Whitney Dean

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Whitney Dean
Whitney Dean.jpg
Whitney Dean in 2008
EastEnders character
Portrayed by Shona McGarty
Introduced by Diederick Santer
Duration 2008—
First appearance 1 April 2008
Classification Present; regular
Spin-off appearances Last Tango in Walford (2010)
EastEnders: E20 (2010)
"East Street" (2010)
Profile
Date of birth 8 December 1992
Occupation Taxicab controller (2009)
Market trader (since 2009)
Student (until 2009, since 2011)
Nursery Worker (2011-)

Whitney Dean is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Shona McGarty. The character is the adoptive daughter of long-running character Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), and was introduced in April 2008 when Palmer returned to the series after a six year absence. Whitney is described by executive producer Diederick Santer as both an equal to, and younger version of Bianca, and is the oldest of Bianca's four children. Her storylines have revolved around her fractured family life, her sexual abuse by Bianca's partner Tony King (Chris Coghill) and her sexual explotation by Rob Grayson (Jody Latham).

The paedophile storyline marks the first time the subject matter has been broached in a UK soap opera, and was researched and developed with advice and approval from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The inappropriate nature of Tony and Whitney's relationship resulted in over 200 complaints being made to the BBC and television regulatory body Ofcom by members of the public, with the storyline deemed "horrifying" by the Daily Mail's Lizzie Smith,[2] and "one of the darkest and most disturbing storylines EastEnders has ever attempted" by the Daily Mirror's Beth Neil.[3] The NSPCC however have praised the storyline for "helping to raise awareness of the hidden nature of sexual abuse".[4] The storyline also gained EastEnders a Royal Television Society Programme Award in March 2009 in the Soap and Continuing Drama category.

Contents

[edit] Storylines

Whitney first appears in EastEnders when she and her family—mother figure Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), half-sister Tiffany Dean (Maisie Smith), and Bianca's sons Liam Butcher (James Forde) and Morgan Jackson-King (Devon Higgs) are evicted by their landlord. The children spend a week in care after Bianca is arrested for assaulting a police officer, returning to her custody a week later and moving into Pat Evans' (Pam St. Clement) home. Over the next few months, Bianca becomes the beneficiary of a mystery "guardian angel", who is revealed to be Whitney. Whitney tells Bianca she found a winning lottery ticket, but kept it secret as she knew that Bianca would spend the money. Bianca reluctantly agrees to deposit the money; however Whitney hides some to be used in emergencies. It is revealed that Bianca's imprisoned boyfriend Tony King (Chris Coghill) has been grooming Whitney since she was twelve, and that they have had a sexual relationship. Having served a year-long sentence for assaulting a boy who apparently harassed Whitney, Tony is released on 12 September 2008. He makes it clear to Whitney that they will resume their sexual relationship, and Whitney in turn reveals that she has kept some of the lottery winnings so they can run away together. Tony, however, harangued by Bianca about the prospect of marriage, gives her Whitney's money to use as a down-payment on a flat.

When Whitney and class-mate Peter Beale (Thomas Law) are cast in the lead roles of the school play Romeo and Julie, Tony is jealous of them rehearsing in private and punches Peter. Whitney convinces Peter and his sister Lucy Beale (Melissa Suffield) not to report the attack to the police, but Tony blames her for the incident and ends their affair. Whitney is devastated when Tony accepts Bianca's marriage proposal, locking herself in her bedroom. Not knowing what to do, Bianca accepts Dr. Poppy Merritt's (Amy Darcy) help and she refers Whitney to a psychiatrist. Bianca takes her away on holiday, attempting to mend their relationship. When they return on Halloween, Tony and Whitney share a passionate kiss, and Tony informs Whitney that their relationship is back on.

Whitney confesses to Bianca about her relationship with Tony (December 2008).

