Alicia Metcalfe in Emmerdale: traumatic sexual assault, family lies, and shooting drama
Alicia was a real fan favouriteAlicia Metcalfe was Leyla Harding’s sister, adoptive mum of Jacob Gallagher, who arrived in Emmerdale in dramatic fashion to have a screaming match with her sister at their mum’s funeral!
And to be quite honest, her time in the village didn’t get any quieter from then on.
But despite the drama, Alicia became a real fan fave over her years in the village. Viewers were hoping she’d return for Leyla’s funeral and to support bereaved Jacob but sadly that didn’t happen.
So we thought it was time for a reminder about who Alicia was and everything she got up to in her time in the village.
Alicia Metcalfe’s arrival
Alicia Gallagher as she was then came to the village with husband Justin and son Jacob, to warn Leyla to stay away from their mum’s funeral. Leyla didn’t listen, of course, and the sisters fell out BIG time.
A little while later, Alicia returned to the village after her marriage broke down. It was revealed that the problems between the sisters were because Alicia wasn’t Jacob’s biological mum – it was Leyla. Alicia had adopted her baby when she was struggling to conceive.
When Jacob overheard the sisters arguing, he ran away and during the time he was gone, Justin admitted that while Alicia wasn’t Jacob’s mum, he was in fact his dad. He and Leyla had a one-night stand and she’d got pregnant.
Alicia tried to stop Justin seeing Jacob but eventually relented.
Alicia Metcalfe and her Emmerdale romances
Alicia had a brief hook-up with Declan Macey then started a relationship with Andy Sugden.
But things fell apart when Andy and his ex Debbie Dingle decided to have a ‘saviour sibling’ for their daughter Sarah.
Alicia tried to be supportive when Debbie got pregnant, but when she discovered that Andy and Debbie had sex, she wasn’t impressed. The pair split.
Alicia moved back in with David Metcalfe and though he said they were just friends, she began to develop feelings for him.
And when Val gave David a piece of her mind, Alicia saw red on his behalf. She punched Val! With previous convictions, she was sent to jail.
Alicia Metcalfe’s return to the village
After a year Alicia came home and she was devastated to discover that David was now in a relationship with Priya.
Trying to ignore her feelings for David, Alicia began a romance with Dom Andrews. But during a siege at the Woolpack Alicia was shot by serial killer Cameron Murray.
David rushed to help and when Alicia was in hospital the pair admitted their feelings for one another.
They eventually tied the knot – on the same day as Leyla returned to the village. See what we mean about drama?
Telling Jacob the truth
When Priya discovered that Jacob was Leyla’s son, Alicia was worried he was going to reveal everything, so she told Jacob herself. Jacob was upset but eventually came to terms with the revelation.
Alicia Metcalfe and her sexual assault in Emmerdale
Creepy teen Lachlan White developed a bit of an obsession with Alicia and began to mistake her friendliness for something else. He sexually assaulted her and in the aftermath, Alicia had a breakdown.
Realising Alicia was struggling to cope, Paul Lambert asked her and David to join him in Portugal to run a bar. They agreed and together they left the village.
When Eric had a heart attack, they came home but after Val’s death, Alicia said she wanted to go back to Portugal. With David determined to stay in Emmerdale, Alicia left him behind and the pair divorced.
Who played Alicia?
Alicia was played by TV and musical theatre star Natalie Anderson.
Lord of the Flies viewers switch off and blame this ‘irritating’ problem in BBC show: ‘Spoiled the whole thing’
Developed by Adolescence's Jack Thorne, the series stars a fresh-faced cast as schoolboys who end up marooned on an uninhabited Pacific island after a plane crash.
Across four gruelling, thrilling episodes, we see the boys' doomed efforts to establish order, only for chaos and bloodshed to reign.
It's the best TV show of 2026 so far. Everything about the show's production – the cinematography, performances, and music – serves to enhance all of its complex emotions; fear, curiosity, and loneliness among them. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way.
[caption id="attachment_34684" align="alignnone" width="1720"]
What did you think of Lord of the Flies? (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Lord of the Flies viewers 'switch off' because of the music
The music (largely composed by The White Lotus' Cristobal Tapia de Veer, with a theme by Hans Zimmer and Kara Talve) is deliberately evocative, never passive.
It's a diverse composition, sometimes recalling bygone adventure serials and the feel of the '50s with Benjamin Britten's music. Other times, it's emphatic and almost overwhelming – and it's been a bit too much for some viewers.
"What’s with background music (& not always in the background) over absolutely everything now? Had to switch off Lord of the Flies as the music annoyed me so much. I do not need someone to fill the silence," one user wrote on X.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UNPmvcwfLc[/embed]
"Sorry, the BBC's Lord Of The Flies is proving to be a hot mess. Everything from unmotivated shots and cinematography to performances, casting, delivery, music score and tone," another, more critical viewer posted.
On Facebook, one user wrote: "The background music irritated me."
"The music was awful, jangly and distracting, I couldn't concentrate," another wrote.
Others have been more positive. "I couldn’t fault this production. Acting was superb as was the music which brought such atmosphere to the whole thing," one user commented.
"The music took me back in time and started to put me on edge," another shared. "The clever use of music… superb," a third added.
[caption id="attachment_34687" align="alignnone" width="1720"]
Have you been left traumatised? (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Lord of the Flies 'traumatises' people... again
William Golding's original novel was published in 1954. People have been reading it – and feeling traumatised by it – for over 70 years. With the BBC series, it's happening again.
However, some people have been so affected by the book that they can't face the TV show.
"The book traumatised me when I read it school (as the topic is supposed to) so no I can’t watch the series on TV," one wrote.
"A strange choice for a Sunday evening. I watched half of the first episode... but then got anxious and switched over as the book really traumatised me when I was young," another commented.
Those who've watched the series (every episode is on iPlayer) have reported similar feelings, albeit with more praise.
"Loved it! Forced me to reread the book. Some of the changes/additions were phenomenal," one wrote, while another commented: "It is brutal! It is meant to shock! This is why so many schools studied it. It’s about human behaviour and there is a meaning behind it all."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q9SQ7hTMdg[/embed]
Lord of the Flies is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
Read more: Complete guide to the Emmerdale cast 2025
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3.
Are you shocked about Emmerdale Jay Kontzle life? Follow our Facebook page @EmmerdaleInsider for the latest Emmerdale spoilers, news and gossip. Or find us on Twitter @EmmerdaleInside. Let us know your thoughts!
