ITV Soap Emmerdale Criticized for Sensational Storylines

Strategic Insights -

The ITV soap Emmerdale has been slammed by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) for a second time due to its increasing violent and sensational storylines. The latest episodes, which featured an armed robbery, abduction, and murder, sparked over 400 complaints from viewers. The ITC warned Yorkshire Television five months ago about an "insensitive" Lockerbie-style air disaster storyline, and this time expressed concern over Emmerdale's shift towards more violent and graphic content.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Independent Television Commission (ITC) criticized ITV soap Emmerdale for its sensational and violent storylines, receiving over 400 complaints from viewers.
  • The ITC warned Yorkshire Television five months ago about an "insensitive" Lockerbie-style air disaster storyline, which sparked concern over the show's content.
  • Emmerdale's latest episodes featured an armed robbery, abduction, and murder, which the ITC deemed to be a "significant change" in the show's style.
  • Keith Richardson, Yorkshire's controller of drama, defended the post office storyline, citing armed post office robberies as a contemporary concern and stating that the denouement of the storyline showed the villains getting what they deserved.
  • The commission upheld a complaint from Jocelyn Stevens, its deputy chairman, regarding inaccuracies, misleading statements, unfairness, and lack of balance in Channel 4's parliamentary program, House to House.
  • The ITC also criticized ITV companies Anglia and HTV for showing an explicit taste-and-decency promotion film before the 9pm watershed, which featured a small boy apparently shocked by TV violence.
  • The commission upheld 18 complaints about a brief scene of sexual intercourse in London Weekend Television's Customs drama series, The Knock.

Statistics:

  • 400: The number of complaints received by the ITC regarding Emmerdale's sickening storylines.
  • 807: The number of armed post office robberies in the UK in the last year, as cited by Keith Richardson.
  • 18: The number of complaints upheld by the commission regarding a brief scene of sexual intercourse in The Knock.

Sources:

  • The Independent Television Commission (Source: The Independent, 1995)
  • Keith Richardson, Yorkshire's controller of drama (Source: The Independent, 1995)
  • Jocelyn Stevens, Deputy Chairman of the ITC (Source: The Independent, 1995)
  • The Independent (Source: newspaper article, 1995)