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.

THE BEST RESPONSE IS TO TURN EASTENDERS OFF AND WATCH ANOTHER CHANNEL

Is that how you'd respond to a racist storyline?

I don't agree RTKANGA.

That approach doesn't impact upon the producers and majority of viewers who don't realise how offensive the storyline is to a sizable minority.

I have just read a well known TV mags' description on tonight's EE.

"Viewers looking for some heart-warming telly on this BH Monday will find not a shred of comfort in Walford. Instead we're given one of the bleakest storylines imaginable: a cot death. The papers have reported that it's so harrowing, they had to stop filming for cast and crew to recover their composure, while some where offered counselling."

" If you've not seen Friday's episode yet, don't read on because Kat and Alfie are at the bereavement suite waiting to say goodbye to their son. However, just as they are about to enter Alfie realises Kat is missing"

"Meanwhile back in the square a shocked, sleep deprived Ronnie attempts to feed 'James'"

I agree that it would be nice for the BBC to recognise just how hard this storyline has hit the general public for other reasons than the cot death.

Action Aid is wonderful, I'm sure, but it doesn't give us an explaination into why the writers sensationalised this story so very wrongly in their portrayal of a 'mad' Ronnie.

Hello, yes we have been following this thread. As have many journalists - from the look of the many references in the press to the MN reaction to this storyline over the holiday period. It will be interesting to see how this all develops once the rest of the media get back to their desks tomorrow morning...

With regard to the PND link on the BBC website, I read that Ronnie is supposed to have "trouble bonding" with the baby she took, and people therefore "think that she has postnatal depression."

The current producers of EE seem to be so lacking in knowledge or decency that they will probably then claim they are portraying PND accurately through Ronnie's experience.

I would love that actress to walk out and leave them stranded with their stupid plot.

I would also love some confirmation that this storyline is ending shortly- one site says it is and the reveal has been filmed, other sources say its meant to run till next Christmas, or even 2 years.

If BBC are considering letting this run on then its essential to continue to complain.

Hi Catherine

Thanks for letting us know you're aware of this thread. TBH i don't bother with papers ect, so don't know whats been said, but yes, tomorrow should be interesting.

Do you at MNHQ have any plans to invite anyone from the beeb/EE over here to explain their position at all?

This is the

Facebook page for opting out of Eastenders

Well I still have not received a reply to my complaint and am assuming I am not getting one.

People do seem to be genuinely shocked and troubled by this storyline. There must have been someone who works in Eastenders saying that maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Do story lines often provoke this response, or do you think the BBC have noticed that maybe they read this one wrong?

Anyway I have also complained to Ofcom. Not that I think they can do anything - more because it is the best way to get people to take notice.

May complain to the BBC again actually.

This, suggests to me, that they are waiting to see if they can get away with continuing the storyline:

(These comments were made by EE Producer before NYE)

" Despite the controversy, executive producer Bryan Kirkwood defended his decision to air such gritty scenes, saying: 'I think it is high drama and that's what EastEnders has a 25-year history of delivering - big gritty stories and stories that chime with the audience.

'I take every storyline in isolation. I believe we have embarked on an undoubtedly bold storyline but I would like to see what the audience reaction is before I comment.'"

(my comment would be "You Tosser" btw Bryan)

There are quite a few different facebook protests, twitter protests and ourselves. Problem is each group stays relatively small unless there's something to pull all the complaints together.

Complaining to Ofcom I guess is the best way?

I have no faith in the BBC to self-police this one now, they had complaints and distress before it aired and went ahead anyway.

Thanks for your response Catherine.

The questions I wanted to ask you have already been asked by Dee

I've just made a formal complaint direct to the BBC.

I really hope this storyline ends soon.

It's so disturbing, I dread the next scenes, but I've always liked Eastenders, it's such a shame.

I real feel that I want be able to watch if the storyline continues.

am genuinely curious as to what people really think should be done about this.

It is a bloody ridiculous storyline, but it is just that; a storyline in a fictitious programme that no-one is obliged to watch. And realistically if people watch soap operas then they are surely aware that the majority of it bears absolutely no resemblence to reality - I don't imagine that hospital staff get so involved in the lives of their patients in rl (as per casualty/holby); I don't think there is a town in the world that has experienced quite as many tradgedies as in emmerdale; and if you're not convinced by the storylines then surely the acting should be enough to convince you that it's not real - there isn't a decent actor amongst the lot of them.

I do understand that a child death storyline is going to be upsetting for a parent who has lost a child. But again - people don't need to watch it.

