Emmerdale certainly aren’t giving Aaron Dingle an easy time in prison and as he tries to find a way to cope, is he set to make things even worse for himself?
Viewers have been in tears as Aaron has found himself the subject of homophobic attacks while he serves his time.
In a special episode tonight following a day in Aaron’s life in prison, we’ll see him really battling his demons.
When top dog Jason discovered Aaron was the son of Gordon Livesy, who was in the same prison for assaulting Aaron, and then found out Aaron was gay, things got really bad for the inmate.
After taunting Aaron over his relationship with his father – and hinting the attack was what made Aaron gay, the Dingle couldn’t contain his temper and lashed out, punching the skin-head.
That was a big mistake, because Jason returned with a whole gang of inmates to teach Aaron a lesson.
Following his severe beating, Aaron decided to keep it a secret from his husband, Robert and his family. But it’s clear to see he’s in an awful amount of pain.
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His cellmate, Ethan, can see Aaron’s struggling and offers him a solution – a joint.
At first, Aaron flatly refuses, determined not to get himself in any more trouble. He insists Ethan put the drugs away before anyone finds them.
But as Ethan insists it would really help with the physical and emotional troubles Aaron is having inside, and then another day from hell follows, Aaron is seriously tempted by the solution on offer.
When his sister Liv visits him in prison the following day, it’s clear Aaron’s spaced out and not with it at all – has he given into temptation? Surely the consequences of his drug taking will be huge?
There might be light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of the prison chaplain, Father Aidan, who notices how much Aaron is struggling.
But will the priest’s tough love approach get through to Aaron or make things even worse?
On the outside, both Liv and Robert are also finding things tough without Aaron.
Liv finds herself the subject of bullies over her brother’s incarceration and it’s Noah Dingle who she eventually opens up to about everything.
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Meanwhile, Robert has taken to sleeping on the sofa, unable to rest in his bed without Aaron by his side.
When he then sees graffiti written across The Mill, it’s clear how fragile he is. As he opens up to sister Victoria, can she help him?
It’s not going to be an easy year for any of them, but let’s just hope Aaron gets out on good behaviour before too long – although could his drug-taking put paid to that idea?