BBC's first ever all-black episode

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 09:15 AM

Eastenders is an awful show, in terms of viewer capacity consider maybe the Britsih equivalent of Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond - the show is like crack for the massess. A depressing, dull and ugly version of crack...

The point I would like to make here is over the attempts of political correctness trying to give rise to social integration. I've lived in London for some time now, and despite being 'one of the most cultrally divers cities in the world', there is evidently racial divide. North London is home to scores of gangs all grouped racially.

So what, we all need to watch one of the most popular shows in Britain to see that black people are all like us and they're just as many? How patronizing?! Why should a show be dedicated in such a way. A pathetic attempt by the BBC.

Your views on this and the subject in general?

The BBC's first ever all black episode of EastEnders which aired last night, gained an audience of 8.4million viewers.

The show which included references to civil rights leader Martin Luther King and racism showed an increase of over 1million viewers in comparison to last Tuesday's episode.

And this week the show was up against Champions League football on ITV1 rather than it's usual ratings rival Emmerdale.

The episode has sparked a mixed reaction. The Guardian’s Hannah Pool said she was surprised it had taken 23 years to broadcast such an episode.

'It felt like a well-meaning attempt,' she said. 'The trouble was it felt more like a history lesson than light entertainment'.
Tim Teeman, of The Times, said the BBC’s stance that it was not intended as a 'black' episode was 'disingenuous'.

Meanwhile, Tory MP David Davies said it did not give a balanced view of race issues. He said: 'There’s a danger here of winding up non-black people.'

The script saw the characters talking about the racist 1950s slogan 'Keep Britain White' and included the phrases 'coloureds' and 'negroes'.

**edders** · February 25, 2009, 09:40 AM

Comparing it to Friends - a somewhat formulaic comedy sitcom - is unfair. Eastenders is basically the fetishisation of petty, cretinous troglodyte Londoners without the slightest hint of ambition beyond going down the pub and causing unwanted pregnancies. It shares the same kind of audience as The Sun or The Daily Mail, i.e. the clinically retarded. Even a single episode would likely make you feel significantly dumber were you forced to sit through it.

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 09:46 AM

I know, I stuttered over a comparison. Hence the comparison over viewer percentages.

**mongrel** · February 25, 2009, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

Eastenders is an awful show, in terms of viewer capacity consider maybe the Britsih equivalent of Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond - the show is like crack for the massess. A depressing, dull and ugly version of crack...

The point I would like to make here is over the attempts of political correctness trying to give rise to social integration. I've lived in London for some time now, and despite being 'one of the most cultrally divers cities in the world', there is evidently racial divide. North London is home to scores of gangs all grouped racially.

Essentailly this show is highlighting that there are manys blacks in London that all hang around together. I would find it almost patronizing...why should a show be dedicated in such a way. A pathetic attempt by the BBC.

Your views on this and the subject in general?

I will watch as much as ican bear on iplayer. I expect it will be patronising. Don't agree on your simplistic view on the 'racial divide' Too many mixed raced people to support that view.

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 09:53 AM

Don't agree on your simplistic view on the 'racial divide' Too many mixed raced people to support that view.

Explain? Because I know of multiple gangs grouped into :black carribeans, serbs, greeks, turks, pols, indians, somalians and nigerian.

Of course London is large place. Walking about the streets in central and you will seldom see a gang. But post code and race orientated gang war in prevalent throughout London and the UK. And it is rising.

I have no problem with eastenders. Just the BBC's attempt to what...make a race feel more socially accpeted. Stunts such as this are ridiculous.

**mongrel** · February 25, 2009, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

Explain? Because I know of multiple gangs grouped into :black carribeans, serbs, greeks, turks, pols, indians, somalians and nigerian.

Of course London is large place. Walking about the streets in central and you will seldom see a gang. But post code and race orientated gang war in prevalent throughout London and the UK. And it is rising.

I have no problem with eastenders. Just the BBC's attempt to what...make a race feel more socially accpeted. Stunts such as this are ridiculous.

I suspect this is an attempt to make amends for years of underepresentation. but they will never get it right. It will always remain as accurate a representation of my part of the world as a Mary Poppins dance ensemble accompanied by Chas 'n' Dave .

50 % of Afro Carribeans have a white partner, can't possibly be divided from whites as a group, whatever the far-right or the politically correct say.20% of Africans also have a white partner. I have even seen a Polish speaking black baby on the bus. Forget the margins of society and look at how ordinary people interact, schools, churches or whatever.

Originally Posted by Yorkshireman

True.

I did'nt see the programme, watching the football, so I can only go on what I've read. Seems most of it was a look back at history of black immigrants in the UK, would probabley be done a bit better in a BBC 2 documentary than 'Cor blimey' Eastenders..

Thanks for the heads up. If that is the case I would rather it was a cockney musical, it least I'd get a larf.

