|
Complaints pour into BBC
after EastEnders screens gay kiss before the watershed
09 Oct 2008- London, England- The BBC has
been flooded with 145 complaints after screening a gay kiss on EastEnders before
the 9pm watershed.
The 'offensive' scenes were screened on
Tuesday's episode of the soap and showed Christian Clarke (John Partridge, 36)
and Lee Thompson (Carl Ferguson, 27) engage in a passionate kiss.
In a statement the BBC defended itself by
saying it was down to parents to decide whether the content of the show was
suitable for children to watch
But some viewers were left deeply unimpressed.
One viewer wrote on the BBC’s Points Of View
internet messageboard: 'I am appalled by the display of homosexual kissing
before the watershed shown on EastEnders.
'This is disgraceful whilst
young children are watching and sets the wrong example.'
Another, Pat, wrote: 'I had to explain to my seven-year-old son what was
happening.
'He now thinks he is gay because he kisses his dad.'
And another angry fan added: 'I think
pre-watershed standards have been irresponsibly lowered in recent years.'
Tuesday night's scenes saw
Christian and Lee caught in the act by busybody Dot Cotton as they kisses on
Arthur Fowler's memorial bench.
She tells them that she is as liberal as the
next person, but does not approve of canoodling in public places.
The latest outrage comes 21
years after EastEnders screened the first gay kiss in a British soap.
Back then, Colin Russell –
played by Michael Cashman, 57, who is now a Labour MEP – gave Barry Clark (Gary
Hailes, 42) a kiss on the forehead.
The move resulted in a record number of complaints and there were even questions
asked in Parliament about whether the scene was appropriate.
In a statement the BBC confirmed
it had received complaints - but refused to say how many.
The statement read: 'We approach
our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual
relationships.
'We believe that the general
tone and content of EastEnders is now widely recognised.
'Parents can make an informed decision as to
whether they want their children to |
