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The BBC has received almost 250 complaints over the first episode of EastEnders to feature an all-black cast in its 24-year history.
Last week's episode featured character Patrick Trueman, played by Rudolph Walker, sharing his experiences of being a young black man living in 1950s Britain.
A BBC spokesman said 239 complaints had been received from viewers, with 57 received before it aired and 183 after the broadcast.
It is understood that most of the complaints were from people who felt it was "inappropriate" for the BBC to have shown an episode featuring an all-black cast.
The Tuesday, 24 February, edition of EastEnders attracted an average audience of 8.4 million viewers and a 36% share.
Some of the complainants felt it was unnecessary to raise the issue of the Notting Hill race riots, the BBC confirmed.
"It is not unusual for EastEnders to devote a whole episode to a single storyline or set of characters, and this episode was one of these occasions. This was an opportunity to explore in some depth the background and experiences of Patrick Trueman, one of EastEnders' longest-standing and most popular characters," the corporation said in a statement.
"There have been many 'all-white' episodes in the show's 24 year history, and we do not believe there is any reason why an 'all-black' episode should not be included within the series.
"Some viewers felt it was unnecessary to raise the subject of the Notting Hill race riots. These form part of the character's experience, as well as British history, and we feel it was absolutely legitimate for these characters to discuss them," the BBC added.
From The Guardian
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why is black people talking about their experiences of racism cause for offence? i can understand that it was clumsily written and certainly not the best episode ever, but no need for complaints!
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i didnt see the episode but havent we had epsiodes where characters have shared information about their past before??? whats so different about this one???
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Perhaps it is like some old or neo-Nazis denying the Holocost, they can't or won't face up to reality and any reminders makes them feel too uncomfortable. So instead of switching over/off, they prefer to complain. Don't know whether I am right but maybe there is some truth in it.
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Oh for *******s sake if doo-gooders don't like issues discussed on a programme switch it over and don't watch it.
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i cant believe people complained before the epi was even aired! and surely complaining that its unacceptable to feature an all black epi is more racist than the epi itself?
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I can only think of Leyla currently being the only non-white person in the fictional village of Emmerdale, so does ITV get complaints if not every episode features her and therefore makes it an all-white programme? This Eastenders episode had white skinned people as extras and I would not have noticed that none of them had a speaking part if the media had not drawn attention to it. I am quite sure I would not have been the only one.
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i wouldnt have noticed either, just like i dont notice when its an all white epi. the way it was being talked about before it aired i thought all the extras were gonna be black as well but they werent. i dont see the problem personally
