EastEnders viewers complain over pre-watershed swearing

Nearly 30 EastEnders viewers have complained after a character used offensive language before the watershed.

Carol Jackson, played by Lindsey Coulson, called her brother Max Branning (Jake Wood) a “bastard” at 7.58pm during the latest episode of the BBC1 soap.

The TV watershed is 9pm, and material which may not be suitable for children should not be broadcast before that time.

A spokesman for Ofcom said it had already received 29 complaints.

He added: “We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not.”

EastEnders fans took to Twitter to express their shock and concern.

Cameron Jolley tweeted: “Can someone tell me why Carol called Max a bastard on EastEnders tonight? It’s meant to be a family soap.”

Trevor Sheldon complained: “Why did Carol say bastard in EastEnders, I gasped so hard?”

Ethan O’Donnell wrote: “Nearly knocked my cup of tea over just then when Carol called Max a ‘bastard’ on watershed Eastenders. Despicable.”

John Lee tweeted: “I was stunned when Carol Jackson used the word ‘Bastard’ on tonight’s #eastenders #beforethewatershed.”

But a lot of viewers saw the funny side to the outrage expressed on social media.

SamblyMoron wrote: “OMG bbceastenders Carol called Max a bastard! Is that allowed before 9pm? I was quite shocked but also found it quite funny!”

ChrisEssex tweeted: “Why the fuss about Carol saying bastard? #EastEnders”

And several Twitter users pointed out that Max’s wife Tanya Branning, played by Jo Joyner, had used the same word to describe him during their divorce proceedings which aired in 2008.

Caley Pearson tweeted: “Don’t get why people are making a fuss about #Eastenders and Carol saying the B-word. Didn’t Tanya do it years ago too??”

And Karl Downey wrote: “Everyone’s talking about Carol swearing. Tanya called Max a bastard in divorce court in 2008.”

A spokeswoman for EastEnders said: “We are always mindful of the time slot in which we go out.

“As our regular viewers will know, Carol has been pushed to her limits by her brother and her unusual outburst reflected her frustration.”