Media watchdog Ofcom has cleared the BBC of breaching broadcasting rules following complaints about a rape storyline on EastEnders. The episode, aired in October, depicted the assault of Queen Vic landlady Linda Carter, played by Kellie Bright.
More than 90 viewers complained to Ofcom, and over 250 complaints were made directly to the BBC. However, Ofcom ruled that the BBC took appropriate steps to limit offence, including a viewer warning before the episode and implying the assault rather than showing it graphically.
An Ofcom spokesman said: 'After carefully investigating complaints about this scene, Ofcom found the BBC took appropriate steps to limit offence to viewers. This included a warning before the episode and implying the assault, rather than depicting it.' The regulator also noted the programme's role in presenting challenging social issues.
The BBC had previously defended the episode, stating: 'At no point have there been any scenes of a graphic nature. In fact the attack on Linda was implied and not explicit.' The half-hour programme aired at 20:00, an hour before the watershed.
In an interview with Radio Times, Bright supported the decision to tackle the issue pre-watershed, saying: 'EastEnders is a programme that is supposed to be reflective of real life and this issue is part of our society. Why shouldn't it be tackled?'
This is not the first time EastEnders has featured a controversial rape storyline. Previous incidents include the assault of Little Mo Slater in 2004 and Kathy Beale's rape in 1988.