Whitney becomes jealous when Tony begins showing an interest in Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan). As her sixteenth birthday approaches, she buys tickets for them to travel abroad. Tony has lost interest in Whitney and hides her passport, but it is found and returned to her. On the day she turns sixteen, Whitney confesses everything to Bianca. Horrified, Bianca calls the police, and Tony is arrested. Whitney initially refuses to discuss her and Tony's relationship with the police, believing that they were in love but Bianca makes her realise that Tony abused her and raped her for years. Tony is released on bail and returns to Pat's house, hoping to convince Whitney to lie to the police for him, making Whitney realise Bianca is right, and agrees to make a statement against him.

Whitney contacts her biological mother Debra Dean (Ruth Gemmell) and tries to discuss the past, but Debra isn't interested and rejects her. She meets Todd Taylor (Ashley Kumar) and agrees to go on a date with him, which goes well until he asks about past relationships. Whitney runs away and is found by Bianca's ex-husband Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), drunk. She tries to kiss him but he pushes her away. When it is discovered that Whitney has been shoplifting, she agrees to get professional counselling. Todd returns and Whitney eventually relaxes in his company, agreeing to another date. When Whitney finds a condom in his wallet, she assumes he wants to have sex with her and runs away. Todd is later scared off by a man who is interested in Whitney, and who saves her and several other locals from a hostage situation.

Debra turns up unexpectedly, claiming she is homeless, but reveals she is planning to move to Greece when she has enough money and says Whitney can come with her. Whitney accepts, but later realises that Debra is using her and she is only there to hide from someone. After being tracked down, Debra leaves. On Bianca's birthday, a misunderstanding leads her to suspect Whitney of having an affair with her uncle Max (Jake Wood). Whitney is upset and packs her things, but is halted by Debra's unexpected return. Whitney finds her panicked mother at the door with cuts and bruises on her face, saying that someone is after her. This person is the same man that saved Whitney from the hostage incident, who tells Whitney he is her half-brother, Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott).[5] He has stabbed someone and Debra is keeping the knife for him. Whitney hides the knife and later disposes of it in a canal.

Whitney receives a mobile phone from Tony prior to the commencement of his trial. He leaves her a message begging her to call him, saying he loves her. At the trial, a distressed Whitney runs into the court shouting that she and Tony love each other. She says she will refuse to testify, claiming her witness statement was lies and she was forced to say it. Tony's barrister, Mrs Taylor (Jacqueline Defferary), cross examines Whitney, implying that she pursued him for several years and lied about her accusations. Tony shouts out that he is innocent but Whitney says she trusted him and he abused her. After leaving the courtroom, Whitney hands over the mobile phone with Tony's messages on it to her barrister. Tony is later sentenced to 13 years' custody.

During the trial, Whitney learns that Tiffany is Ricky's daughter. She is initially distressed, but accepts that Tiffany is still her sister although they are not related. She repairs her friendship with Todd, and they kiss at Ricky and Bianca's engagement party. Their reunion is short-lived, and Whitney breaks up with him in favour of Bianca's half-brother Billie Jackson (Devon Anderson). Whitney is attacked by Billie's jealous friend Kylie (Elarica Gallacher), and when his friends cause trouble at a grime night at The Queen Victoria public house, Whitney asks him to choose between her and his former gang. Billie chooses Whitney, and Kylie takes revenge by attempting to shoot him, hitting his uncle Jack (Scott Maslen) instead. Jack is hospitalised with major injuries, and Whitney struggles to help Billie deal with his guilt and subsequent anger and rejection from the Branning and Jackson families. She is further deeply upset when Billie decides to join the army in an attempt to make Jack proud. Billie is angry when he discovers that Leon Small (Sam Attwater) kissed Whitney, though she does not reciprocate. Though he later apologises and they reunite, he upsets Whitney by spending his army leave with friends, and later ends their relationship as he has changed. Whitney tries to help Carol arrange his birthday party, saying that they are still friends, but Carol refuses Whitney's help, stating that she will organise the party alone. At the party, Whitney ends up kissing Peter. She spends the night with him and the next day is upset to learn that Billie has died in his sleep. She blames herself for leaving the party after she sees a text message from Billie saying he still loved her. She sends a reply and lays flowers and candles for him. However, she later goes back to Peter for comfort, and he comforts her again on the day of the funeral. The pair then begins a relationship. However Billie's friend Connor Stanley (Arinze Kene), starts flirting with her, and questions her as to why she would date someone like Peter after dating Billie. He also asks her to sell some stolen jewellery for him, which she agrees to.

