View Full Version : BBC defends EastEnders sex scene
The BBC has defended scenes of sex and violence in recent EastEnders episodes after more than 250 people complained.
Viewers questioned whether a passionate encounter between characters Carly Wicks and Jake Moon was suitable for broadcast before the watershed.
A scene of domestic violence, in which the character of Denise Fox lost a tooth, also drew complaints.
The BBC said the scenes were "within acceptable limits" and kept to the corporation's editorial guidelines.
The portrayal of domestic violence was part of a long-running storyline featuring actors Diane Parish and Lee Ross - as Denise Fox and Owen Turner respectively.
'Distressing'
The violent scene was the culmination of a long-running storyline
In the scene, Fox stabbed Turner with a fork after he accosted her in her house.
Turner was then seen dragging Fox up the stairs by her hair. He hit her and she lost a tooth.
The BBC said it had received 128 complaints about the 4 August scene.
Eastenders' executive producer, Kate Harwood, acknowledged that some viewers would have found the scenes disturbing.
But she added: "in tackling the issue of domestic violence, it was important to reflect realistically the sort of violence suffered by the victims in these sorts of situations, rather than to put a gloss on it.
"We therefore took great care to signal the nature of the episode's content in advance."
'Explicit'
The storyline shows the consequences of relationships which are not based on genuine emotion
Kate Harwood
Executive producer, EastEnders
The sex scene, broadcast on 1 August, showed actors Kellie Shirley and Joel Beckett ripping off each other's clothes and having sex on the floor of a nightclub.
Some 129 people contacted the BBC to complain about the explicit nature of the scene.
Ms Harwood again apologised for causing distress, but argued that "any sexual activity was implied rather than explicit".
"The intention of the scene was to indicate the passion of a couple being carried away by the moment," she continued.
"Moreover, the storyline shows the consequences of relationships which are not based on genuine emotion."
Both episodes were seen by about eight million people when they were first broadcast on BBC One last week.
I didn't find any problem with them. It was like Little Mo's rape scene though - lots of people phoned to complain, but in fact, you didn't actually see anything happen - it was the suggestion of what was going to happen and the same was with this. Its not the tv screen it comes out of, its the mind it goes into :D
x Amby x
10-08-2006, 10:43
i had no problem with it, i told my mum about it and she was like boring farts! lol Soaps cant be all working in the market all the time, passionate encounters are needed! As for Domestic abuse, its realistic as it happens to a lot of people around the UK!
I thought the domestic viklonce bit was really well handled nothing to major you didnt see her get stamped on just the scream so it was just enough to get the effect that was needed.
There was nothing wrong with the sex scene between Jake/Carly to me it showed the continuation of excitement and adrenaline rush after a fight with follow up repetions due to the fact that they found the passionate sex between them exciting and they wanted more of one another. At the end of the day they weren't doing any harm,it was no ones business but there own.
With regards to the domestic violence, you see much worse violence in cartoons these days. It was realistic and showed how a strong person such as Denise can also be a victim of domestic violence. It showed the abuser as an emotional wreck who took all his frustrations and failings out on his lover. Also it showed the abuser taking a battering from other sources and his daughter finally seeing him for who and what he is. It showed us that they don't always have the upper hand and are weak. It highlighted the consequences of both the abuser and abused.
Chris_2k11
10-08-2006, 11:36
I thought the domestic viklonce bit was really well handled nothing to major you didnt see her get stamped on just the scream so it was just enough to get the effect that was needed.Exactly Katy, perfectly put.
I'm sorry but these people who sit at home writing endless complaints to tv shows really need to get a life.
Jessie Wallace
10-08-2006, 12:11
Do all these people have nothing better to do with their time?
The Vilolent scene's were realistically played, there no point doing it half heartedly, as this would be right.
The sexual scene was also quite good it showed how easily two people can get carried away in the moment. It even showed the responsiblity of safe sex too, which was good.
