Editing EastEnders (section)

=== Morality and violence ===
[[Mary Whitehouse]], social critic, argued at the time that ''EastEnders'' represented a violation of "family viewing time" and that it undermined the [[watershed (television)|watershed]] policy. She regarded ''EastEnders'' as a fundamental assault on the family and morality itself. She made reference to representation of family life and emphasis on psychological and emotional violence within the show. She was also critical of language such as "bleeding", "bloody hell", "bastard" and "for Christ's sake"; however, Whitehouse also praised the programme, describing [[Michelle Fowler]]'s decision not to have an abortion as a "very positive storyline". She also felt that ''EastEnders'' had been cleaned up as a result of her protests, though she later commented that ''EastEnders'' had returned to its old ways. Her criticisms were widely reported in the tabloid press as ammunition in its existing hostility towards the BBC. The stars of ''Coronation Street'' in particular aligned themselves with Mary Whitehouse, gaining headlines such as "STREETS AHEAD! RIVALS LASH SEEDY EASTENDERS" and "CLEAN UP SOAP! Street Star Bill Lashes "Steamy" EastEnders".<ref>{{Harvnb|Buckingham|1987|p=129}}</ref>

''EastEnders'' has been criticised for being too violent, most notably during a [[domestic violence]] storyline between [[Little Mo Morgan]] ([[Kacey Ainsworth]]) and her husband [[Trevor Morgan (EastEnders)|Trevor Morgan]] ([[Alex Ferns]]). As ''EastEnders'' is shown pre-watershed, there were worries that some scenes in this storyline were too graphic for its audience. Complaints against a scene in which Little Mo's face was pushed in gravy on Christmas Day were upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Council; however, a helpline after this episode attracted over 2000 calls. [[Erin Pizzey]], who became internationally famous for having started one of the first [[women's refuges]], said that ''EastEnders'' had done more to raise the issue of violence against women in one story than she had done in 25 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=EastEnders: Faith, Morality and Hope in the Community|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/yorke_stalbans.shtml|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=30 April 2017|date=4 September 2002}}</ref> The character of [[Phil Mitchell]] (played by [[Steve McFadden]] since early 1990) has been criticised on several occasions for glorifying violence and proving a bad role model to children. On one occasion following a scene in an episode broadcast in October 2002, where Phil brutally beat his godson, [[Jamie Mitchell]] ([[Jack Ryder (actor)|Jack Ryder]]), 31 complaints came from viewers.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/2712133.stm BBC rapped over EastEnders] BBC News, last accessed on 31 January 2003</ref>

In 2003, cast member [[Shaun Williamson]], who was in the final months of his role of [[Barry Evans (EastEnders)|Barry Evans]], said that the programme had become much grittier over the past 10 to 15 years, and found it "frightening" that parents let their young children watch.<ref>{{cite news|title=EastEnders star slates violence |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3358789.stm |access-date=19 June 2011 |work=BBC News |date=31 December 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114003111/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3358789.stm |archive-date=14 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, the BBC was accused of anti-religious bias by a [[House of Lords]] committee, who cited ''EastEnders'' as an example. [[Indarjit Singh]], editor of the Sikh Messenger and patron of the World Congress of Faiths, said: "''EastEnders''{{'}} Dot Cotton is an example. She quotes endlessly from the Bible and it ridicules religion to some extent."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/nov/02/bbc.radio|title=BBC accused of anti-religious bias|last=Day|first=Julia|date=2 November 2005|work=The Guardian |access-date=24 May 2011|location=London}}</ref> In July 2010, complaints were received following the storyline of Christian minister [[Lucas Johnson]] ([[Don Gilet]]) committing a number of murders that he believed was his duty to God, claiming that the storyline was offensive to Christians.<ref name="BBC defends">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/news/a242230/bbc-defends-eastenders-lucas-storyline/|title=BBC defends "EastEnders" Lucas storyline|last=Love|first=Ryan|date=12 July 2010|website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=13 July 2010|location=London}}</ref>

In 2008, ''EastEnders'', along with ''Coronation Street'', was criticised by [[Martin McGuinness]], then Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, for "the level of concentration around the pub" and the "antics portrayed in The [...] Queen Vic".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7245701.stm|title=McGuinness slams alcohol in soaps|date=14 February 2008|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, viewers complained on Twitter about scenes implying that [[Keanu Taylor]] ([[Danny Walters (actor)|Danny Walters]]) is the father of his 15-year-old sister [[Bernadette Taylor]]'s ([[Clair Norris]]) unborn baby, with the pair agreeing to keep the pregnancy secret from their mother, [[Karen Taylor (EastEnders)|Karen Taylor]] ([[Lorraine Stanley]]); however, the baby's father is revealed as one of Bernadette's school friends.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/826164/EastEnders-spoilers-Viewers-APPALLED-shocking-INCEST-storyline-Bernadette-Taylors-Keanu|title=EastEnders spoilers: Viewers APPALLED by shocking INCEST storyline 'Step too far'|date=7 July 2017|access-date=3 December 2018|work=Daily Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/826416/EastEnders-incest-story-Keanu-Bernadette-BBC-ratings|title=EastEnders "falls to lowest-ever ratings" as SHOCK incest storyline sickens viewers|date=8 July 2017|access-date=3 December 2018|work=Daily Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/827085/EastEnders-incest-bombshell-Keanu-Taylor-Danny-Walters-Karen-Taylor-Lorraine-Stanley|title=EastEnders spoiler: Truth about incest storyline EXPOSED as Keanu drops THIS bombshell|date=10 July 2017|access-date=3 December 2018|work=Daily Express}}</ref>