Carl Holliday (Charlie Joyce)

Nicola and Jimmy King will face a crisis on Emmerdale after their adoptive son, Carl Holliday, is taken into police custody following a devastating revelation.

The ITV soap will begin an issue-led storyline as Carl is interviewed by the police after an indecent image of Clemmie Reed is circulated. Upon questioning by the authorities, Carl admits to sharing the photo.

Nicola insists that Carl has learned his lesson, but the police inform the King family that they are taking the matter very seriously. Naturally, Nicola faces ire from Clemmie's family, with the rift growing by the day.

Clemmie, meanwhile, explains to Dawn why she sent the photo to Carl, with Dawn being racked by guilt as she listens to adoptive daughter. Dawn later attempts to talk with Nicola, but the conversation goes horribly.

Instead of listening to Dawn's concerns, Nicola immediately goes on the defensive and the conversation soon becomes an argument. Seeing Nicola's pain, Laurel tries to console her, but soon makes an admission as Nicola begins to spiral.

Nicola and Laurel agree that they don't have a lid on what their children view online, and they agree to work together to safeguard them in the future. Still, Nicola is worried about what it could mean for Carl.

Fresh from her heated exchange with Nicola, Dawn heads to the school and expresses her concern about the lack of support that has been made available to Clemmie. Joe soon makes a suggestion, though this brings more conflict to Dawn.

She opens up about her traumatic past to Joe, recounting how she was coerced into sex work and drug addiction. She also recalls how she met Clemmie's mother, and reinforces the vow that she made to protect her.

Speaking about the storyline, actor Olivia Bromley, who portrays Dawn, shared with Soap Scoop: "I was really shocked when I first read this storyline because the children who are involved in it are so young... It's a real problem."

She added: "I also think that [on] this side of the incident photographs, Dawn expected to have more time to be able to prepare her child for going out in the world. I think that's what's caught her off guard... I'm really glad we're doing this story."