Posts Tagged ‘Baby swap’

Ofcom clears controversial EastEnders baby swap storyline

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Samantha Womack: drained from EastEnders' baby plot

EastEnders’ baby swap storyline has been cleared by TV watchdog Ofcom as “justified”.  After the shock plot – which saw disturbed Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) swap her dead son with the body of Kat Moon’s (Jessie Wallace) baby – sparked more than 13,000 complained from distressed viewers, BBC One bosses decided to cut the controversial storyline short.

With the climax brought to an end months earlier than planned, Ofcom ruled the scenes were “not unduly disturbing or graphic”.  The report states: “While the storyline was about a sensitive and emotive issue, it is Ofcom’s view that the actual scenes broadcast were not unduly disturbing or graphic.

“Ofcom considered for the regular EastEnders audience, the storyline would not have exceeded their expectations given that the soap is well known for presenting a range of challenging and, at times, controversial issues.”

Meanwhile, regulators ruled the scenes did not suggest Ronnie’s actions were typical of all women suffering from the trauma of cot death, but were spurred on by the various losses she experienced throughout her tragic life.

The report added: “These included her losing the daughter she had been forced to give up for adoption at 14, her desperation to have a baby and the tragedy she had experienced when she had miscarried, and the recent revelation of sexual abuse by her father.

“Whilst the loss of baby James was a catalyst, Ronnie’s reaction was born out of extreme personal trauma in her life and not as the direct and sole consequence of losing her baby.”

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Samantha Womack: EastEnders’ baby swap plot was emotionally draining

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

Samantha Womack: drained from EastEnders' baby plot

The 38-year-old actress, who has played disturbed Ronnie Branning in the BBC One soap for the past four years, decided to quit the show when she realised she could no longer cope with her alter-ego’s harrowing life.

She said: “I did find the storyline very, very difficult to play. It was draining emotionally and physically and by the end I was shattered. I worked out I’d been crying or screaming at work every day for six days a week for over two years. Can you imagine how exhausting and tiring that is?

“You’re crying, weeping and telling your brain something awful has happened, so of course that is going to affect you and your body. My brain may know I am acting, but my body was doing a different thing. I needed to stop and find some peace, a bit like Ronnie.”

The controversial storyline – which attracted some 9,000 complaints, prompting the BBC to bring the plot to an early end – saw Ronnie swap her dead baby James with Kat Moon’s (Jessie Wallace) son Tommy after he died of cot death, and then go on to pretend the tot was her own for months.

However, Samantha’s troubled character has also had to deal with miscarriage, rape, incest and the death of her long-lost daughter Danielle throughout her time on EastEnders.

But the mum-of-two, whose last scenes on the soap will air next week, admitted show bosses were under huge pressure to devise “high-risk storylines” to grab viewers’ attention.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, Samantha added: “Unfortunately, because of the way television is going – and by that I don’t just mean just soap, but reality and also drama – there is a massive consumer need for controversy and high-risk storylines. We may not like it, but the viewing figures go through the roof.”

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British Soap Award nominations revealed

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

EastEnders’ controversial baby-swap plot has been nominated for Best Storyline at the British Soap Awards.

Despite the plot – which saw Ronnie (Samantha Womack) exchange her dead baby James for Kat’s (Jessie Wallace) tot Tommy – generating almost 10,000 complaints it has been recognised by the awards, which will be hosted by Phillip Schofield on May 14.

It will compete with the affair between Kevin Webster and Molly Dobbs in ‘Coronation Street’, Karen’s abortion in ‘Doctors’ and Holly’s drug addiction in ‘Emmerdale’.

The BBC One soap is hoping to win the prize for a second year in a row after scooping it in 2010 for the Who Killed Archie Mitchell? plot.

Coronation Street’s 50th anniversary tram crash is up for Most Spectacular Scene and will be up against the fire at the Queen Vic in ‘EastEnders’, the ‘Emmerdale’ train crash and Theresa falling down the lift shaft in ‘Hollyoaks’.

Chris Gascoyne (‘Coronation Street’), Shane Richie (‘EastEnders’), Danny Miller (‘Emmerdale’) and Emmett J Scanlan (‘Hollyoaks’) are all up for Best Actor while Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon), Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald), Jane Cox (‘Emmerdale’) and Claire Cooper (‘Hollyoaks’) will battle it out for Best Actress.

‘EastEnders’, ‘Coronation Street’, ‘Hollyoaks’, ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Doctors’ are all up for Best Soap.

