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Hollyoaks overtakes EastEnders as Britain’s most violent soap Hollyoaks overtakes EastEnders as Britain’s most violent soap
(35 minutes later)
Hollyoaks has overtaken EastEnders as the most violent soap on British TV, according to new research that said viewers still regarded pre-watershed violence involving vulnerable people as unacceptable.Hollyoaks has overtaken EastEnders as the most violent soap on British TV, according to new research that said viewers still regarded pre-watershed violence involving vulnerable people as unacceptable.
While BBC1’s EastEnders has become steadily less violent in recent years, to an average of 2.1 violent scenes or threats of violence per hour last year, from 6.1 in 2001/02, Hollyoaks has seen such scenes spiral upwards.While BBC1’s EastEnders has become steadily less violent in recent years, to an average of 2.1 violent scenes or threats of violence per hour last year, from 6.1 in 2001/02, Hollyoaks has seen such scenes spiral upwards.
The Channel 4 soap had 11.5 violent scenes per hour last year, up from just 2.1 in 2001/02, according to media regulator Ofcom.The Channel 4 soap had 11.5 violent scenes per hour last year, up from just 2.1 in 2001/02, according to media regulator Ofcom.
Hollyoaks was censured by Ofcom in August last year for a scene in which a character was pushed under a train. The regulator said it was “violent and shocking” and unsuitable for pre-watershed viewing.Hollyoaks was censured by Ofcom in August last year for a scene in which a character was pushed under a train. The regulator said it was “violent and shocking” and unsuitable for pre-watershed viewing.
The Channel 4 show, aimed at a younger demographic than rival soaps, also overtook ITV’s Coronation Street, which remained steady at three violent scenes per hour, and ITV stablemate Emmerdale, up from 2.5 to 4 violent scenes per hour over the same period.The Channel 4 show, aimed at a younger demographic than rival soaps, also overtook ITV’s Coronation Street, which remained steady at three violent scenes per hour, and ITV stablemate Emmerdale, up from 2.5 to 4 violent scenes per hour over the same period.
The research found that the 9pm watershed remained key in viewers’ attitudes to violence, as did the identity of the victim.The research found that the 9pm watershed remained key in viewers’ attitudes to violence, as did the identity of the victim.
“People considered the time of broadcast to be the single most important factor in determining the acceptability of violent content on TV,” said Ofcom.“People considered the time of broadcast to be the single most important factor in determining the acceptability of violent content on TV,” said Ofcom.
“Viewers were prepared to tolerate moderately violent scenes before the watershed; however, all agreed that strong scenes with a vulnerable victim were unacceptable before 9pm.”“Viewers were prepared to tolerate moderately violent scenes before the watershed; however, all agreed that strong scenes with a vulnerable victim were unacceptable before 9pm.”
Pre-watershed scenes of violence were more likely to be acceptable if between two men, rather than involving children, the elderly or a woman, according to the Ofcom commissioned research published on Friday.Pre-watershed scenes of violence were more likely to be acceptable if between two men, rather than involving children, the elderly or a woman, according to the Ofcom commissioned research published on Friday.
Some viewers said on-screen violence “contributed to their TV viewing experience” because it made action or drama programmes “seem realistic and provided tension”.Some viewers said on-screen violence “contributed to their TV viewing experience” because it made action or drama programmes “seem realistic and provided tension”.
Research into violence in soaps showed that it was usually “clearly indicated” to viewers in advance.Research into violence in soaps showed that it was usually “clearly indicated” to viewers in advance.
Instances of strong scenes portraying violence that “might make the viewer uncomfortable” were “infrequent”, said Ofcom.Instances of strong scenes portraying violence that “might make the viewer uncomfortable” were “infrequent”, said Ofcom.
By coincidence, around the same time the Ofcom report was published on Friday, the official Hollyoaks Twitter feed tweeted: “Today is the day! Add ‘HelloHollyoaks’ on Snapchat & be the first to find out who killed Fraser at 4pm! #FraserFridays”, a reference to the murder of Fraser Black, played by former Eldorado actor Jesse Birdsall.
A Channel 4 spokesman said: “We are committed to ensuring that all Hollyoaks storylines are appropriate for a pre-watershed audience. The portrayal of violence is appropriately limited and is shown within the context of long-running storylines – and programmes that include scenes which some people may find upsetting are clearly flagged to viewers at the beginning of the broadcast.
“Hollyoaks has a track record of tackling issues affecting its audience and has worked alongside government and leading charities on subjects such as domestic abuse and bullying.”
The report said violence in soaps was “quite prevalent” and occurred in the “large majority of episodes” – nearly eight out of 10 – in 2013.
Viewers who took part in the research were shown a total of 15 clips including a gang fight in EastEnders and the controversial Hollyoaks railway line death.
An episode of ITV’s Emmerdale, its live 40th anniversary edition which featured a violent confrontation between a man and a woman, was deemed most shocking because of the threat of sexual violence. Participants were also shown scenes of post-watershed dramas including BBC2’s The Fall.
The research found that time of broadcast was the single most important factor in determining whether viewers thought violent scenes were acceptable or not.
Parents of secondary school age children said they did not regard violence on TV as pressing an issue as internet pornography and violent video games.
The escalation from 2001/02, when there were violent scenes in just over six out of 10 episodes, was due almost entirely to Hollyoaks, accounting for well over half of all the violence last year. The vast majority of the Hollyoaks scenes resulted from two storylines – the Price Slice armed robbery and the murder of Texas Longford.
The report said: “A distinctive feature of soaps is that they have everyday settings and strong elements of realism in the portrayals, despite the extravagant nature of some of the plots. In this sample there were a number of dramatic murders, including some by serial killers.
“Nonetheless, opportunities to indulge in graphic portrayals of violence were offered by only a small number of scenes – notably where someone was shot, or clubbed with a brick.
“However, these were handled in such a way as to visually understate the severity of the injury likely to be suffered in real life.
“This is not to imply that the violence was trivialised or glamorised or even condoned. The seriousness of the violence was represented elsewhere – such as by grave consequences befalling those involved or the violence being contextualised by the disapproving reactions of onlookers.
“Indeed, the storyline analyses identified numerous anti-violence messages accompanying the violent scenes.”
While men were more likely to value “action”, which they differentiated from violence as having a “more playful tone … with less explicit detail”, women were more concerned about implied violence or an “unsettling atmosphere”, said the research.
The report said: “Older people are generally more vocal about what they see as a decline in moral standards on television. They tend to express greater sensitivity to violent content and are more likely to be concerned by it.”
All participants said children should not be exposed to sexual violence on television at any time.
Violent content was seen as more acceptable if it was being used to convey a moral or public message but it “required careful handling”. The more mainstream the channel, such as BBC1 or ITV, the more viewers expected it to feature family-appropriate content.
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