EE Rocks
10-08-2006, 12:12
I personally don't see the Fuss about it. I think Kate Explained well. I mean i agree with Kate that is was important to reflect Realistically the Violence sufferers suffer, rather than put a Gloss on it. Well said.:) :heart:
It even showed the responsiblity of safe sex too, which was good.
I'd forgotten about that. I thought that was very well thought out and well done, the getting of the condom out of the wallet. It showed that even though things were very passionate and spontaneous consideration and thought was still given towards safe sex. That is something you very rarely see in programmes.
Missy-em
10-08-2006, 13:25
I totally agree, the scenes were fine. I was very impressed with the way the handled the violence scenes, it was as realistic as I had hoped, and very well acted in my opinion.
diamond1
10-08-2006, 14:18
complaining?? it was hardly graphic all anyone really saw was them kissing and ripping each others clothes off its not eastenders faults if these people have graphic imaginations....for all we know they started to play scrabble behind the bar:lol: (with a err condom)and it got hot and they had to take their clothes off
dont people have anything better to do than complain over these things if you dont like it theres always a remote control to turn it off!
people need to get lives if they are sad enough to complain about such trivial things! it gets be so annoyed... Eastenders is accused of being boring, then when it does something to combat that, they get loads of do gooders getting irate and phoning up... they cant win either way :angry:
Pinkbanana
10-08-2006, 15:05
for all we know they started to play scrabble behind the bar:lol: (with a err condom)and it got hot and they had to take their clothes off
!
Who do you think won the game of scrabble? I reckon Carly! :lol:
Yeah, the voice over chap gave a warning about there being some strong (ie violent) scenes being featured, before each of these episodes was aired... So I cant see the problem, as people were prewarned, and thus still decided to watch!
diamond1
10-08-2006, 15:11
Who do you think won the game of scrabble? I reckon Carly! :lol:
Yeah, the voice over chap gave a warning about there being some strong (ie violent) scenes being featured, before each of these episodes was aired... So I cant see the problem, as people were prewarned, and thus still decided to watch!
if it was under strip rules I feel jake won because he had most clothes on!!
like I said there was nothing graphic anyway just two people kissing and ripping at each others clothes it was nothing that younger kids would be shocked at seeing, only old battle axes who havent had any in years would be
littlemo
10-08-2006, 16:27
if it was under strip rules I feel jake won because he had most clothes on!!
like I said there was nothing graphic anyway just two people kissing and ripping at each others clothes it was nothing that younger kids would be shocked at seeing, only old battle axes who havent had any in years would be
lol. Exactly! I think some people mollycoddle their kids too much. The BBC are getting a lot more flexible about what's allowed to be shown these days. I think some of that comes from the belief that children shouldn't be kept in the dark about these things. None of it is wrong (I'm meaning the act of sex not the act of domestic violence, although I don't disagree with it being shown).
I think it'd be much better if we were more like the 'continent', like our Europe counterparts. I don't like all this strictness and ridiculous rules all the time.
diamond1
10-08-2006, 16:34
I can say I saw scenes like this and worse on other things like this when I was younger and I didnt think anything of it,when your under 12 you dont your caught up in your own world.what annoys me these people who moan will buy an eminem CD for their kid at christmas but a little sex scene on tv causes out roar I cannot understand it
littlemo
10-08-2006, 16:37
I know, I used to watch Brookside when I was little. I remember watching the Jordache trial. My parents have always been very open with me.
Some people are just so quick to get uptight about things that don't really have any consequence.
BlackKat
10-08-2006, 16:38
lol. Exactly! I think some people mollycoddle their kids too much. The BBC are getting a lot more flexible about what's allowed to be shown these days. I think some of that comes from the belief that children shouldn't be kept in the dark about these things.
Not to mention the critics complain when EE seems like its aimed at children, and then complain when it isn't suitable for children...which strikes me as rather contradictory.
callummc
11-08-2006, 02:02
I didn't see anything wrong with it except it was totally unrealistic,they may have gotten carried away with themselves once in the club but 3 times stone cold sober in a club,but never dreamed of going home to bed with each other and have hardley said boo to each other either before or since is a tad unbeleivable
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.