At Peter's birthday party, Whitney confides to Lauren (now Jacqueline Jossa) that she feels smothered by Peter's affection for her. Peter's father Ian (Adam Woodyatt) then insults Whitney, which causes Peter to storm out of the party, and Whitney follows him. Later, Whitney's relationship with Peter starts to sink, and she falls for Connor. Connor and Whitney have an on-off relationship, and he continues to see her and Carol at the same time. After it is revealed that Connor has been sleeping with them both, Bianca attacks him and gives herself into the police. Whitney and Carol argue over Connor, and Whitney feels she is not wanted by her family so decides to move out, and stays with Ryan's estranged wife Janine (Charlie Brooks). They go on a night out where a drunken Whitney takes a man, David Priors (Daniel Coonan) back home, though Janine tries to put her off as he thinks they are prostitutes. Janine takes £50 from him before he and Whitney have sex. The next morning, Whitney discovers this and is upset. Janine buys Whitney a gift with the money but Whitney rejects it, however, Janine manipulates her into changing her mind. Whitney then finds out Janine used to be a prostitute. Whitney and Janine meet David again with his friend Gary Dewsbury (Daniel Husbands) at the club, but Whitney is left alone with David. Not wanting to sleep with him again, she steals his wallet when he is at the toilet. He goes to their flat and threatens to call the police but Janine makes him change his mind. Whitney moves out when she and Janine have a falling out and sleeps rough, but Janine allows her to move back. Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) offers Whitney a work trial at The Queen Victoria her a job, but catches her giving free drinks to Janine. Despite this, she lets Whitney off, telling her she is a natural, and works well at the till. When Kat catches her stealing again, she sacks Whitney, leaving Janine angry with Whitney. After Whitney sees Janine successfully pickpocket someone, she decides to try it herself, but ends up being hit in the face. A man called Rob Grayson (Jody Latham) helps her, buys her food and returns her to Albert Square, giving her his phone number.

Whitney tries to kiss Max, causing her to fall out with Lauren. She also argues with Carol, rejects Ricky and is rejected by Liam, Tiffany and Morgan for ruining Ricky's birthday cake days earlier. Upset, Whitney contacts Rob and asks to stay with him, which he accepts. She throws her phone away and tells nobody that she is going. Janine lies about Whitney's whereabouts but when she admits she does not know where Whitney is, Lauren and Janine attempt to find her, and Lauren sees her in Dartford going into a club. Lauren goes back with her to her bedsit, but Whitney does not want to go, saying she and Rob are in love. Lauren is then thrown out by Rob. Whitney has sex with a man called Chris (Richard Simons) and it is revealed that Whitney has been having sex with Rob's friends in order to pay off his debts to them. Janine tries to get Whitney to come home but she refuses, and Rob ejects Janine. Rob then drags Whitney out of the house and into his car, while Janine and Lauren see them driving off. They go to a house where Whitney meets another woman, Chloe (Georgia Henshaw), who is also being exploited. Whitney tells Rob she wants to leave, but he says to either be nice to his friends or he will hurt her. He locks her in a room so she breaks the window and escapes, stopping a car and asking for help, while Rob shouts after her.

The following month, she sends Lauren a message and meets her outside the police station, looking rough, as she has been arrested for shoplifting. She returns home with Lauren, who calls Ricky to collect her. However, she opts to live with Dot Branning (June Brown) instead of her close family, but Dot convinces her to move back to Ricky's. When Ryan returns from a holiday, he learns of Whitney's ordeal and urges her to go to the police and get tested for sexually transmitted infections. She says she is not ready to go to the police but agrees to the test, which shows she has a chlamydia infection.

