The award-winning BBC One soap EastEnders has been keeping the nation entertained since 1985.
Across three decades we’ve grown to know and love the residents of Albert Square past and present from Ian Beale and Kat Slater to the late Peggy Mitchell and Dot Cotton.
Although they provide some light-hearted entertainment, the soap also covers a range of sensitive topics from sexual abuse, bullying, eating disorders, racism and homophobia.
However, not every single storyline has been well-received by viewers at home and some have even resulted in getting thousands of complaints.
We’re taking a look back at some of EastEnders’ most complained about storylines and episodes.
Baby swap
One of the most controversial storylines that EastEnders has ever had was in 2011.
The plot saw the character Ronnie Branning swap her baby, who sadly died, for the newborn son of Kat Moon.
After watching the story unfold, viewers quickly rushed to Ofcom and the soap was hit was 13,400 complaints.
This was one of the show’s most complained about plots across its entire history as many slammed the “distressing” scenes.
People said that the scenes were an “inaccurate, insensitive and sensationalised portrayal” of cot death.
However, Ofcom said the soap was not in breach of the rules when you considered the full context of the four-month storyline.
In the end, the plot concluded when the baby was given back to his birth mother and Ronnie was put in prison for child abduction.
Covid vaccine
An anti-vaccination row in EastEnders recently became the most complained about moment on the soap in 10 years.
During an episode, which aired on March 22, viewers saw a conversation take place between Patrick Trueman, Suki Panesar and Karen Taylor.
After Patrick revealed he had his second Covid vaccination, Suki replied she was due to get hers and referred to it as a “superpower” before saying the jab could make her “that bit more invincible”.
However, Karen Taylor then proudly announced she was an anti-vaxxer as she chimed in saying: “You must admit, they pushed it through too quick. Lab rats that’s what we are. I’m not having any of that rubbish pumped into me.”
The character then added: “Who knows what it’s going to do to us in five, 10 years time.”
After the episode aired, the soap was hit was 684 complaints from people watching as they felt the storyline was “inappropriate and biased” against people who didn’t or couldn’t get the vaccine.
EastEnders swearing
Back in 2017, Sharon Mitchell caused quite the stir with people watching the soap over her language in an episode.
The complaints came after she swore in the show before the 9pm watershed at her husband Phil.
After discovering he had got Denise Fox pregnant, Sharon called him a “b***ard” in anger.
This wasn’t the only word viewers were left shocked by as throughout the episode we also heard the characters say “a**e and s****ing.”
Sharon’s use of words resulted in the soap getting 116 complaints about “offensive language”
Jack Branning torture
At the end of 2019, Phil Mitchell decided to take action on Jack Branning when he thought he had been sleeping with his wife Sharon.
During the episode, Phil had his rival kidnapped and taken to the Arches where he was then tortured.
Airing at 7:30pm, viewers saw Jack covered in blood, doused in petrol and even threatened with a gun by Phil during his furious rampage.
The shocking scenes resulted in nearly 200 complaints from people as the gory and violent scenes took place before the watershed time of 9pm.
However, the BBC insisted: “EastEnders has a long established relationship with its audience who have come to expect dramatic moments such as these.”
Rabbit cruelty
One of the most recent episodes which sparked 267 complaints was in June 2022 and featured the character Isaac Baptiste buying a pet rabbit for Martin Fowler’s son Arthur.
The show caused an uproar with viewers amid accusations of “rabbit cruelty”.
Martin made a joke that if Arthur didn’t like the rabbit it would “make a lovely stew”, although the joke didn’t land with viewers.
It wasn’t only fans of the show complaining but The Rabbit and Welfare Association Fund even urged people to contact the broadcaster over the storyline.
Taking to their Facebook page, they wrote: “We are getting complaints about the EastEnders storyline featuring a rabbit.
“This is from one of them which sums it up perfectly and we can’t put it any better ourselves.”
I watched EastEnders in dismay last night. For no particular reason, one of the characters who is a teacher bought a single rabbit as a surprise pet for a child who had not even expressed an interest in getting a rabbit.
“The dialogue in the show went on to say that if the child did not want the rabbit, then it could at least be good for eating.”
“Are we happy with this messaging the BBC is now sharing with millions of viewers? Surely all the work of the RWAF is in vain if the BBC is sharing exactly the opposite welfare message but with much greater public access.”
Grooming
Another storyline in EastEnders which attracted over 200 complaints was surrounding a paedophile grooming his 15-year-old stepdaughter.
The plot surrounded Bianca Jackson’s stepdaughter Whitney Dean getting involved romantically with her stepfather Tony King.
After spending a year in prison, Tony returned to Albert Square and was seen passionately kissing the underage girl.
In another scene, people watching saw him sneak into her bedroom when Bianca was in the bath.
When it aired, a peak audience of 8 million viewers watched the pre-watershed show.
Defending the plot, the BBC said that the storyline had been created in association with the NSPCC and was in accordance with its editorial policy.
A BBC spokesman said: “EastEnders has a rich heritage of tackling difficult social issues such as domestic violence and mental health.
“Our current storyline about child abuse is another such issue which had been created in association with the NSPCC and in accordance with BBC editorial policy.”
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
