A PARALYSED character in Emmerdale is to die in a controversial assisted suicide storyline, The Sun can reveal.
Jackson Walsh's mother and his lover crush a lethal dose of tablets in a drink.

The ITV1 soap, watched by eight million viewers, was slammed last night by campaign groups who fear the producers are using the plot just to "chase ratings".

Jackson, played by Mark Silcock, 22, was injured in a road smash last year. He will ask boyfriend Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) and mum Hazel (Pauline Quirke) to help end his life.

An Emmerdale insider last night said: "Jackson will start discussing plans to end his life in the next few weeks.


"His resolve to see it through will strengthen, which will lead to many rows and emotional scenes.
"Throughout the plot, there will be a phone number on screen for a helpline for anyone affected."

Industry watchdog Mediawatch-UK slammed the storyline. Spokesman David Turtle said: "Emmerdale has been trying to push the boundaries for some time just to boost ratings. It's a soap, not a serious discussion about a serious topic."

Alistair Thompson, of the Care Not Killing Alliance, said: "I hope this is done for the right reason and not to chase ratings."

In 2000 EastEnders character Ethel Skinner took morphine pills, aided by friend Dot Cotton.

Assisting a suicide can lead to 14 years' jail.

An Emmerdale spokeswoman said last night: "We do not confirm or deny speculation about future storylines."