Link to articleBBC says sorry as Eastenders sparks Hillsborough outrageNov 15 2007
by Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo
HUNDREDS of people have complained to the BBC over comments made on EastEnders linking football hooligans and Hillsborough.
The BBC apologised for any offence the storyline had caused – or if the “remark was misinterpreted”.
By yesterday teatime the corporation had received almost 300 calls and e-mails protesting about the comments.
They came during a violent episode of the four-times-weekly soap, which itself attracted more than 150 complaints.
The Hillsborough row was sparked by a scene following a vicious gang attack on the soap’s Queen Vic pub, where hoodlums were searching for the character Jase, who is from Manchester.
Scriptwriters then introduced a storyline about his football hooligan past.
EastEnders mechanic Minty told him: “Five years out of Europe because of Heysel, because they pinned you lot in to stop you fighting on the pitch, and then what did we end up with – Hillsborough.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: “Minty was actually reminding Jase that football hooliganism at Heysel led directly to the fencing-in of fans at matches.
“He points out this had tragic consequences – for the innocent spectators at Hillsborough.
“The BBC apologises if this remark was misinterpreted or caused any offence.”
But Liverpool fans were not happy.
Jim Sharman, who runs the Red and White Kop site, said: “There might be grounds to justify referencing hooliganism to Heysel but it is, quite frankly and shamefully, rubbing everyone’s noses in it by linking onwards to Hillsborough.”
Heard something about this yesterday on Radio Merseyside but didn't catch what actually happened.
I don't watch rubbish like Eastenders anyway, but I'm glad I didn't see this. Touching on such things in soap operas for entertainment purposes is always going to be dangerous. Idiots!!!
Did anyone see the episode in question?