Emmerdale spoilers
With Maya and Jacob's affair finally out in the open Leyla and David vow to be extra protective of the teenager, leaving Jacob feeling smothered.
Emmerdale spoilers
When they found out that Jacob as missed a GCSE exam Leyla demands that David go to the police, but David refuses.
Emmerdale spoilers
Bumping into Pollard in the street, Megan is overcome with guilt when she sees him struggling to walk with a zimmer frame.
Emmerdale spoilers
Deciding that she wants to come clean about the accident, how will Megan explain that she was on the phone when they crashed?
The scenes left little to the imagination and viewers took to Twitter to express their concerns about such a violent storyline airing so early in the evening.
“#Emmerdale very early for this kind of thing,” wrote one commenter. “Yes I know there is no time limit on this in real life but still there is kids watching”.
Another wrote, “Bit early for rape isn’t it? What happened to the nanny state? Not suitable pre-watershed in my opinion #Emmerdale”.
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“Wrong time for such graphic scenes. #emmerdale,” said a third, and another added, “this is honestly f*cking disgusting #Emmerdale".
The past few weeks on Emmerdale have seen some explosive storylines, with Ellis Chapman hospitalized after getting stabbed, Rhona Goskirk cheating on Pete Barton and Maya Stepney’s sordid grooming of Jacob Gallagher finally exposed.
The Big Night Out saga strayed from writers’ usual linear approach by airing over two weeks, and using flashbacks to tell the stories of the villagers from the night out.
"No-one will be quite sure of what exactly has happened,” said a show insider. “Then two weeks later Emmerdale will air a collection of flashback episodes which will take the audience back to that night and finally reveal what really happened and why lives will be changed forever.
"In some of Emmerdale's most gripping episodes ever, it will all become clear."