Eastenders Baby Death Storyline

[deemented]

Once again, no one can live happily ever after

Ronnie's baby James, dies and she puts his body in Kat and Alfies son's crib, and steals their baby boy, Tommy.

Why oh why oh why do scriptwriters insist on portraying bereaved parents - mothers especially - as mad and deranged??? Maybe it's because they can't begin to imagine how awful the death of a child is, but really, whilst we are mad with grief, it is our own child that we want back, not someone else's stolen child. When are scriptwriters ever going to understand that?

Still, it'll be a riveting watch, no doubt.

I wondered if anyone else felt like this. I dont see the benefit of sensationalising something so personal and tragic, particularly at new year, I feel a bit queasy at it and wont be watching.

it said onsky website tht its going to run until next christmas!How stupid is that?
Just so unrealistic,destressing and depressing.

My Grandma had a little boy called Frankie who had numerous problems, bad health, couldn't walk etc.

One day when he was four he passed away very suddenly, Grandma was giving him a bath, my mum walked in (she'd been to the cinema, some elvis film was on) and she was shouting down the stairs 'he's stopped breathing, why's he not moving, help me'

It affected even me and i'm typing this with tears dripping off my nose, Grandma never recovered and always favoured boys, she went through a stage of taking similar aged boys home from the park, the community rallied round tho and were understanding, but nowhere near as dramatic as what's portrayed on tv, she just carried around a heavy weight of sadness

This is a despicable storyline. I certainly will not be watching it. How can they make entertainment out of SIDS.

Regarding Ronnie, why can't they just allow her to be happy. Samantha Janus must be a really depressed person since joining Eastenders.

If anyone isn't aware the BBC have had lots of complaints already. There was a report on Digital Spy last week to say that they have shown the original episodes to a test audience to gauge their reaction. It hasn't been favourable so they have changed some of the scenes. They do admit that it is a distressing story and pretty dark.

I can see that they are raising awareness of SIDS and for me that is a good thing. The swap is not though and for me that should be written out altogether.

I've already stopped watching after switching allegiance to Corrie. Why are the BBC not listening if there have been so many complaints? Its clear that people don't want to see this served up as 'entertainment'.

I have received a response to my complaint in which they state that they understand that SIDS is distressing etc.

I have written back to say that it is not the SIDS storyline I have an issue with but Ronnie stealing Kat's baby which does not help people understand grieving parents, but also turns the storyline in to entertainment.

I am really surprised at the BBC to be honest. I just don't understand how anyone can think this is a good idea.

They got so many complaints after killing off danielle that you'd think they would have thought twice about ronnie having more misery

Well, i've complained too - doubt much will be done though - it's too late to change the storyline now, isn't it?

I'm not watching it, horrible & insensitive storyline

When my baby was in SCBU, she was prob about a week old by this point, I went in and up to her cot and within 2 seconds knew it wasn't my baby peeping out from under the covers.

Turns out she had been moved without us knowing, scared me so much!

Don't see how anyone could fail to notice that their baby had been swapped.

I never watch soaps but was forced to watch EE last night as I was at my mums
It was DIRE, I hadn't a clue what the fuck was going on, very few of them could act, the women looked like drag queens and that bloke from the Daz adverts is the most annoying man alive.

I have an unexplained soft spot for Eastenders despite the depressing story lines. However, this is a step to far for me and not only will I not watch these episodes I have also decided that I don't want to be a 'fan' of a program that thinks it is acceptable to cover this issue in this way.

I cannot see how they can claim to be dealing with such an issue in a sensitive way when firstly it is served up as part of their annual 'Christmas Disaster and Doom' storylines (i.e. sensationalising SIDS for their 'Christmas Specials') and secondly portrayed a grieving mother as someone who would steal another baby.

Bad form Eastenders- I'm off!!

Eastenders is utter cack and has been for years. I stopped watching ages ago and nothing I have heard about it since makes me tempted to start watching again. This kind of crap is verging on misery porn. Grim grim grim.

In addition to being crass, it's also a boring, predictable storyline. I remember the exact same one on The Young and the Restless in the 90s.

Agree it sounds very crass. And grim, as usual :(

I don't watch Eastenders because I think it's completely inappropriate for children, and it's on when my kids are still up. All that violence and nastiness

I'm very cross at your spoiler alert in thread title, thanks you numpty.

Puppy, from what little I have seen of EE (through websites - mostly DM homepage ) there is barely a baby born in Albert Square which doesn't die, or get abducted, or turn out not to be its supposed father's, or all three. Not much of a spoiler really.

"I'm very cross at your spoiler alert in thread title, thanks you numpty." oh do get a grip - it's only a programme and a bit of a spoiler is hardly the end of the universe given that it's all over the media anyway...

I don't watch this shite anyway but agree it's a horrendous and unnecessary storyline.

Oh feck off Puppy

I think it's better people know in advance about this particular story line so that they can avoid it if it's too distressing a subject (especially if it's being treated so insensitively)

I was a bit when I read what they were going to do.
I'd like to say I won't be watching, but I will.
Poor Kat and Ronnie