Hard-hitting Corrie tops the ‘complaints’ league
MALE-RAPE STORYLINE PROMPTS 214 PROTESTS FROM ANGRY VIEWERS BUT TV WATCHDOG BACKS SHOW
CORONATION Street was the most complained-about soap in the first half of the year, Ofcom figures have revealed.
Emmerdale prompted 607 complaints, EastEnders 30 and Hollyoaks 25, although Ofcom has pointed out that under a BBC First policy complaints for EastEnders would go to the BBC before Ofcom.
The TV watchdog Ofcom received 808 complaints about Coronation Street across a wide range of episodes and issues between January 1 and July 1 this year.
The complaints came mainly due to the ITV1 soap’s determination to tackle difficult subject through darker storylines.
The figure is low by comparison to other shows – ITV’s Love Island recently drew 650 complaints for just one show – and more than 2,500 in the space of a week recently.
David Platt’s harrowing rape storyline prompted 214 complaints to Ofcom, which were assessed by the watchdog but not investigated.
Ofcom found that soap bosses, who worked with charity Survivors Manchester supporting male survivors of sexual abuse and rape on the storyline, had gone to ‘great lengths’ to ensure it was sensitively and carefully handled.
In the month after the storyline first aired in March, Survivors has had a 64 per cent increase in referrals – mainly self-referral from male survivors – compared to the same time last year. And Survivors Manchester and the National Male Survivors helpline saw a 1,700pc increase in male survivors contacting them when the scenes, portraying David drugged and raped after a night out with Josh Tucker, first aired on March 16.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “We accept that this was a sensitive and challenging subject which made for uncomfortable viewing for some viewers.
“However, we found that ITV went to great lengths to ensure it was sensitively and carefully handled. This included working closely with a sexual violence victim support group, and repeatedly signposting the help available to anyone affected.”
For the first time in its 57-year history, the soap tackled the sensitive subject of male rape when David, played by Jack P Shepherd, woke after the night out with mechanic Josh to realise what had happened to him.
Another major storyline for Corrie was the tragic death by suicide of factory boss Aidan Connor in May, which received 11 complaints assessed by Ofcom but not investigated.
There were 18 complaints relating to the story of murderer Pat Phelan. These were also assessed but not investigated.