Daily Mail 9th October 2008
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.
Christian Clarke (John Partridge ) and Lee Thompson (Carl Ferguson ) engage in a passionate kiss. The scene was screen before the 9pm watershed
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.'
Caught in the act: Dot catches the couple canoodling
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.
EastEnders past: Michael Cashman
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 watch.'
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