Emmerdale rape tragedy to affect Dingles forever

Emmerdale's Lisa Dingle will be affected by her brutal rape for many months to come.

The factory worker - who was sexually assualted by evil colleague Derek Benrose when the pair worked overtime together - will struggle to come to terms with the fact that she won't see justice done to her attacker, which will "seriously" affect both her and husband Zak (Steve Halliwell).

Steve November, executive producer of the ITV1 soap, explained: "I think we always hope that our characters are a product of everything that's ever happened to them - Lisa (Jane Cox) will never forget this, so we never want to forget that she's been through this experience.

"Obviously she will live and grow beyond it and have a happy life beyond it, but it will affect both her and Zak quite seriously in the immediate future - over the next few months. It's going to take them a while to make this part of their lives and learn to live beyond it."

Despite the difficult nature of the harrowing storyline, Steve admitted the 'Emmerdale' team have been "delighted" with the response the plot has evoked among viewers.

Speaking to Digital Spy, he added: "It's been everything we'd hoped for and more, because you can plan the stories, write the scripts and know exactly what you want to do, but it only ever comes alive with the actors and directors.

"I think that Jane Cox has been absolutely outstanding. We always knew it was a good story, but we're still delighted by the way it's come to screen, the work that's been done and the way that people have reacted to it."