Tony King (EastEnders)
Tony King | |
---|---|
EastEnders character | |
Leo King[1] |
Tony King is a fictional character from the
The child sexual abuse storyline marked the first time the subject matter had been broached in a UK soap opera, and was researched and developed with advice and approval from the
Storylines
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Patsy_Palmer.jpg/220px-Patsy_Palmer.jpg)
After being released from prison for assaulting a teenage boy who propositioned
Tony begins grooming fourteen-year-old Lauren Branning, supporting her when her mother Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) is arrested for the attempted murder of her father. He plans to take her to a concert, but Lauren's father Max Branning (Jake Wood) uncovers her hidden clothes and refuses her permission to attend. When Whitney's sixteenth birthday arrives, she books flights so they can run away together. Attempting to foil her plan, Tony steals her passport but it is found and returned. On her birthday, Whitney tells Bianca about her relationship with Tony, believing that they are going to leave together. Horrified, Bianca calls the police, and Tony is arrested. He is later released on bail and visits their home in an attempt to convince Whitney not to give a statement to the police. He is attacked by Bianca's ex-husband Ricky (Sid Owen) and re-arrested for breaking his bail conditions.
Before his trial, Tony attempts suicide. Whitney tries to visit but is refused, and Bianca sees it as a form of manipulation. Tony repeatedly attempts to contact Whitney by phone, but after the first day of the trial, he flushes the
Over three years later, Whitney receives a note from Tony via one of his former prison friends, saying that he always loved her. Whitney attempts to visit Tony in prison, but she is told that he killed himself in his cell.
Creation
Tony was first mentioned in EastEnders in April 2008, when Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson following a nine-year absence from the show. It was established that although Tony was currently in prison, he and Bianca were in a relationship, and that he acted as a father-figure to her children Whitney Dean,
Although Tony did not appear in the show until September 2008, his arrival was anticipated from April of that year, when EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer commented that the series was building a picture of his character, and that it would be interesting to see him on-screen.[6] It was reported on 2 July 2008 that Tony would be arriving in the serial as part of a child sexual abuse storyline involving Whitney.[7] BBC News described the plot as an ongoing "predatory paedophile storyline", noting that this was the first time this subject matter had been tackled by a UK soap opera.[8]
"Programmes like EastEnders are increasingly helping to raise awareness of the hidden nature of sexual abuse. The NSPCC's work with the BBC on the forthcoming EastEnders storyline is aimed at ensuring the portrayal of child abuse accurately reflects the damage it can do to the victim, their family and the wider community. This is vital in persuading people to take action to stop it and encouraging children to speak out."
An EastEnders spokesperson stated that programme-makers were working in close conjunction with the NSPCC in order to portray the subject matter accurately and sensitively, commenting that the show aims to raise awareness of real-life issues, and has in the past similarly drawn attention to issues such as domestic violence, rape and HIV.[7] John Grounds, the NSPCC's director of communications, praised the soap for raising awareness of the issue.[7]
The storyline was first conceived when EastEnders series consultant
Development
Coghill was cast as Tony on 20 June 2008.[9] He deemed the role the most challenging he had ever played, but hoped that it would help to raise public awareness of child abuse.[10] Of his off-screen relationship with McGarty, Coghill explained that it helped that she does not look or act like a young child,[9] deeming her "fantastic to work with", as well as "very natural, very instinctive and a natural actress", commenting: "There isn't any uncomfortable feeling at all."[11] Having undergone a thorough characterisation session, Coghill began shooting on 30 June 2008,[9] and first appeared on-screen on 12 September 2008.