When Whitney starts a relationship with a man named Lee (Mitchell Hunt), it is revealed that he is a friend of Rob's, and when Whitney agrees to meet Lee by text, Rob takes control of Lee's mobile phone. She goes to meet Lee and is shocked to see Rob instead. She is taken in by his charm until she texts Lee not to come, and then sees the message on Rob's phone. She allows Rob to take her home but then tells him to wait outside while she escapes through the back door and hitches a lift to Southend-on-Sea with friends. She leaves him a voicemail message not knowing that he has followed her. He finds her in her hotel room and tells her how much he loves her, but when Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) comes in, Rob attacks him, so Whitney tells him to leave. Fatboy calls Ryan, who comes to Southend to look for Rob. When he finds him, they fight and fall over the edge of the pier. The next day, a body is recovered from the sea, and is later revealed to be Rob who has died. Whitney thinks Ryan may also be dead until he appears. She tells him she has told the police everything about Rob, including Ryan's fight with him, and Ryan tells Whitney he has to leave. They say an emotional farewell.

Lee returns and is warned off by Whitney. Whitney takes an interest in Tyler Moon (Tony Discipline) but refuses to date him. Tyler takes part in an unlicensed fight at the boxing ring and Whitney turns up to support him. He tells her he won it for her before fitting in front of her eyes. Whitney pleads for Tyler to wake up in hospital. When he returns, he continues to flirt with Whitney and they share a kiss. Whitney applies for a new work experience at the local nursery which she later gets. When Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) tells his brother Tyler about Whitney's recent ordeal, he rejects her but later gives her his special Moon pendant to make up for it. He later gets her some fish. The following week, Tyler upsets Whitney just as she begins to make an effort with him. He later gives her a little black and white bear she thought was cute. She agrees to go on a date with him. They agree to have sex but Whitney is unsure as she remembers her past and runs out, telling Tyler she never wants to see him again. Tyler is hurt. He later tells Fatboy she needs a shrink which Whitney overhears. She runs out and kisses Fatboy and starts a relationship with him. Tyler admits he wants to be with Whitney and tells her that she is using Fatboy to make him jealous. She argues back, insisting that Fatboy is what she needs right now. The following day, Whitney finds out that Lauren slept with Tyler and she is furious with him. Later on, she is comforted by Fatboy and they soon get intimate. Whitney passes an interview to start a child care course. Though still with Fatboy, Whitney is jealous when Lauren kisses Tyler, and goes back to his house with him. Fatboy buys a car for Whitney, but she is initially angry, saying she doesn't want to be owned. However, Whitney relents and accepts the gift. Whitney is jealous when Tyler and Lauren begin a casual relationship. When Tyler comforts Whitney who is dealing with the imminent death of Pat, the pair kiss, but Whitney quickly objects and she rushes back to her family.

Morgan starts asking questions about who his father is, to which Bianca replies that his father is Barack Obama. Knowing the truth, Whitney secretly takes Morgan to see Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn), his real father. Ray did not know that he was a father at all, and is delighted to meet his son. However, Whitney pleads with Morgan not tell Bianca that he has met his father. Ray soon comes to Walford, and Bianca tries to keep Morgan away from him, but Whitney tells Bianca how much she misses her own father, so Bianca allows Morgan and Ray to spend time together.

[edit] Creation

In October 2007, it was announced that the character Bianca Jackson was returning to EastEnders after an absence of six years. Whitney was created as part of her new family; the daughter of Bianca's deceased partner Nathan Dean. She was described as "a teenage drama queen, unable to engage brain before mouth and constantly finding herself in and out of trouble".[6] Bianca sees Whitney as one of her own, and also as "a friend and confidante".[6] EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer said that his vision for the character was someone "quite spiky, quite gobby, a bit of an equal to Bianca, and in a way a version of Bianca at that age".[7] Shona McGarty was cast in the role.

