There’s an important abortion storyline coming up in Emmerdale tonight

Topical.

Emmerdale is not the first soap to run an abortion storyline and it certainly won't be the last. In the past, whenever terminations were portrayed on screen, they weren't really portrayed on screen. At least, not accurately. There was a shock pregnancy, an attempt to hide said pregnancy, an argument, a lot of tears, a secret abortion hidden from almost everybody, and the whole incident was conveniently never spoken of again. Essentially, having an abortion was portrayed as scandalous - something to be ashamed of, hidden away, the last option when all other avenues were exhausted. Pop culture has come a long way since then. In recent years, we've had the likes of GLOW, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Obvious Child giving audiences realistic portrayals of what it's like to come to the decision to have a termination. It's not an easy decision to make, but it's one that every woman must come to herself based on what's best for her. In tonight's episode of Emmerdale, Chas Dingle needs to make that decision herself. After becoming pregnant with Paddy Kirk's baby, the pub landlord seems to have decided that she doesn't want to continue with the pregnancy. She informs Paddy that she has booked an appointment with her local clinic to consider what's best for her. Paddy takes the news as any supportive boyfriend who wants children should - with caution, but ultimately accepting that this is her choice to make. Even though he seems to be ready to start a family with her, he tells Chas that he'll support whatever she wants to do. “Doesn’t mean it’s easy. You know you don’t have to pretend it is," he says. While it's not yet clear what decision Chas will make, the choice is, at the end of the day, hers. Emmerdale continues tonight on ITV at 7.00pm.