The full list of nominations for the 2011 British Soap Awards:

SEXIEST MALE

‘Coronation Street’: Keith Duffy (Ciaran McCarthy)

‘Coronation Street’: Chris Fountain (Tommy Duckworth)

‘EastEnders’: Scott Maslen (Jack Branning)

‘Emmerdale’: Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy)

SEXIEST FEMALE:

‘Coronation Street’: Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre)

‘Coronation Street’: Alison King (Carla Connor)

‘EastEnders’: Rita Simons (Roxy Mitchell)

‘Hollyoaks’: Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes McQueen)

VILLAIN OF THE YEAR:

‘Coronation Street’: Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow)

‘EastEnders’: Charlie Brooks (Janine Malloy)

‘EastEnders’: Don Gilet(Lucas Johnson)

‘Hollyoaks’: Emmett J Scanlan (Brendan Brady)

BEST ACTOR:

‘Coronation Street’: Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow)

‘EastEnders’: Shane Richie (Alfie Moon)

‘Emmerdale’: Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy)

‘Hollyoaks’: Emmett J Scanlan (Brendan Brady)

BEST ACTRESS:

‘Coronation Street’: Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald)

‘EastEnders’: Jessie Wallace (Kat Moon)

‘Emmerdale’: Jane Cox (Lisa Dingle)

‘Hollyoaks’: Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen)

BEST COMEDY PERFORMANCE:

Patti Clare (Mary Taylor): ‘Coronation Street’

Tameka Empson (Kim Fox): ‘EastEnders’

Charlie Hardwick (Val Pollard): ‘Emmerdale’

Alex Carter (Lee Hunter): ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE:

Jane Danson (Leanne Barlow): ‘Coronation Street’

Lindsey Coulson (Carol Jackson): ‘EastEnders’

Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy): ‘Emmerdale’

Claire Cooper (Jacqui McQueen): ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST YOUNG PERFORMANCE:

Alexander Bain (Simon Barlow): ‘Coronation Street’

Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher): ‘EastEnders’

Eden Taylor Draper (Belle Dingle): ‘Emmerdale’

Ellis Hollins (Tom Cunningham): ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST EXIT:

Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth): ‘Coronation Street’

Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning): ‘EastEnders’

Andy Devine (Shadrach Dingle): ‘Emmerdale’

Carley Stenson (Steph Roach): ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST NEWCOMER:

Paula Lane (Kylie Turner): ‘Coronation Street’

Ricky Norwood (Arthur ‘Fatboy’ Chubb): ‘EastEnders’

Pauline Quirke (Hazel Rhodes): ‘Emmerdale’

Emmett J Scanlan (Brendan Brady): ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST ON-SCREEN PARTNERSHIP:

Katherine Kelly & Simon Gregson: ‘Coronation Street’

(Becky & Steve McDonald)

Jessie Wallace & Shane Richie: ‘EastEnders’

(Kat & Alfie Moon)

Emma Atkins & Jeff Hordley: ‘Emmerdale’

(Charity Tate & Cain Dingle)

Emmett J Scanlan & Kieron Richardson: ‘Hollyoaks’

(Brendan Brady & Ste Hay)

BEST STORYLINE:

End of the line for the Websters & Dobbs: ‘Coronation Street’

Karen’s abortion: ‘Doctors’

Ronnie swaps her baby for Kat’s: ‘EastEnders’

Holly’s drug addiction: ‘Emmerdale’

SPECTACULAR SCENE OF THE YEAR:

The Tram Crash: ‘Coronation Street’

The Queen Vic Fire: ‘EastEnders’

The Train Crash: ‘Emmerdale’

The Lift Shaft: ‘Hollyoaks’

BEST SINGLE EPISODE:

Coronation Street Live: ‘Coronation Street’

August 23rd: ‘Doctors’

Billie’s death: ‘EastEnders’

The Betrayed: ‘Emmerdale’

BEST BRITISH SOAP:

‘Coronation Street’

‘Doctors’

‘EastEnders’

‘Emmerdale’

‘Hollyoaks’

To be announced on the night:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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‘EastEnders’ bosses warn they will slap a lifetime ban on stars who disclose the soap’s secrets.

Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

‘EastEnders’ bosses have warned they will slap a lifetime ban on stars who disclose the soap’s secrets.

Bryan Kirkwood, executive producer of the BBC One soap, has reportedly sent an angry memo to the show’s cast and crew after a number of the show’s biggest storylines were revealed to the world before they hit screens.

Leaked to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the letter said: “Confidential information is being passed on. Please be assured that we are working hard with the BBC investigations service to find out who is doing this.

“When we do find out, action will be taken and the persons responsible will never work at the BBC again.”

The warning comes after details of the soap’s explosive baby swap storyline – which saw distraught new mum Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) swap her dead infant with Kat Moon’s (Jessie Wallace) tot – were leaked onto the internet long before being screened on New Year’s Eve (31.12.10).

