EastEnders announces harrowing sexual assault storyline in double-length episode as Pastor Clayton’s evil past exposed
EASTENDERS has announced that Yolande Trueman will be involved in a harrowing sexual assault storylines.
Yolande (Angela Wynter) returned to EastEnders last summer and has since become close friends with Pastor Clayton (Howard Saddler).
However, last week, things took a shocking turn when the pastor sexually harassed Yolande.
As the pair celebrated Yolande’s idea to buy a van to make a mobile soup kitchen, Pastor Clayton pulled Yolande in for a hug and made an unwanted sexual advance, sliding his hands down her body.
It’s clear Yolande was uncomfortable afterward, but she attempted to ignore it. Sadly, Pastor Clayton then made another move, touching Yolande’s leg inappropriately in their next meeting.
It seems the soap plans to continue this storyline, which will culminate in a harrowing sexual assault.
EastEnders is working with charities End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass on the storyline.
Few details of have been released yet, but as the storyline progresses, Yolande will struggle to come to terms with being assaulted by a man whom she believed she could trust as it impacts all aspects of her life, including her relationship with Patrick (Rudolph Walker).
The scenes will air in an hour-long special episode on Wednesday 17th April and will also include flashback accounts of women who have previously been sexually assaulted by Pastor Clayton as it becomes clear that this is not his first offence.
EastEnders has worked closely with experts in the field to ensure this story is portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.
Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer of EastEnders, said of the storyline: “This is an important story that we hope will raise awareness of how women at any age can be groomed by someone in a position of power.
“It was vital for us to work alongside End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass to truthfully present and sensitively portray Yolande’s sexual assault storyline.”
How you can get help:
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Andrea Simon, Director of End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the organisation was “proud” to work with EastEnders on “this important storyline.
Andrea added: “Sexual assault happens to women of all ages and backgrounds, but many find they aren’t believed or taken seriously. Older women, black women and others who are marginalised are at the sharp end of this, with huge consequences for their access to justice and support.
“TV shows can play a huge role in shifting attitudes across society. We hope this storyline helps dispel myths and stereotypes about what victims and survivors look like and how perpetrators behave, and ultimately increases understanding of sexual assault.”
Meanwhile, Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Director of Policy at Hourglass, a charity that works to prevent the abuse of older people, called this a “landmark” moment in TV history.
“EastEnders, shaping a storyline around the too-often hidden nightmare of sexual abuse of older people, finally brings this issue out of the shadows and into public consciousness. We hope this will start an important conversation in many households across the UK,” Veronica said.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.