Emmerdale actor Paul McEwan, who plays bad-cop Shane Doyle, has told The People newspaper that he’s warned his mum that she may be shocked by a forthcoming scene in which Shane tries to rape Jasmine Thomas.

“When I read what my character was going to get up to, the first thing I did was call my mum to warn her,” he told the newspaper.

“I knew she’d get upset. She’s an avid Emmerdale watcher and I thought I had better tell her what was going to happen. It must be hard for a mother to watch something so deeply unpleasant.”

He also said that many of the cast and crew found shooting the scenes disturbing.

“The female camera operators and other crew were uncomfortable during filming. I don’t think anyone will feel comfortable watching it,” he said.

The rape scene will be the start of one of Emmerdale’s major plotlines throughout Christmas and into the New Year.