EastEnders bosses are set to cover another sensitive subject when practising Muslim Syed Masood (played by Marc Elliot) kisses and then embarks on a gay affair with local resident Christian Clarke (John Partridge).
The storyline, which begins to unfold next week, is sure to spark criticism and complaints as the soap tackles the issues of sexuality and religion. But as a fan of the show I am pleased that bosses are once again tackling a sensitive issue and it was a plot development I had not expected.
The London based soap is known for depicting high-profile and risky storylines (the most recent being the Tony and Whitney abuse plot last year) and this summer plot will be sure to provide emotional drama as the characters and their developing relationship are explored further.
The topic of sexuality has rarely been covered in EastEnders apart from the openly gay character of Christian and a lesbian plot a few years ago involving Sonia and best friend Naomi. But also linking this to the issue of religion will allow EastEnders to tackle a prominent social issue in multi-cultural Britain.
Since the their arrival in 2007 the Masood family have been a superb and highly entertaining addition to the cast. The family have often been used for comedic purposes in the past (for example the hilarious relationship between husband and wife Zainab and Masood) so tackling a serious and sensitive issue is a welcome change in direction for the characters and the family as a unit.
Picture from BBC
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