Considering the character's role in the wider context of the show as a whole, it was decided that Whitney would be involved in a sexual relationship with Bianca's partner Tony King. BBC News described the plot as an ongoing "predatory paedophile storyline", noting that this was the first time this subject matter had been tackled by a UK soap opera.[8] The storyline was conceived when EastEnders series consultant Simon Ashdown viewed a documentary about homelessness, featuring a mother and child at a bus stop with nowhere to go. Ashdown questioned what might happen if a paedophile were to befriend the mother in order to grow closer to the child, and related the scenario to Bianca's return to the soap. BBC Head of Drama John Yorke explained that the idea when presented "drew a sharp intake of breath. Most EastEnders stories that have been good and successful have been the ones that caused the sharp intake of breath, so they're always the kind of stories you look for."[7]

The idea that McGarty play a child groomed for sex was put to the actress on 9 January 2008. Santer has stated that, had McGarty or her parents objected to the storyline, they would not have gone ahead with it. In the event, McGarty's parents merely requested that their daughter not be asked to publicise the role, and the actress began filming her first scenes on 14 January 2008.[7]

[edit] Development

[edit] Sexual abuse

In order to develop Whitney's sexual abuse storyline, by March 2008 EastEnders researchers Libby Duplock and Cleo Bicat were in contact with the NSPCC's Tom Narducci, Jude Toasland, who deals with abused children, and Yvonne Traynor, CEO of the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre. Duplock has stated that: "One thing that was quite difficult for me to get right was the idea that she didn't want sex. It's Whitney's way of keeping Tony happy. If she lets him do it, then he's nicer to her and he makes her feel special."[7] Research highlighted the fact that 12% of abused children go on to become abusers in turn, however Duplock explained: "We felt that to imply on TV that someone who has been abused is going to go on to abuse other people is not a message you want to give out. Those people have been through enough."[7] Narducci for the NSPCC stated that importance was placed on making children viewing the show "feel comfortable about asking for help if they felt they needed it [and] for the wider community - to recognise the signs and let them know that they can do something about it. [...] We're not trying to cause a national panic. This is a responsible effort to try to get over an important story."[7]

It had initially been decided that, alongside Tony's sexual abuse, Whitney would be seen to self-harm. This aspect of the storyline was discarded, after the NSPCC suggested that it may distract from the main issue of her abuse. Final approval for the storyline was sought from BBC Head of Fiction Jane Tranter on 2 June 2008. Tranter explained:

"I thought it was a fantastically good idea. The big moments in EastEnders, those iconic pieces of television history, tend to be the things that are incredibly near the knuckle, and are actually quite difficult subjects to raise in the context of a family sitting room. [...] Soaps are meant to hold up a mirror to our lives, and sometimes that mirror will show ugly bits, difficult bits, taboo bits. But if a soap doesn't hold up that mirror, then actually, what is it? It will have no depth."[7]

Chris Coghill was cast as Whitney's abuser Tony on 20 June 2008. Upon accepting the role, he commented: "Shona doesn't act, or look, like a little child. Which helps."[7] He has added of their off-screen relationship: "Shona's fantastic to work with. She's very natural, very instinctive and a natural actress. There isn't any uncomfortable feeling at all."[9] Having undergone a thorough characterisation session, Coghill began shooting on 30 June 2008, and first appeared on-screen on 12 September 2008.[7] Coghill has explained that Tony began grooming Whitney as soon as he met Bianca, ingratiating himself so as to become the family's "hero figure" and "saviour".[9][10][11] Discussing his character's relationship with Whitney, Coghill explained that: "The lie that Tony has spun to Whitney is that as soon as she's 16 they'll run away together and start a new life. But Tony's the type of paedophile who preys on younger children. Whitney is beginning to pass her sell-by date with him. [...] He feels like he's losing his little girl but needs to keep Whitney under his control and not speak out."[12] Coghill stated that: "This is the most challenging role I have had to play. But I hope by EastEnders tackling the sensitive issue of child abuse it can raise awareness."[13] When asked how she felt about the abuse storyline, Palmer commented: "It would be brilliant if it helped somebody. If one person out there who's been abused saw [the legal system] go out of their way to make it easier on the victim – Whitney's evidence is given by video link – it will be worth it."[14]

