The writers behind EastEnders' gay romance storyline have spoken out after the BBC soap received complaints over the kiss it aired last Monday (December 30).
The episode, which saw Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy) and Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) kiss as part of a new plot that leads Johnny to come out to his father Mick (Danny Dyer), received two complaints from viewers.
The episode which featured Danny and Johnny kissing aired an hour later than usual, at 9pm. A BBC spokeswoman said that it was only pushed back because the movie Shrek Forever After preceded it in the schedules.Pete Lawson, who wrote Monday's episode, said on Twitter: "2014, and gay teens kissing on a soap still draws complaints. Makes me even prouder to have written that ep."
Daran Little, the writer behind tonight's episode where Johnny tells Mick about his sexuality, tweeted that the complaints show "no progress" is being made in people's attitudes towards gay people.
"10 years ago Coronation Street had complaints when I wrote Todd kissing Nick... now complaints about EastEnders gay kiss... no progress," he wrote.
"I thinks it's encouraging that Hollyoaks gay kisses don't get complaints, cos its viewers are young and accepting."
"EastEnders aims to reflect real life, and this means including and telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities," she added.
"We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in exactly the same way as we do heterosexual relationships; ensuring depictions of affection or sexuality between couples are suitable for pre-watershed viewing."
EastEnders airs tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
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