Originally Posted by Duke

Yeah, I think Martin Luther Kings dream was to have black people and white people holding hands togther as one, not with black people triumphant and superior with whites hidden away and ostracized.

Ahh only in the beautiful minds of the BBC.

What's so superior about Rudolf Walker?

**Otherside** · February 25, 2009, 09:48 AM

its just a soap thats it whats the big deal, also i wouldnt call all watchers idiots i mean its a tv show i wouldnt watch it but just because some people like it doesnt mean they are stupid

**Yorkshireman** · February 25, 2009, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Otherside

its just a soap thats it whats the big deal, also i wouldnt call all watchers idiots i mean its a tv show i wouldnt watch it but just because some people like it doesnt mean they are stupid

Precisely, I don't know why everybody gets so high and mighty about it, its only light entertainment, regularly watched by at least a third of the population.

I defy anybody to say they have'nt watched at least an episode of any soap opera in the UK, even the self confessed brain boxes. I mean even Stephen Fry admitted he's addicted to watching darts on the tv!

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Yorkshireman

Precisely, I don't know why everybody gets so high and mighty about it, its only light entertainment, regularly watched by at least a third of the population.

I defy anybody to say they have'nt watched at least an episode of any soap opera in the UK, even the self confessed brain boxes. I mean even Stephen Fry admitted he's addicted to watching darts on the tv!

Darts is legendary.

I am pointing out the pathetic attempt by the BBC to promote racial involvement. Its bloody patronising and only makes things worse. So what, we all need to watch one of the most popular shows in Britain to see that black people are all like us and they're just as many?

Absolute tripe.

**Yorkshireman** · February 25, 2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

Darts is legendary.

I am pointing out the pathetic attempt by the BBC to promote racial involvement. Its bloody patronising and only makes things worse. So what, we all need to watch one of the most popular shows in Britain to see that black people are all like us and they're jst as many?
Absolute tripe.

True.

I did'nt see the programme, watching the football, so I can only go on what I've read. Seems most of it was a look back at history of black immigrants in the UK, would probabley be done a bit better in a BBC 2 documentary than 'Cor blimey' Eastenders.

This is a part of what the Guardians column had to say,

While I admire the intention, you can't just ignore race for 23 years then try to cram everything you know into 30 minutes. Last night we had the Notting Hill riots, steel pans, carnival, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. I half expected Patrick to mention how he walked off Windrush with his brother Trevor McDonald and how thrilled he is his grandson Lewis Hamilton is doing so well. It gave the disconcerting impression that when they are on their own black families just sit around talking about race. Race should be a subtle part of the characters. This was all a little too neat, and yet clumsy at the same time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...lack-tv-review

**Ojf** · February 25, 2009, 09:50 AM

lol i watch eastenders
last night i didn't even notice that it was a all black episode, was dull though

**Carach** · February 25, 2009, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

Eastenders is an awful show, in terms of viewer capacity consider maybe the Britsih equivalent of Friends or Everybody Loves Raymond - the show is like crack for the massess. A depressing, dull and ugly version of crack...

The point I would like to make here is over the attempts of political correctness trying to give rise to social integration. I've lived in London for some time now, and despite being 'one of the most cultrally divers cities in the world', there is evidently racial divide. North London is home to scores of gangs all grouped racially.

Essentailly this show is highlighting that there are manys blacks in London that all hang around together. I would find it almost patronizing...why should a show be dedicated in such a way. A pathetic attempt by the BBC.

Your views on this and the subject in general?

basically agree with u. find it pretty sad on the part of the BBC.

but tbh, i couldnt care less - its eastenders.. never watch it, the show is shite.

**~~removeduser_487563287433~~** · February 25, 2009, 10:05 AM

Seems like a massive step backwards.

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Ferrets54

Seems like a massive step backwards.

Exactly, they may as well just have a commercial break..."black people...they go down the pup and chippy just like YOU"

**VALIS** · February 25, 2009, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by TheGuardian

Last night we had the Notting Hill riots, steel pans, carnival, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

Yeah, I think Martin Luther Kings dream was to have black people and white people holding hands togther as one, not with black people triumphant and superior with whites hidden away and ostracized.

Ahh only in the beautiful minds of the BBC.

**Carach** · February 26, 2009, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by Vince Noir

Exactly, they may as well just have a commercial break..."black people...they go down the pup and chippy just like YOU"

lmfao, can picture the propagnada posters *imagines black version of kitchener pointing a finger*

**I Am Herenow** · February 25, 2009, 10:20 AM

Why is it such a big deal? If 22% of the East End is black (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2.../ethnicity.asp) and 5/56 (9%) of EastEnders characters are black (http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/), then it's hardly an exaggerated number in black people's favour, is it? If anything, there should be more black EastEnders characters, according to the statistics.

I Am Herenow

**Vince Noir** · February 25, 2009, 10:22 AM

There are lies, more lies and statistics. The the point of the show was painful and embarrassing. Stunts such as this help nothing. In fact they they hinder anything progressive.