10:48AM, Oct 09, 2008
EastEnders is apparently at the centre of yet another row after showing a kiss between Christian and Lee.
But is a smooch between two adults really shocking?
The Daily Star reports today that the BBC was “bombarded” with complaints after hot couple Christian and Lee were shown having a quiet snog on a bench in the square. The issue apparently centres around the scenes pre-watershed showing.
EastEnders is no stranger to complaints about its portrayal of gay characters. The soap broadcast the first gay kiss of a UK soap in 1989 when Colin Russell gave Barry Clark a kiss on the forehead.
Since then, there have been many gay characters across the soaps. Emmerdale showed a lesbian wedding between Zoe Tate and Emma Nightingale in 1996, and even The Archers broadcast its first gay kiss, between Adam Macy and Ian Craig, in 2004.
There’s also been Tony and Simon (EastEnders), Naomi and bi-curious Sonia (EastEnders), Sean (Corrie), not forgetting Beth Jordache (Brookie), to name just a few.
A statement issued by the BBC about Tuesday night’s kiss says: “We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships.”
Which sounds fair to us.