[edit] Sexual exploitation

In January 2011, it was announced that Whitney would be part of a upcoming storyline on sexual exploitation. Whitney is left alone and vulnerable, and falls for a man, Rob Grayson, played by Jody Latham,[15] who exploits her for financial gain. EastEnders worked alongside charity Comic Relief on the storyline, which started planning in 2010. The storyline culminated during Red Nose Day 2011 on 19 March 2011, in a special ten-minute episode. Gilly Green, Head of UK Grants at Comic Relief, said: "It is vital that we continue to alert young people to the dangers if we are to stop them being exploited and the opportunity to work with EastEnders will make a huge audience aware of this issue. We have been working with the EastEnders script writers and some of the young women from projects we support to ensure the story reflects the reality of young people caught up in sexual exploitation."[16] Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, added "We have worked over many years with EastEnders in all kinds of ways. It's been a real pleasure this year to work together on a piece of serious drama, in the best traditions of public service, which will highlight an important issue and also, because it occurs on the night of Comic Relief, actually help raise crucial funds to help young women caught up in it."[16] The storyline begins when Bianca is sent to prison and Whitney rejects her family, moving in with Janine and attempting to make money by stealing from The Queen Victoria, causing her to get sacked, working for Max, whom she tries to kiss as she has a crush on him, and pickpocketing. When she is caught, Rob rescues her from the situation and offers her what McGarty called a "dream life", which Whitney thinks is her chance to move up in the world as she feels lonely and has no friends.[17]

McGarty told Inside Soap that she hoped the storyline would have a positive impact, saying that she had done some research herself before filming, meeting teenage girls who had been exploited and hearing their experiences.[18] She said she felt honoured and privileged to be given the storyline.[19]

[edit] Other appearances

Whitney makes a cameo appearance in episode eight of the second series of the Internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20, in which she buys some trainers from Asher Levi (Heshima Thompson) but later returns them as they are of different sizes. Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) joins the argument and snatches Asher's wallet when he says he does not give refunds, but he snatches it back. Jane tells two police officers he is a thief and they chase after him.

[edit] Reception

The BBC and television regulatory body Ofcom received 70 complaints after Whitney's first scenes with Tony aired.[20] A BBC spokesman responded: "This is a difficult and challenging storyline, but one which keeps with the tradition of the show for tackling difficult social issues such as domestic abuse and mental health in the past. All the content on screen adheres to the BBC's editorial guidelines."[21] The Guardian's Aida Edemariam said of the beginning of the storyline: "what is most disturbing, watching [Tony and Whitney's] first scenes together, is not the sexuality of the situation per se, though that is uncomfortable - it's the subtle blackmail with which he keeps her in line. As it's combined with the emotional manipulation native to soaps, the viewer starts to feel a bit bullied, too."[7] Numbers of viewer complaints rose within days to over 200.[22][23] New Statesman journalist Jeremy Sare commented on the public outrage and defended EastEnders decision to air the storyline, writing:

"There may be some justification for the hundreds complaining about these distressing issues being presented in prime time: equally it is courageous for the Beeb to include a scenario which challenges the public’s perception of what is a ‘typical paedophile’. The repellent Tony’s grooming and seduction of his stepdaughter, Whitney, is a much more familiar pattern of abuse than the more commonly held image of predators lurking in parks. [...] The producers of Eastenders, labouring under a welter of tabloid protest and viewers’ complaints, are attempting to make people get past the initial revulsion of the act of abuse and accept the grim fact that ‘paedophiles’ are very often members of the same family."[24]

Sare quoted a BBC spokeswoman as saying: "we appreciate that for some viewers this storyline will have particular resonance and significance. In running it, it's certainly not our intention to cause distress or upset, either to those who've suffered from sexual abuse or their families. Our aim is instead to raise awareness of this very sensitive issue",[24] concluding his article with the summation: "The producers' dilemma is instructive to children’s charities and Ministers alike on how to confront the issue in a digestible manner which can stimulate an objective debate."[24]

