Yahoo Lifestyle Gay kiss 'furore' to domestic violence: How EastEnders shattered taboos
Over its 40-year run, EastEnders hasn't just been plot twists, emotions and gripping "doof doof" cliffhangers.
It's also tackled social issues head-on, its stars say.
The series has "done more to create social awareness" on these issues "than probably any documentary", says actor Ross Kemp, who plays leather-jacket-wearing Grant Mitchell.
Kemp, who is hosting a BBC documentary on the history of the soap, says over the last four decades EastEnders has been able to take on subjects many feel are taboo - and it continues to do so with recent storylines including topics such as spiking.
"You can introduce those things through a continuing drama, a soap like EastEnders, and inform more people than you possibly would do with a government campaign," he says.
First gay kiss
On 17 November 1987, EastEnders aired a kiss between characters Colin Russell (played by Lord Michael Cashman) and his boyfriend Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) on the side of the head.
There was a "furore" after the kiss was broadcast, Kemp recalls, adding "it wasn't even a kiss on the lips".
Former actor Lord Cashman speaks to Kemp about the reaction during the new documentary EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square.
"The media went berserk," he says. "There were calls for 'this kind of filth to be taken off our screens'."
Lord Cashman says "it was a weird and dark time," adding "there was rampant homophobia".
In 1988, Section 28 of the Local Government Act was introduced, which banned places like schools and libraries from "promoting homosexuality".
Lord Cashman's character Colin went on to share the first mouth-to-mouth kiss between two gay men on a British soap with character Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan) in 1989.
However, the former actor, later an activist and politician, recalls the reaction from fans: "There was one guy and he said: 'I used to stand behind the sofa so that my mum and dad couldn't see me looking at you and I knew I wasn't alone.' It made a difference."
Domestic violence
According to Ofcom's first review of public service television broadcasting, audiences said early evening programmes, like soaps, had an important social role in airing complex and controversial issues.
One example came in the early 2000s, when the soap featured a domestic violence and coercive control storyline featuring Little Mo Slater (Kacey Ainsworth) and her brutal partner Trevor Morgan (Alex Ferns).
Actor Ainsworth says members of the public would often confuse her for her character and offer sympathy to her in the street. "People would try and sit me down in places, they'd put their arms around me," she says. "They'd want to look after me."
The actor adds she received "hundreds" of letters a week from victims of similar violence.
Though one watchdog at the time said the show went "too far" for pre-watershed TV, research for a national domestic violence helpline highlighted the storyline as the most significant TV portrayal of violence in the home in 30 years.
Colourism
Molly Rainford, who plays Anna Knight, was introduced to the Square in 2023. She is the daughter of George Knight and Cindy Beale and is part of the first black and dual heritage family to run a pub on any UK soap.
In February 2024, the soap aired scenes of Molly and her on-screen sister, Gina Knight (Francesca Henry), discussing colourism and how differently they are treated because of their different skin tones.
Colourism is prejudice against people who have a darker skin tone or the preferential treatment of those who are the same race but have lighter skin.
Speaking about the storyline, Rainford says: "These are conversations that happen in every mixed-raced family's life. All of these conversations are so important and so valid, especially right now."
Rainford says parents told her their children had "conversations on the playground that day after seeing that".
Transgender representation
In 2015, Riley Carter Millington became the first transgender man to play a recurring trans character in a British soap, with his portrayal of Kyle Slater in EastEnders.
Carter Millington says "there wasn't a lot of on-screen representation" for trans people and he was "overwhelmed" and grateful to have been cast in the role.
"I understood the weight of it and I didn't take it lightly," the actor says, adding that despite leaving the soap in 2016, he still gets messages from fans about his character.
Kemp adds that EastEnders is "ever-evolving" with society - and that while there will "always be a certain crowd that will poo poo it and look down upon it", it has made some "landmark television" over the last 40 years.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can visit BBC Action Line, including for issues related to sexual abuse and violence and domestic abuse.
As part of EastEnders' 40th anniversary week, BBC News will be hosting live coverage of the live episode on Thursday 20 February, which you can watch on BBC One and iPlayer, and follow on our live page.
From Wednesday, you'll be able to cast your vote here on who Denise decides her future is with, Jack or Ravi.