An ‘EastEnders’ insider added: “The letter makes it clear the bosses are taking no nonsense when it comes to the show’s filming schedule and scenes being given out. A life ban from the BBC seems a very severe punishment but that is what is being threatened so the cast should take note.

“No one has been left exempt from the warning. The senior members of the cast have all been told.”

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Spoiler Alert! Kat and Alfie nearly lose baby again in Eastenders

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

‘EastEnders’ Kat Moon almost loses her son for the second time when she “freaks out” after learning he is still alive.

The bolshy barmaid is stunned to learn son Tommy is still alive after he was taken by grieving Ronnie Branning – whose own baby James died from cot death – and Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat revealed her alter ego is so overwhelmed she almost misses a vital meeting with a social worker who has come to assess whether she and husband Alfie (Shane Richie) can take their baby home.

Jessie said: “Kat finds it too much to bear and scarpers. She goes home to The Vic, where Jean is waiting.

“Jean gets Tommy’s toy, Clarence. She says, ‘You’re bringing your little boy home’and that’s when it hits Kat. She can’t get a cab so she runs to the hospital. She’s desperate to make it on time.”

However, when Kat makes it to the hospital, where Tommy is being checked over, the social worker is driving away.

Jessie added to Inside Soap magazine: “There’s no way she’s going to let that car drive off. She’s not prepared to lose Tommy again.”

Kat and Alfie are eventually given their baby back, and Jessie admits her character is left “overwhelmed” with emotion.

She said: “She’s completely overwhelmed. Kat just wants to be the best mum possible. This is her second chance and she’s determined to do a good job.”

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Spoiler Alert! Christian to propose to Syed in Eastenders

Monday, April 11th, 2011


EastEnders’ Christian Clarke is to propose to Syed Masood.

The Albert Square hunk – played John Partridge – will pop the question to his gay lover and now bosses of the BBC One soap are busy planning the programme’s first gay wedding, which could be the show’s “big event of the summer”.

The couple began their love affair in 2009 as Syed (Marc Elliot) prepared to marry his girlfriend Amira and while he went ahead with the wedding in a bid to please his Muslim family, he could no longer hide his feelings and eventually started a new life with Christian.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Christian and Syed have had a colourful and controversial relationship in Albert Square from day one. Syed felt torn between his Muslim faith and how he felt in his heart.

“He went ahead with his marriage to Amira despite telling his mum about his feelings for Christian – and those feelings have not gone away.”

If the marriage is well received by viewers, the couple will go on to have a baby with the help of a surrogate mother.

The source added: “If everything goes ahead, Christian and Syed will be the biggest stars on the soap providing some happy news after the baby swap storyline which went down so badly with viewers.”

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EastEnders confirms sexual exploitation storyline

Monday, January 10th, 2011

Will Eastenders ever learn its lesson? Fresh from the controversy following the cot death/ baby swap storyline the soap has decided to venture into the topic of teenage prostitution.

Bosses have confirmed the soap is to highlight the issue of sexual exploitation in a storyline involving Whitney Dean who is played by Shona McGarty.

The story will see Whit’s life collapse after stepmother Bianca Butcher leaves and leads her to fall for an “unscrupulous man who ultimately sexually exploits her for his own financial gain”.

What’s more surprising is that the storyline has been devised for Comic Relief.

An EastEnders spokeswoman said: “EastEnders has been working alongside Comic Relief since last year, devising a storyline that raises awareness of sex exploitation.

“In the long tradition the show has of tackling social issues, this is a storyline that looks to be exploring a growing problem that faces many young women in the UK.”

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Samantha Womack quits over Eastenders storyline.

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

The Eastenders cot death/baby swapping drama has reached new heights with the news that Samantha Womack has quit the soap over the storyline.

The storyline, which sees Ronnie swapping her passed away baby for Kat’s little one has amounted to 6,000 viewer complaints.

Mother-of-two, Samantha who plays Ronnie Branning in the BBC soap, is said to have handed bosses a handwritten letter of resignation when she was first told of the plans for the plot back in November.

Despite promises by bosses for more upbeat storylines, Samantha wasn’t swayed.

She is thought to have told bosses she is ‘a mother first and an actress second’ before announcing she will be leaving the show in May.

A source told The Sun: ‘The last couple of months at work have been awful for Sam. The first time she read the script, she thought it was wrong and pushed boundaries too far. It was such a sensitive issue, she knew it would cause a huge backlash.

‘She wrote a letter on the day she read it and made it clear to bosses she thought it was wrong. They persuaded her to stay and film the scenes, but she will leave in May.

‘She saw the story as a mother first and an actress second, which made her realise things had gone too far.’

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