The Daily Mirror's Beth Neil branded the plot strand "one of the darkest and most disturbing storylines EastEnders has ever attempted",[3] with critic Jim Shelley deeming it a "new low" for EastEnders.[25] Shelley wrote of Whitney's abuse: "You've really got to hand it to EastEnders. Just when you thought the show couldn't get any more miserable, the writers come up trumps and produce a new way of making us depressed - a paedophile storyline. Thanks for that! I realise now this is what the family meal has been missing three nights a week: gathering the telly to watch a grubby, greasyhaired thug drooling over a 15-year-old girl who (as luck would have it) spends her entire life in her school uniform even when she's not at school. And they say family entertainment's dead."[26] Shelley refuted the BBC's claims that the storyline had educational value as "totally bogus", observing that "At 7.30 or 8pm, the "action" has to be so coded as to be pointless".[26] Deborah Orr, writing for The Independent, similarly disagreed with the BBC's statement that the storyline was part of EastEnders' "rich heritage of tackling difficult social issues",[27] writing that:

"Actually, it's part of its rich heritage of leaping in to some horrific subject without any background or build-up at all. The implication is that Tony, the villain, had been grooming the child for some time before he went to prison, when she was only 12. But such a thing really would be too real, and too controversial, so the viewer only gets to see the result of those hinted-at dark machinations.
"It might be a public service to dramatise the manner in which a paedophile might worm his way into a vulnerable family. But such a storyline would have to be explored carefully and over a long period. All that this little adventure in broadcasting can possibly deliver is the message that a paedophile in the heart of the home is not a good thing. Who needs to be educated about this?"[27]

The Daily Mail's Lizzie Smith deemed the storyline "horrifying",[2] while The Guardian's Julie Raeside questioned: "Is this latest sexual abuse storyline a good thing to position in a pre-watershed soap opera, or should the EastEnders storyliners stick to a less controversial brand of misery?"[28] However, in contrast to public and media dissent, the NSPCC's director of communications, John Grounds, praised the storyline for "helping to raise awareness of the hidden nature of sexual abuse",[4] deeming it to be "vital in persuading people to take action to stop it and encouraging children to speak out."[4]

