Broadcasting Standards Criticises Emmerdale

The Broadcasting Standards Council has again had cause to criticise Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale, which has changed its style over the past year to become more controversial in a bid to increase ratings.

The BSC has upheld complaints over an attempted rape scene where it was shown how the attacker had forced his victim to the floor; the BSC felt that the portrayal of the incident was beyond the boundaries for that time of the evening.

Yorkshire Television said that it admits it has received complaints since changing the serial, but that in general the changes had increased its popularity with the audience. In its defence, the company said the scene had been shot in the knowledge of its transmission time and that it fell far short of attempted rape.

Last year the commission had to warn Yorkshire Television over its inclusion of a Lockerbie-style air crash.

Broadcasting Standards Council: 0171 233 0544