Baby swap and infant death at christmas

[alan45]

MOTHERS have blasted EastEnders chiefs over a "hurtful" New Year cot death storyline.
Viewers will see Ronnie Branning find newborn son James' body, then SWAP it for Kat Moon's tot Tommy.

Samantha Womack, 38, who plays Ronnie, admits she has found it traumatic working on the pre-publicised scenes on the BBC1 soap.

But furious mums who have lost babies to cot death - known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - say the plot is "ridiculous".

Ailsa Hichens, 38, who lost her nine-month-old daughter Martha last New Year's Eve, said: "This 'twist' is ludicrous - and hurtful.

"People who watch it could look at mothers who have lost a child and think that they would snatch their baby. It's distressing."

Facebook groups have been set up to protest at the storyline.

On one, Julie Ann Harris says it will "undoubtedly upset parents and families who have suffered this loss".

EastEnders bosses decided to cut some traumatic scenes after a preview screening of the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day episodes.

They have also toned down Kat's baby's cries, which attract Ronnie's attention as she holds her son's body.


An EastEnders insider said: "Bosses are keen to assure viewers that they're not portraying Ronnie's behaviour as typical of bereaved mothers.

"Regular viewers know she's lost two children before this tragedy with James. She acts in a state of grief and shock."

[Dutchgirl]

I know I'll cry. It will be hurtful but knowing EE they will handle things with care.They never shy away from dramatic turns. If you cannot handle it you shouldn't watch it. It is heavily publisized so everyone knows when it is airing.

[alan45]

EastEnders' hard-hitting baby swap storyline has sparked more than 3,000 complaints to the BBC, it has been confirmed today.

In episodes which aired on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, viewers saw new mum Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) discover that her newborn son had fallen victim to cot death, before desperately swapping the child with Kat Moon's (Jessie Wallace) baby in her grief-stricken state.

This afternoon, the BBC confirmed that complaints over the plotline have now topped 3,400. The total includes all of the complaints which have been received since the tragic story was first announced in November.

In a statement released today, EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood commented: "We appreciate this is a challenging storyline and have taken care to ensure viewers were aware of the content in advance of transmission.

"We also provided actionline numbers at the end of each show, offering advice and support to those affected by the issues."

While devising the storyline, the EastEnders team worked closely with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) with the aim of providing a sensitive portrayal of the issue of cot death.

Show bosses also took the decision to make a number of small last-minute changes to the episodes in question to avoid upsetting viewers.

DS

[Jakes_stuff]

EastEnders' hard-hitting baby swap storyline has sparked more than 3,000 complaints to the BBC, it has been confirmed today.

In episodes which aired on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, viewers saw new mum Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) discover that her newborn son had fallen victim to cot death, before desperately swapping the child with Kat Moon's (Jessie Wallace) baby in her grief-stricken state.

This afternoon, the BBC confirmed that complaints over the plotline have now topped 3,400. The total includes all of the complaints which have been received since the tragic story was first announced in November.

In a statement released today, EastEnders' executive producer Bryan Kirkwood commented: "We appreciate this is a challenging storyline and have taken care to ensure viewers were aware of the content in advance of transmission.

"We also provided actionline numbers at the end of each show, offering advice and support to those affected by the issues."

While devising the storyline, the EastEnders team worked closely with the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) with the aim of providing a sensitive portrayal of the issue of cot death.

Show bosses also took the decision to make a number of small last-minute changes to the episodes in question to avoid upsetting viewers.
DS

Do we know what was in the scenes removed?

[moonstorm]

I think it was a shot a the baby's hand.

[lizann]

EastEnders actress Samantha Womack has insisted that Ronnie Branning did not premeditate swapping her dead baby with Kat and Alfie Moon's.

Over 3,400 viewers have complained about the plot which has seen Ronnie take Tommy Moon from The Queen Vic following the tragic death of her newborn son James. However, speaking to Soaplife Womack said that Ronnie was attracted to the pub by the sound of the child crying and had not gone there with the intention of carrying out her actions.

