-Controversial cot-death storyline cut short
-New storyline will see Whitney Dean become a teen prostitute
-Actress who plays Ronnie Branning 'abused in the street' by angry public
-Viewer complaints to the BBC pass 8,400
-BBC boss Jana Bennett claim storyline was 'sensitive' and educational
Distressing: A scene starring Womack from one of the soap's most controversial episodes
EastEnders bosses have caved in to audience fury about its controversial cot-death storyline and are to conclude it with a happy ending - a rarity in the soap.
Insiders revealed: 'When Kat Moon is finally reunited with her son, the focus will be on her happiness at discovering the child she thought was dead is alive and well.'
It is thought that the plot will conclude around Easter with Ronnie Branning handing back baby Tommy, who she stole from Kat to replace her baby James after he fell victim to Sudden Infant Death Sydrome (SIDS) in what are described as 'tender scenes'.
It has also been revealed that the soap is planning another controversial plot twist, which will see Whitney Dean descend into prostitution.
The Daily Mirror reports that 18-year-old Whitney - Bianca Butcher's step-daughter, played by Shona McGarty - will become a £50-a-time hooker after a row with her family.
Whitney was previously the victim of child abuse by Bianca's former partner Tony King. Scriptwriters are collaborating with Comic Relief on the storyline, which will highlight the sexual exploitation of young women.
Prostitution storyline: Whitney Dean - seen here with brother Ryan - is set to become a £50-a-time hooker
The news comes after two of the BBC’s most senior executives defended the cot-death storyline, claiming it was ‘educational’ and ‘sensitive’.
Complaints to the Corporation have soared to 8,400 - a record for the soap, which has been running for nearly 26 years.
Jana Bennett, the BBC’s director of vision, said the plot ‘allows viewers to learn’.
And director general Mark Thompson said the audience expected ‘challenging and engrossing’ storylines.
In episodes aired over the New Year, a mother whose newborn baby has just died secretly swaps the child for a healthy one born to a neighbour on the same day.
Yesterday Miss Bennett sent an open letter to Justine Roberts, founder of the Mumsnet website which has been vocal in its criticism of the storyline.
She wrote: ‘I would like to assure you that on the issue of a baby swap the show is absolutely not suggesting that this behaviour is typical of a mother who has suffered such a terrible and tragic loss.
‘Taking [the] baby is the action of a character in great distress due to a series of events that have befallen her in the last 18 months.
‘It is also worth saying that in the telling of this story the issues of death caused by the loss of a child and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are sensitively handled.
‘EastEnders has a long history of tackling difficult issues in a way that allows viewers to learn and debate the topic at hand.’
Mumsnet had complained to Mr Thompson about the show and it is understood he asked Miss Bennett to reply on his behalf.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Thompson said: ‘I want to be clear – the show is absolutely not suggesting that this behaviour is typical of a mother who has suffered the loss of a child through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is one moment of madness that had been provoked by a series of events that have befallen the character over the last 18 months.’
Traumatic: Kat and Alfie Moon, whose son has been swapped for Ronnie's dead baby
But the cot death charity consulted by the BBC over the storyline continued to distance itself from the show, saying it had ‘sympathy’ for those upset by it.
Media regulator Ofcom is understood to have received around 500 further complaints, while thousands have deluged online forums and radio phone-ins to voice their concerns.
Charities and parenting groups such as Mumsnet have suggested the storyline was simply a ‘cynical ploy’ to pull in ratings.
Miss Bennett also volunteered the show’s executive producer Bryan Kirkwood to appear in a ‘web-chat’ to discuss the issue.
Before the public backlash, Mr Kirkwood had described the baby swap as ‘one of the most powerful moments in EastEnders history’.
Senior insiders at the BBC said it was unlikely that anyone would be reprimanded or fired over the plot.
The huge volume of complaints means it is likely that the BBC’s internal Editorial Complaints Unit will have to investigate.
A spokesman for Ofcom said it would not rule on whether to investigate the show until the spring because it needed to wait until the storyline had been played out.
It will have to assess whether the show is in breach of section two of the broadcasting code, which covers harm and offence to viewers.
Last night a spokesman for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, which advised the show, insisted that it did not ‘endorse’ the baby swap plot line.
Director Joyce Epstein said: ‘We think cot death is dramatic enough. We have huge sympathy for people upset by this storyline.’
Furious viewers are still discussing the show more than a week on.
One wrote on an internet message board: ‘The BBC has just gone too far this time.
'Why do they need to make an already traumatic situation even worse?’
The BBC has already sought to justify the episodes by pointing out that calls to the cot death charity had increased five-fold since they were broadcast.
The episodes on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day got 7.3million and 8.9million viewers respectively.
It is also claimed some of the core team of 20 writers disagreed with the scenes, which were said to have been suggested by a handful of writers who do not have children.
A source on the soap said: ‘There are plenty of people on the set who have children and they have been utterly shocked. But some of those pushing the storyline do not have children themselves and don’t seem to realise the effect it is having on people.’
They added: ‘Many felt they just can’t relate to how shocked parents are feeling.’
Stressed: Samantha Womack, who has quit EastEnders, looked strained as she arrived home, as co-star Jessie Wallace, right, looks equally drained on set
More damagingly, cot death charity FSID, which had advised the show, issued a statement on its website making it clear it had no influence on the ‘baby-swap’ story.
The BBC’s website says ‘the production team worked with FSID to research the portrayal of Kat and Alfie when they are bereaved by cot death’.
But the FSID statement said: ‘We are very sorry to know of the very natural distress caused by this plotline but would like to stress that our involvement was limited to advice on SIDS [sudden infant death syndrome] risk factors, bereavement and the involvement of health professionals and the police.’
It added: ‘FSID had no involvement in the planning or adoption of the specific “baby swap” plotline.
'The behaviour and actions of Ronnie are in no way “endorsed” by FSID as a typical, or even likely, reaction of a bereaved parent.’
Source:Dailymail
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