Ministers 'urge safer sex in soaps'

[Perdita]

Government ministers have reportedly called for TV bosses to agree to a deal that will monitor sex scenes in the UK's biggest soaps.

According to The People, they are unsatisfied with a recent study showing that only 3 incidents out of a possible 102 featured on-screen couples using condoms during love-making.

Adamant that soap stars can promote contraception through their characters, public health minister Gillian Merron said: "Responsible portrayals of sex and contraception are important. It's not for us to say what happens on TV but we can have conversations with broadcasters to help them have a more positive impact."

Talks are believed to already be underway, with some producers keen to sign up to the agreement.

Hollyoaks producer Paul Marquess said: "The show offers a great platform to promote good sexual health and we take the importance of reminding viewers about safe-sex very seriously."

Researchers compiled the results from 350 episodes of soaps most popular with 16 to 24-year-olds, such as Emmerdale and Casualty. Their findings showed only 7 per cent of love-scenes mentioned safe-sex, while 99 scenes of unsafe sex led to just 9 characters regretting it later.

Simon Blake, a spokesperson for youth advice charity Brook, said: "What young adults see on TV can help them develop a healthy understanding towards sex."

[alan45]

Government ministers have reportedly called for TV bosses to agree to a deal that will monitor sex scenes in the UK's biggest soaps.

Their findings showed only 7 per cent of love-scenes mentioned safe-sex, while 99 scenes of unsafe sex led to just 9 characters regretting it later.

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Not to mention incest and rape which has been a recent theme in EE. Very responsible bearing in mind the age group of its core audience

[Dazzle]

Not to mention incest and rape which has been a recent theme in EE. Very responsible bearing in mind the age group of its core audience

Surely bringing these issues out into the open is the very thing that's needed. It's the secrecy, and the shame that the victims feel, that allow these crimes to be committed and the perpetrators to get away with them.

If Ronnie's recent revelation causes someone to speak out and say that it's happened to them too, then that is a very good thing indeed.

The peodophile storyline with Tony and Whitney certainly caused some people to come forward.

[alan45]

Surely bringing these issues out into the open is the very thing that's needed. It's the secrecy, and the shame that the victims feel, that allow these crimes to be committed and the perpetrators to get away with them.

If Ronnie's recent revelation causes someone to speak out and say that it's happened to them too, then that is a very good thing indeed.

The peodophile storyline with Tony and Whitney certainly caused some people to come forward.

I totally agree. All soaps have a responsibility when they show scenes involving such issues. They should not be seen as glorifying it or suggesting that its okay to take the law into your own hands by murdering your attacker of having them beaten up by some self appointed vigilanties.

[Dazzle]

They should not be seen as glorifying it or suggesting that its okay to take the law into your own hands by murdering your attacker of having them beaten up by some self appointed vigilanties.

Oh yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think the soaps are generally sensitive in their portrayal of rape and incest, but not so when it comes to vigilantes and murderers. That's down to us viewers, though - as seen by EE recently, and Tony Gordon in Corrie, murder is a ratings winner.

I'm as guilty as the next person, though, in that I want Stacey to get away with Archie's murder :hmm:

[alan45]

Oh yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think the soaps are generally sensitive in their portrayal of rape and incest, but not so when it comes to vigilantes and murderers. That's down to us viewers, though - as seen by EE recently, and Tony Gordon in Corrie, murder is a ratings winner.

I'm as guilty as the next person, though, in that I want Stacey to get away with Archie's murder :hmm:

Well of course in Emmerdale quite a few people seem to get away with murder. Carl King and Louise for example. If the soaps are going to show people getting away with murder then they really should show the consequences to the murderers

[Abigail]

I can hear the anti-contraception charities planning their statements condemning the soaps already.