Episodes from Whitney's storyline were submitted to the Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2008 for a panel to judge in the category Soap and Continuing Drama. EastEnders was presented with the award in March 2009, beating Coronation Street and The Bill. Members of the judging panel described the submitted episodes as "the culmination of a particularly challenging and controversial storyline which the production team, writers and cast pulled off triumphantly."[29][30]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Stacey Branning's baby revelation". STV.tv. STV Group plc. 21 February 2010. http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/158783-stacey-brannings-baby-revelation/. Retrieved 1 July 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Smith, Lizzie (12 September 2008). "Now EastEnders tackles paedophilia with horrifying child abuse 'grooming' plotline". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1054810/EastEnders-tackles-paedophilia-horrifying-child-abuse-plotline.html. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  3. ^ a b Neil, Beth (26 September 2008). "Exclusive: EastEnders' Tony King and the other most evil characters in soap". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news-old/top-stories/2008/09/26/exclusive-eastenders-tony-king-and-the-other-most-evil-characters-in-soap-115875-20753242/. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  4. ^ a b c Holmwood, Leigh (2 July 2008). "EastEnders to tackle child sex abuse". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jul/02/bbc.television. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  5. ^ Green, Kris (10 July 2009). "'EastEnders' mystery man finally revealed". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a163021/eastenders-mystery-man-finally-revealed.html. Retrieved 10 July 2009. 
  6. ^ a b Green, Kris (18 March 2008). "In pictures: Meet Enders' Jackson Five". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a91777/in-pictures-meet-enders-jackson-five.html. Retrieved 18 March 2008. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Edemariam, Aida (13 September 2008). "Dark days in Albert Square". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/13/eastenders.television. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  8. ^ Casciani, Dominic (15 September 2008). "Will sex offender pilots work?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7613307.stm. Retrieved 15 September 2008. 
  9. ^ a b Green, Kris (9 September 2008). "Chris Coghill (Tony King, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a128999/chris-coghill-tony-king-eastenders.html. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  10. ^ Quade, Gemma (12 September 2008). "Coming up in EastEnders". The Sun (News International). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1681140.ece. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  11. ^ "Actor in controversial storyline". This is Lancashire. 24 September 2008. http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/burytimes/3698700.Actor_in_controversial_storyline/. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  12. ^ Rodger, Jennifer (13 September 2008). "My Role Can Help To Expose Sickos". Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland: Trinity Mirror). http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-catch-all/2008/09/13/my-role-can-help-to-expose-sickos-86908-20734722/. Retrieved 25 September 2008. [dead link]
  13. ^ "Shameless actor Chris Coghill signs up for paedophile role in EastEnders". Daily Mirror (Trinity Mirror). 4 July 2008. http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/07/04/shameless-actor-chris-coghill-signs-up-for-paedophile-role-in-eastenders-115875-20630896/. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  14. ^ "Patsy: Why I prefer Ricky and Bianca apart". What's on TV. IPC Media. 6 December 2009. http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/eastenders/interviews/patsy-why-i-prefer-ricky-and-bianca-apart/7637. Retrieved 12 December 2009. 
  15. ^ "Barrowford actor Jody Latham to appear in ‘Eastenders’". Pendle Today (Johnston Publishing). http://www.pendletoday.co.uk/news/local-news/barrowford_actor_jody_latham_to_appear_in_eastenders_1_2928859. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
  16. ^ a b Humphreys, Matt (9 January 2011). "EastEnders working with Comic Relief". EastEnders (BBC). http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders/2011/01/comicrelief.shtml. Retrieved 9 January 2011. 
  17. ^ Lamacraft, Tess (19 February 2011). "Whit does a moonlight flit!". Buzz (London: News Group Newspapers) (22): 29. 
  18. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (23 February 2011). "McGarty hopes for positive 'Enders impact". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a304385/mcgarty-hopes-for-positive-enders-impact.html. Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
  19. ^ Love, Ryan (23 February 2011). "McGarty "honoured" by 'EastEnders' plot". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a305419/mcgarty-honoured-by-eastenders-plot.html. Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
  20. ^ Revoir, Paul (17 September 2008). "Scores of complaints as EastEnders shows scenes of a paedophile grooming a teenager". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1056737/Scores-complaints-EastEnders-shows-scenes-paedophile-grooming-teenager.html. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  21. ^ Lee, Cara (17 September 2008). "Complaints over paedo plot". The Sun (News International). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1701370.ece. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  22. ^ Sandison, Nikki (18 September 2008). "EastEnders paedophile plot sparks over 200 complaints". Brand Republic (Haymarket Group). http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/847004/EastEnders-paedophile-plot-sparks-200-complaints/. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  23. ^ Holmwood, Leigh (18 September 2008). "EastEnders paedophile storyline draws 200 complaints". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/18/bbc.television. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  24. ^ a b c Sare, Jeremy (22 September 2008). "The dangers of Sarah's law". New Statesman. http://www.newstatesman.com/law-and-reform/2008/09/sex-offenders-children-sarah. Retrieved 25 September 2008. 
  25. ^ Shelley, Jim (15 September 2008). "New low of the week: EastEnders". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv-entertainment/columnists/jim-shelley/2008/09/15/new-low-of-the-week-eastenders-115875-20737944/. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  26. ^ a b *Shelley, Jim (29 September 2008). "Sick love triangle is a new low in EastEnders Albert Square". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv-entertainment/columnists/jim-shelley/2008/09/29/sick-love-triangle-is-a-new-low-in-eastenders-albert-square-115875-20759715/. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  27. ^ a b Orr, Deborah (20 September 2008). "A controversy too far for 'EastEnders'". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/deborah-orr/deborah-orr-better-trust-the-government-than-the-free-marketeers-936164.html. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  28. ^ Raeside, Julie (2 July 2008). "EastEnders: no stranger to controversial storylines". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2008/jul/02/eastendersplotschildsexabu. Retrieved 6 November 2008. 
  29. ^ "RTS award success". BBC Online. 18 March 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/news/news_20090318.shtml. Retrieved 29 March 2009. 
  30. ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2008". Royal Television Society. http://www.rts.org.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det.asp?art_id=7594&sec_id=3747. Retrieved 29 March 2009. 

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