Corrie’s Transsexual Storyline Receives Complaints

Coronation Street‘s storyline involving a transsexual character caused the ITC to receive ten viewer complaints. Complainants believed that the storyline was inappropriate for broadcast during Family Viewing Time. However, the ITC believed that the programme did not sensationalise the subject, and that the way in which it was treated did not go beyond general information about transsexuality available to viewers in the media. The complaints were therefore not upheld.

The Commission also acted against the broadcast of a Batman cartoon shown on Cartoon Network. The programme’s sponsorship by Toys ‘R’ Us was considered to be in breach of the Code of Advertising Standards and Practices because the sponsorship credits contained rapid flashing images which are potentially harmful to some viewers. Cartoon Network promptly removed the sponsorship credits and no further action was taken.

Overall, the ITC received 550 complaints for February and March. ITV was the target for well over twice as many complaints as Channel 4 in both the News/Factual and Fiction/Entertainment categories; Channel 5 received a small proportion of complaints in both categories.

Independent Television Commission: 0171 306 7743