Emmerdale viewers were left gripped during Tuesday night’s episode which delivered a devastating standalone story focusing on April, portrayed by Amelia Flanagan.
Viewers have followed the distress of Marlon (played by Mark Charnock) and Rhona (Zoe Henry), as they grapple with the disappearance of their family member.
The previous episode revealed that April had been located. In heart-wrenching scenes, April disclosed to a fellow young homeless individual her pregnancy, the very reason she felt unable to go back home.
“Why did I have to get pregnant? This baby has ruined my whole life,” she cried out. The boy’s attempt to confront the reality of the situation was met with anger from April who yelled, “I said shut up,” before leaving abruptly.
The episode concluded with the audience witnessing April give birth in a gym toilet, where she tearfully apologised to her stillborn child.
Online, fans reacted to April’s poignant tale, speculating on the identity of the baby’s father, reports Leeds Live.
Comments arose on a Facebook fan page, with one person asking, “April was pregnant before she ran away but who did she sleep with, do we know? ” Another hinted, “Could be Ross.”
One viewer reacted with surprise, saying, “That would be a shock,” while another expressed frustration at the lack of context, stating, “It annoys me they have come up with another storyline with no context. The only lad we see April knocking about with is Arthur.”
The question on everyone’s mind was, “So who is April pregnant by? ” with some speculating it could be Anthony. “That’s what I was thinking,” one fan agreed, while another echoed, “I think Anthony.”
Meanwhile, one viewer suggested, “I think it is someone in the village.”
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw highlighted the significance of April’s emotional episode, saying, “April’s flashback episode is a heartbreaking depiction of life on the street as a teenage girl.”
Laura emphasised the importance of authenticity, stating: “Continuing to take guidance from the fabulous team at Missing People, it was incredibly important that we didn’t shy away from the agonising journey that April would go through and their help was invaluable in making sure the episode has the authenticity required.”
The episode features an outstanding performance from Amelia Flanagan, making it one of Emmerdale’s standout episodes of the year, and marks the beginning of a new journey for April, forever changed by her experiences on the city streets.
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For anyone affected by the storyline, the Missing People helpline is available on 116 000, and more information can be found on their website at www.missingpeople.org.uk.
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