EastEnders Shatters Taboo on Domestic Violence Through Controversial Gay Kiss Scene
EastEnders characters Colin (Lord Michael Cashman) and Barry (Gary Hailes) were part of a pivotal moment in British television history when they shared Britains first kiss between two gay men. Over its four-decade run, the soap opera has tackled numerous social issues head-on.
“It’s done more to create social awareness on these issues than probably any documentary,” says actor Ross Kemp, who plays Grant Mitchell and is hosting a BBC documentary about EastEnders’ history. The series has been able to address taboo subjects for decades through its ongoing narrative, informing people in ways that government campaigns might not.
The first gay kiss between Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman) and his boyfriend Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) aired on November 17, 1987. The reaction was intense; the media went berserk, with calls for such content to be removed from television screens. Lord Cashman recalls that it was a dark time filled with homophobia.
Three decades later, Colin and Barry were brought back together in an episode aired in 2022. In 1989, Colin shared Britains first mouth-to-mouth kiss between two gay men on a soap opera when he kissed Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan). Lord Cashman remembers that fans found this significant.
EastEnders has also addressed domestic violence with storylines involving Little Mo Slater (Kacey Ainsworth) and Trevor Morgan (Alex Ferns). According to Ofcoms review, such early evening soap opera content plays an important social role in discussing complex and controversial issues. The storyline was later recognized as the most significant TV portrayal of home violence in 30 years by a national domestic violence helpline.
Another recent storyline featured Molly Rainford (Anna Knight) discussing colourism with her on-screen sister Gina Knight (Francesca Henry). This marks the first black and dual heritage family to run a pub on any UK soap. Colourism, prejudice against those with darker skin tones or preference for lighter-skinned individuals of the same race, is an issue they brought forward.
In 2015, Riley Carter Millington became the first transgender man to play a recurring trans character in a British soap opera as Kyle Slater. “I felt really welcomed by my co-stars and understood the weight of it,” he says about his role portrayal.
Ross Kemp emphasizes that EastEnders is ever-evolving with society, addressing landmark issues while facing criticism from some viewers. However, over its 40 years, it has made significant contributions to social awareness through its compelling storylines.
