Anger erupts over ‘biased’ BBC as Tory MP blasts EastEnders producers of ‘trashing UK city for political gain’
BBC bosses are facing calls to apologise over how a UK city was brutally portrayed on EastEnders.
Soap legend Patsy Palmer returned for a two-part special following Bianca Jackson’s downbeat life in Milton Keynes.
However, Patsy’s comeback after four years off-screen has been overshadowed by backlash over the soap’s filming location – amid rumours it was actually shot in Barnet, London.
MK residents were shocked to see rundown buildings, vandalism and litter as the backdrop to crime-ridden scenes meant to be set in their city.
The first episode, which sees pregnant Whitney Dean run down by a car, also featured issues including teenage drugs runners, negligent parents and threatening gangs.
Bianca is seen opening a near-empty fridge, living off reduced milk, whipped cream and margarine.
To suggest that Milton Keynes is the ideal place for Bianca to be hard on her luck, is totally and utterly wrong.”
Ben Everitt MP
The soap was blasted in Parliament today by Milton Keynes North MP Ben Everitt, who was speaking in a debate on the Automated Vehicles Bill.
He told the House of Commons: “Milton Keynes is a beautiful, vibrant city that is going places – to everyone except, perhaps, the producers of last night’s EastEnders.”
The BBC refused to comment when approached by The Sun.
Tory MP Ben told The Sun: “Like many across Milton Keynes, I was disappointed to see how the BBC soap opera depicted our great city,
“The producers’ characterisation doesn’t show the real Milton Keynes and they owe an apology to residents for this negative portrayal.
“We get that it’s fiction, but the BBC is a national broadcaster and have to show it accurately.
“There are people that accept MK is the butt of the joke however, we need to rise above the political opportunism and champion MK as the great city it is.”
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw has come under fire from MK residents after some claiming places shown on screen were not filmed in MK at all.
Other recognised certain scenes as looking similar to areas in London’s Barnet.
One ranted: “I am absolutely fuming with Chris Clenshaw.
“I’ve lived in Milton Keynes my entire life and we are not the run-down Council s***-hole he has displayed us to be on EastEnders.
“Why film in Barnet, London, instead of actual Milton Keynes? I’ll be putting a complaint into the BBC.”
Another said: “These last couple of episodes haven’t exactly been a great advert for Milton Keynes.”
“Just cancelled my trip to Milton Keynes after watching,” said someone else.
I’ve lived in Milton Keynes my entire life and we are not the run-down Council s***-hole he has displayed us to be on EastEnders.
MK resident
One MK resident moaned: “At least film it in an area that actually looks like Milton Keynes.”
“How can EastEnders justify their portrayal of Milton Keynes when they filmed it in Barnet?!?,” argued another.
Agreeing with his constituents, MP Ben added: “To suggest that Milton Keynes is the ideal place for Bianca to be hard on her luck, is totally and utterly wrong.
“If I were Bianca, I too would move out of Albert Square. Since 1985 the 15 residential housed square has seen over 136 deaths.
“Around 23 murders and manslaughters, 17 deaths in car accidents, 12 suicides and drink or drug overdoses, seven tragic accidents, six by unknown causes and 39 by natural causes.
“Why anyone would continue to live somewhere that tarnished with tragedy, and where better to move for a better life than Milton Keynes?
“With transport links to major cities, world class sports facilities, beautiful lakes, and… there is no better place to live, work and grow a family.
“If producers have to find places in London to depict a fictitious portrayal of ‘gritty’ MK, then they’re having a laugh.
“They should get out of London and come and see the best of MK. They owe it to the people of Milton Keynes to show our city in its true colours.”
Milton Keynes is a beautiful, vibrant city that is going places – to everyone except, perhaps, the producers of last night’s EastEnders.
Ben Everitt MP
Patsy has played Bianca on and off since 1993 after moving across the pond to live in a mansion Malibu and work as a DJ.
In the soap, fiery red-head Bianca last left Albert Square in 2014 with her partner to relocate to Milton Keynes.
The city is located around 50 miles outside of London and is famous for its roundabouts and concrete cows.
It was last year crowned the UK’s most underrated city.
In flashback episodes covering five weeks’ worth of storylines from the soap, Bianca’s daughter Whitney visits the city soon after discovering she’s pregnant.
The special episodes come ahead of Shona McGarty‘s exit from the soap after 15 years playing Whitney.
