Over the new year the BBC has decided that it is fair and appropriate to show traumatic scenes where Ronnie Branning played by Samantha Womack will swap babies after the cot death of her newborn boy.
Facebook and Mumsnet websites have been ablaze with condemnation for this storyline. A storyline that clearly disregards the feelings of parents who have lost a child to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). These parents, say some of the sites' commenters, certainly don't need reminding of their loss over the festive season, especially when the scenes involve what amounts to a tasteless and sensationalist story line.
The character of Ronnie Branning has already lost a daughter on Christmas day and suffered a previous miscarriage so the desperate act which this fictitious individual will commit is not to be unexpected when the soaps have a tradition of injecting as much misery into their story-lines as possible over the festive period.
The main Facebook campaign that is trying to get the BBC to remove the story line is filled with heart rendering comments by the bereaved who have lost children to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Many of the comments on the Facebook page would not welcome a story line about cot death at this time of year but there are those who would have loved for a proper, sensitive and informative narration to help parents who go through what can only be described as every parent's worst nightmare.
Ronnie Branning will swap Alfie and Kat Moon's newborn baby (Tommy) for her own, both of whom were born on Thursday's episode of Eastenders and, from all reports, Samantha Womack who plays Ronnie has found shooting these scenes most traumatic and painful.
As a mother of two Samantha apparently found it very hard to shut down after filming and was in constant tears through filming and after.
The BBC has been quick to point out that Ronnie Branning's actions are not meant to represent those of all mothers who lose children to SIDS yet they still chose to air the storyline with full knowledge of the impact such a story line has on viewers whilst ignoring the swathes of objections.
Eastenders is meant to be family viewing, so how on earth does this current narrative fit into the pigeonhole of family viewing?
There are plenty of people who will say the usual "You don't have to watch it, just turn the channel over" line but I ask why the hell should I?
Why can't the BBC be a little more sensitive? especially at this time of year when our thoughts are very much with those we have lost over the years.
There is more to life than viewing figures.
Where is the seasonal warmth in these soaps? Why can't we have a Scrooge like story line with a dark start but a healthy, happy ending on the day?
??? Thank goodness BBC have shown that they can't be bullied into dropping story lines. I think it's a fantastic idea and am really looking forward to watching. It's going to be dark and compelling viewing.
If you don't like it – it's simple – change the channel. There are plenty of other channels to choose from if you don't like the content… that's the beauty of tv surely – there are so many different shows/stories. If we tiptoed around everyones feelings we'd be watching fluffy clouds roll past on screen or a hay bale blowing in the wind (people sensitive to heights and adverse weather conditions might complain about these scenes also, so scrap that, we'd have no bloomin tv shows).
These protesters should spend their time more productivley – campaigning for relevant charities.
dont turn on eastenders for a week or 2or3or4or5or6 that will show them what we all think.
They show these scences so people would be aware of these things. Many people don't know what a cot death is. Again if you are going to complain change the channel and don't make it bad for others. We know it is sad but that is one of the things Eastenders do best and can help others in the same situation.
Yes this is a real topic and they maybe helping the situation, maybe. BUT the swapping of the babies is a terrible thing to do and not at all good for the viewers, they should drop it.
it is an important issue to highlight and while the incorparation of the baby swap may be viewed as a step too far for some it represents and emphasizes ronnies painful history and fractured past when it comes to children. She is a mentally damaged character (understandably so) and in the grief and insanity she makes a life changing choice even when she realises what she has done it is too late. The BBC is in no way glamorising or commending ronnies actions which should be obvious.
And might I add that this storyline was announced MONTHS ago IF there was ever a chance of raising awareness of the disapproval of the storyline to get them to drop it THAT would have been the time to do it not a week or so before airing so I find peoples expectations of the storyline to be cut at this time utterly ridiculous.
Scarlet, have you any feelings at all, you are probably some lonely person, who really does not care who is hurt. im sure deep down you have some feelings.
xmas time is a time for family, freindship and remembering your loved ones. It is not a time to be reminded of things as sick as what the bbc have shown.
There is a time and place for story lines like this, NOT new years eve.
I hope you find hapiness in your life, and try for one momment to find a little consideration when you next post.
When you have lost someone as precious and cose to your heart, you will know what this feels like,
I wonder how many people who have posted comments actually have children of their own. As a mother of a child of 7 months, who worries daily about the issue of cot death I do not find this storyline helpful and the swapping of babies is horrific for anyone who understands the bond between mother and child. It is not as simple as not tuning in either, I watch Eastenders all the time. I won't be watching following the episode this evening which frankly I found distasteful at best, but I would rather the writers had considered the emotional responses of men and women with children and chosen not to promote this story.
Interesting to see how many comments use the "turn over" adage in defence of the BBC when I clearly mention it in the article…. some people formulate opinions before breading the article.
I did not watch the episode (I probably will for proper future criticism) but my wife did and she was upset after watching it (I did warn her)……
As a father of four children (One who is a young toddler) I do not really want to watch such a traumatic episode because I have been there with my daughter (When she was newborn) as her lips turned blue in an A&E cubicle.
Thankfully my daughter was fine and after her seeing a specialist our minds were put at rest as she grew out of the condition that turned her lips blue through an under developed circulatory system.
This I did not add to the article because it was not the place however I feel comfortable talking about it here in the comments…..
The BBC did not air this episode to help those who have lost a child otherwise the storyline would have taken a much different route.
It was aired because it makes good viewing figures……no other reason……
Pathetic……….
when was the last happy storyline? plus you didn't watch the episode you were critiquing? feel this article is rather subjective, but then it is also to provoke a response, just like the show. i can never imagine the pain felt by those affected by the issues shown, but then eastenders is a gritty soap. nothing more, nothing less, maybe anyone upset by the rather publicised and sensitive storyline would be better watching hollyoaks which offers support services for viewers effected by aired storylines. i also think the post above suggesting a poster was 'lonely' quite inappropriate considering the sensitive way the post was written, just to express their opinion, which surely they are entitled to. eastenders has a history of outrageous storylines, why i this any different?
I lost my son to cot death in April 2009, and I personally have found this storyline very distressing – and above all – distasteful.
Christmas is a difficult time of year for me anyway – knowing that my son should be with us to celebrate Christmas. I don't expect programme makers to avoid any potentially sensitive issues – after all this would leave us with very bland programming. However, it would be nice if this had been potrayed in a realistic, sensitive way rather than exploiting the issue of infant death for ratings. It's almost as though cot death doesn't quite cut it as a 'juicy' or 'hardhitting' storyline anymore, so they had to add in the ridiculous babyswap storyline, as Emmerdale also did.
Quite frankly the 'if you don't like it you don't have to watch it' argument is ridiculous – you could use that argument to justify a wide range of obscene or inappropriate content on tv. I'm pretty open minded about television content generally – but Eastenders is family show, shown before the watershed. It is watched by millions and has a lot of influence.
I should also add that it's not as simple as just turning the tv off. This storyline has been everywhere – in the papers, in magazines – it's being discussed in the streets, in my local shop and on online forums.
I also want to add – I am NOT saying Eastenders should be BANNED from showing content like this. I think they should have the *decency* not to, and I think they should consider the views of people distressed by them. Just as they have the right to come up with ludicrous, distasteful storylines, I also have the right to be offended by them.
Hi Kath,
There are no words to convey how sorry I am to hear of your loss.
I agree with your comment 100% and I hope that you have a wonderful new year.
God Bless
Richard Henley Davis