Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden, who plays David Metcalfe on the ITV soap, has revealed characters will “struggle” following Jacob and Maya being exposed.
The soap has been covering a grooming storyline, with teenager Jacob, David’s stepson, having been groomed by his stepmother and teacher Maya Stepney for the past few months.
Maya manipulated Jacob into believing they were in love, all the while dating his father David. It was all revealed in dramatic scenes recently, with Maya now having been arrested after being set up while on the run with Jacob.
She vowed to keep her claws in him, telling David that when she got out they were gonna run away together as planned.
Jacob turned on his dad, with things set to become strained as the teen, 16, blames his dad for losing Maya.
Speaking on Lorraine on Wednesday, Matthew explained how the storyline would now delve into Jacob and David’s struggles to come to terms with what has happened.
The soap will also focus on Jacob’s loved ones attempting to make him understand that he has been groomed by Maya.
He told host Lorraine Kelly of how the father and son will get through recent events: “I don’t know, I really don’t know. Part of the problem, these children are groomed and they believe that they are in love.
“They’ve been made to believe that they’re in love with this person, and how you turn their mind in the opposite way and get them to understood that it is grooming, it is sexual abuse.”
Matthew went on to explain the plot would continue as a “long process”, amid recent spoilers teasing David would head down a “dark” path.
He explained: “I think it is gonna be a long progress and we’re gonna show Jacob’s struggle with that, and David’s struggle with that. David is gonna blame himself for letting that woman who he brought into their house do this to his stepson. Absolute guilt.”
Matthew recently confirmed the character would face “really dark times” as his relationship with Jacob remains strained.
The guilt will become too much for him, with him set to “lose the plot” leading to Jacob moving in with his grandad Eric Pollard.
Emmerdale continues weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.