"It wasn't premeditated," she said. "She was in a panic. It was the most raw you have ever seen her. She heard a baby crying and in her mind she couldn't differentiate fact from fiction. She didn't know what she was doing when she took Kat's baby Tommy."

Womack stated that Ronnie "was" going to return the baby shortly after realising what she had done, adding: "But then Jack came home and he was so happy to meet his son. Ronnie couldn't do it. But she knows at some point she's going to have to do the right thing and give the baby back."

[lizann]

The New Year baby-swap storyline on ‘EastEnders’ has caused controversy, with the BBC accused of using misery to try and grab ratings.

The episodes, which were watched by over 10 million viewers, saw Ronnie Branning lose her son James to cot death and then, in a fit of grief, switch the body with that of Kat Moon’s son Tommy. The harrowing story has seen many viewers complain to the BBC.

The Daily Mirror TV critic Kevin O’Sullivan called the plot “trashy and insensitive.”

Criticism on Twitter is aimed more at the baby swap rather than the death itself.

“I could handle the cot death but the swapping of babies is a horrible storyline,” wrote flossy30.

“Cot death is a difficult subject alone, but to add the switch is bizarre, hard viewing,” wrote Andilou70.

“Horrendous,” wrote AMP2210. “Fair enough, do a cot death story, but to swap a dead baby for an live one is just sick.”

But there were people willing to defend the soap.

“People are complaining that the ‘EastEnders’ cot death/baby snatch storyline makes all mums look bad,” wrote Poppy The Cat. “No it doesn't! And it has happened.”

“’EastEnders’ deserves an award for the Kat and Ronnie baby storyline. It's raising awareness of cot death,” wrote Stuart North19.

The BBC released the following statement about the episode.

“‘EastEnders’ is a drama which explores many difficult issues and inevitably these do sometimes touch a nerve with some sections of the audience. We have sought guidance and advice from the FSID (The Foundation for the Study of Infant Death), as well as speaking to parents who themselves have lost babies through cot death, to ensure that our portrayal is as sensitive and realistic as possible.”

However the FSID has distanced itself from the storyline, releasing a statement reading:

“FSID has received several complaints and comments from bereaved parents about the ‘baby-swap’ story on ‘Eastenders’.

“We are very sorry to know of the very natural distress caused by this plotline but would like to stress that our involvement was limited to advice on SIDS risk factors, bereavement and the involvement of health professionals and the police.

“FSID had no involvement in the planning or adoption of the 'baby-swap' plotline. The behaviour and actions of Ronnie Mitchell are in no way 'endorsed' by FSID as a typical, or even likely, reaction of a bereaved parent. “

[Dutchgirl]

I'm most shocked by the lack of after care. Do newborn babies not get checked daily? In the Netherlands you have a person coming in for ten days to check moms and babies health. They even do some household chores. (I am aware we haven the most infant deads in Europe due to home births but even so)

[matt1378]

This story is guaranteed till drag on till at least easter

[tammyy2j]

The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) has insisted that the organisation had "no involvement" in the baby swap element of EastEnders' ongoing Ronnie Mitchell storyline.

When the plot was revealed in November, it was confirmed that the BBC soap had worked closely with the foundation on the cot death aspect of the storyline.

However, in a new statement, the charity stated that it "in no way" endorsed Ronnie Mitchell's actions.

"FSID has received several complaints and comments from bereaved parents about the baby-swap story on EastEnders," a statement said. "We are very sorry to know of the very natural distress caused by this plotline but would like to stress that our involvement was limited to advice on SIDS risk factors, bereavement and the involvement of health professionals and the police."

It continued: "We primarily advised on the likely emotional reaction of the Moon family to the sudden and unexpected death of their baby."

The group commented that they were responding due to the press "continuing" to suggest that they had been involved in the overall plot.

"FSID had no involvement in the planning or adoption of the specific baby-swap plotline," it added. "The behaviour and actions of Ronnie Mitchell are in no way endorsed by FSID as a typical, or even likely, reaction of a bereaved parent."

It was today confirmed that Samantha Womack has quit the soap, amid rumours that her decision was prompted by the storyline.