Tony began
Tony left the soap on 12 December 2008, after his true nature was exposed. It was announced on 7 September 2009 that he would return to EastEnders to be put on trial. Coghill was pleased to return, believing it right that Tony's story arc should conclude realistically, giving closure to the storyline and continuing to raise awareness of the issue.[14] Santer commented: "One of the unique things about EastEnders is its ability to play stories over months and years. Chris agreeing to come back for these episodes will enable us to continue showing the long-term consequences of Tony's abuse of Whitney and – I hope – continue to do justice to the issue of child sex abuse."[14] Grounds praised Tony's trial, stating that it demonstrated the importance for children of having their abusers brought to justice.[14] Palmer felt that: "If one person out there who's been abused saw that [the legal system] go out of their way to make it easier on the victim – Whitney's evidence is given by video link – it will be worth it."[15]
Reception
The BBC and television regulatory body Ofcom received upward of 90 complaints after Whitney's first scenes with Tony aired. However, they ruled that the scenes were not in breach of broadcasting rules.[16]
There may be some justification for the hundreds complaining about these distressing issues being presented in prime time: equally it is courageous for the Beeb to include a scenario which challenges the public’s perception of what is a ‘typical paedophile’. The repellent Tony’s grooming and seduction of his stepdaughter, Whitney, is a much more familiar pattern of abuse than the more commonly held image of predators lurking in parks. [...] The producers of Eastenders, labouring under a welter of tabloid protest and viewers’ complaints, are attempting to make people get past the initial revulsion of the act of abuse and accept the grim fact that ‘paedophiles’ are very often members of the same family.[19]
Sare quoted a BBC spokeswoman as saying: "we appreciate that for some viewers this storyline will have particular resonance and significance. In running it, it's certainly not our intention to cause distress or upset, either to those who've suffered from sexual abuse or their families. Our aim is instead to raise awareness of this very sensitive issue",[19] concluding his article with the summation: "The producers’ dilemma is instructive to children's charities and Ministers alike on how to confront the issue in a digestible manner which can stimulate an objective debate."[19]
The Mirror's Beth Neil branded the plot strand "one of the darkest and most disturbing storylines EastEnders has ever attempted",[3] with critic Jim Shelley deeming it to be a "new low" for EastEnders.[20] Shelley wrote of Whitney's abuse: "You've really got to hand it to EastEnders. Just when you thought the show couldn't get any more miserable, the writers come up trumps and produce a new way of making us depressed - a paedophile storyline. Thanks for that! I realise now this is what the family meal has been missing three nights a week: gathering the telly to watch a grubby, greasyhaired thug drooling over a 15-year-old girl who (as luck would have it) spends her entire life in her school uniform even when she's not at school. And they say family entertainment's dead."[21] Shelley refuted the BBC's claims that the storyline had educational value as "totally bogus",[21] observing that "At 7.30 or 8pm, the "action" has to be so coded as to be pointless".[21] Deborah Orr, writing for The Independent, similarly disagreed with the BBC's statement that the storyline was part of EastEnders' "rich heritage of tackling difficult social issues",[22] writing that:
Actually, it's part of its rich heritage of leaping in to some horrific subject without any background or build-up at all. The implication is that Tony, the villain, had been grooming the child for some time before he went to prison, when she was only 12. But such a thing really would be too real, and too controversial, so the viewer only gets to see the result of those hinted-at dark machinations. It might be a public service to dramatise the manner in which a sex offender might worm his way into a vulnerable family. But such a storyline would have to be explored carefully and over a long period. All that this little adventure in broadcasting can possibly deliver is the message that a paedophile in the heart of the home is not a good thing. Who needs to be educated about this?[22]
See also
References
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (9 September 2019). "EastEnders reveals identity of mystery newcomer Leo as Bianca's secrets unravel. Actor Tom Wells warns Leo is "definitely a man not to be trusted"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ Holmwood, Leigh (18 September 2008). "EastEnders paedophile storyline draws 200 complaints". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ The Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ a b c Holmwood, Leigh (2 July 2008). "EastEnders to tackle child sex abuse". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ Green, Kris (4 July 2008). "'EastEnders' Morgan: Who's the Daddy?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ Green, Kris (29 April 2008). "Diederick Santer (Executive Producer, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d Green, Kris (2 July 2008). "Child sex abuse plot for 'Enders". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ Casciani, Dominic (15 September 2008). "Will sex offender pilots work?". BBC. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Edemariam, Aida (13 September 2008). "Dark days in Albert Square". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ Green, Kris (4 July 2008). "Ex-'Shameless' actor joins 'Enders". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ a b Green, Kris (9 September 2008). "Chris Coghill (Tony King, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ Rodger, Jennifer (13 September 2008). "My Role Can Help To Expose Sickos". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ Gould, Laura (29 September 2008). "EastEnders paedophile Tony King is set to strike again". The Mirror. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
- ^ a b c Green, Kris (7 September 2009). "Chris Coghill returns to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ "Patsy: Why I prefer Ricky and Bianca apart". What's on TV. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
- ^ Recent Ofcom decisions on the protection of children (PDF) (Report). p. 98. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ Sandison, Nikki (18 September 2008). "EastEnders paedophile plot sparks over 200 complaints". Brand Republic. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- Now. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ a b c Sare, Jeremy (22 September 2008). "The dangers of Sarah's law". New Statesman. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- The Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ The Mirror. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ a b Orr, Deborah (20 September 2008). "A controversy too far for 'EastEnders'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ Raeside, Julie (2 July 2008). "EastEnders: no stranger to controversial storylines". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
- ^ "RTS Programme Awards 2008". Royal Television Society. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
- ^ "Inside Soap Awards 2009: Nominees". Sky TV. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- ^ Swift, Simon (10 May 2009). "British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners!". What's on TV. Retrieved 16 January 2010.[dead link]
External links