. The story followed schoolteacher Maya Stepney as she groomed her 15-year-old student (and stepson-to-be), Jacob Gallagher
ITVX is the official, free-to-air streaming service from ITV, the network that produces and broadcasts Emmerdale .
But to leave it at that is to miss the point entirely. Looking back at the full episode arc (from early 2019 to the dramatic 2020 court case), what Emmerdale actually delivered was a slow-burn, uncomfortable, and vital masterclass in grooming.
Leyla takes Maya to the woods to force a confession, leading viewers to believe Maya might have been killed.
A pivotal episode occurs on Jacob’s 15th birthday when Maya kisses him, officially crossing the line into criminal abuse and grooming.
For months, Maya manipulates Jacob into keeping their physical relationship a secret, gaslighting him into believing they are in a "forbidden romance" rather than an abusive dynamic.
Jacob shoves the phone under his pillow.
The plot reached its dramatic climax in the spring of 2019 during a special night-out episode. The truth was finally exposed to other villagers, leading to Maya's arrest and eventual imprisonment. The storyline was highly praised by charities for its realistic depiction of grooming and abuse, raising widespread public awareness. How to Watch Full Episodes of Emmerdale
: Liv Flaherty finally discovered the truth about the pair, leading to a massive confrontation during the "Big Night Out" episodes.
You can find older Emmerdale episodes and highlights on the ITVX Classic Emmerdale collection .