And while I agree that the storyline itself should probably never have been thought up, it has, and it is in progress, and no amount of complaints can turn back the clock and change that.

So just switch it off - it's shite anyway.

I'm glad MNHQ have been following the thread and thank you for responding to us all. I agree with Beachholiday that we all need to get together all the different blogs and tweets and forums on this one and stand as one big voice.

I have made another complaint to the BBC and shall do daily until i receive an acknowledgement. I have complained to OFCOM twice as I have complained about each individual episode and I shall continue to do that about every episode that is aired until I get something other than an automated response from them.

So does anyone have any ideas about how we can go about bringing everyone together on this? Can we do some sort of petition, I'm not very good with this sort of thing. Does anyone feel like they could be a voice for all us MNers who feel strongly about this subject.

Do you think its alright for a program to stigmatise a group of people, as long as the program is a soap opera wannaBe?

And if one group is stigmatised, the best response is for them just not to watch it?

The BBC are allowing EE producers to build a cheap sensationalist storyline on the back of scenes of a mother discovering her newborn dead, from a cotdeath.

This is a lot more offensive than the lack of reality involved in one village in Emmerdale having many tragedies etc.

Different league entirely.

Ok, I think B Kirkwood and anyone else who sanctioned this storyline should be fired.

It won't happen sadly but there you go.

My little girl died before she was even born, but I am still disgusted at the blatant sensationalism that Eastenders has applied to this storyline.

As many have said previously on this thread it is not strictly the SIDS storyline itself but the subsequent swap that is causing me distress, and the sensationalism and almost 'freak show' nature I have heard described by those who have watched.

I haven't watched by the way, I apologise if this in some way disqualifies me from comment, but I refuse to give Eastenders airtime in my home until I know what is happening as a direct result of this storyline.

When the Duckworths got their house clad they had a valuer come out and value their house as they were told it would add value. The valuer said they had lost £2,000 from the value of their house. Cladders all over the country complained, this had hit their business! So the writers brought in a second valuer: no, the first valuation was wrong it had added £2,000 to the value of their house! So they had complaints from valuers all over the country as this now hit them! People thought valuers were incompetent.

If valuers and cladders are entitled to complain, why can't we? As mothers who value our precious living children and as mothers who have precious angel babies.

People do take soaps seriously, people do think that if it wasn't really like that it wouldn't be shown. Do you know how many of us suffer from comments made by people scared we're going to steal or harm their children? Do you really think we need this backing up?

wannabe I think the thing is (especially with the bereaved Mums on this thread) as has been said over and over again.....the CD part of the story is horrendously sad (obviously) but the weirdest part of all of it is the baby swop....it makes no sense. My baby died (from heart problems) having a snuggle with myself and my DH one morning.....my first thought was to run down the stairs and ring 999....even if there had been a newborn baby in the house next door I wouldn't have had time , or the inclination, to go and take that baby.

I must confess to having watched the programme - out of morbid curiosity maybe???? I will continue to watch it because it has now got me really angry....silly????? Yes, I suppose it is.....turn the channel over???? Yes, I could.

Bereaved mums are not baby swopping nutcases....we are overwhelmed with grief, we blame ourselves constantly, we sigh, we smile for others benefit, we have to remind ourselves to put one foot in front of the other to walk, we have marriage breakdowns because of the pressure of grief, any subsequent children we are lucky enough to have we fret and worry about them and plead with God (whoever the hell he is) to not take them away. Many of us suffer with ill health because thats what sadness and depression does to you, we cling to other people (even on a website, who we have never met) who 'get' what we are talking about. It is the toughest challenge I have ever had to deal with.

Even now 28 years since my baby died and 18 years since my 7yr old was killed I could, at any given moment, stand here and scream with the sheer enormity of it.

BUT WE ARE NOT BABY SWOPPING NUTCASES.....

"BUT WE ARE NOT BABY SWOPPING NUTCASES"

But I don´t think that that is what EE is saying.

It´s showing a fictional character´s reaction to a fictional storyline.

I have to say I am disgusted at this storyline I have actually been a long standing fan of eastenders and being a bipolar sufferer was greatly distressed at many of thr Stacy/Jean Slater story line (not all some of it was portrayed well).

I have no experience of SIDS but because of my menatal health (getting agitated about certain things can trigger me and this seems to be playing on my mind a lot as I really dislike this story) I have stopped watching eastenders as this storyline is causing me upset and stress as I disagree with it being aired completly. I am so sorry to all thoose who have been personally effected by SIDS and are finding this storyline upsetting I hope the producers see sence amd put a end to it soon.