EastEnders boss Kate Oates has revealed that she hopes the Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) and Callum “Halfway” Highway (Tony Clay) storyline will change homophobic attitudes.
The BBC's head of the hit soap opera spoke out on the fictional same-sex relationship, explaining that she longs for the day when a gay kiss can be aired on TV without complaints coming in from viewers.
Oates told Radio Times: “There are so many obstacles and obstructions already built-in with a same-sex relationship because not all of society is accepting.
“There’s a paradox there because one of the things that makes viewers root for the couple and makes the story compelling is actually the thing we’re trying to change: the fact that there’s still so much prejudice.
“There’s still so much homophobia in our society, and we’re glad to use our voice to try and change that.”
Last night’s episode of EastEnders saw Ben and Callum struggle with keeping their relationship a secret especially as Callum is planning on getting married to Whitney (Shona McGarty).
This comes after the show teased its “first lesbian Muslim character” earlier this month.
Irqa Ahmed, who is played by Priya Davdra and has appeared on screens since February, came out this summer.
Fans of the BBC soap noticed the restaurant owner being mysterious about her text messages in the last few weeks, and it soon emerged that she has been exchanging romantic messages with multiple women.
Iqra later came out as gay to her sister Habiba (Rukku Nahar) - after admitting that the person she has been seeing is a woman.
Her girlfriend Ash (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha) made her first appearance on Albert Square, as a newcomer, on Thursday night.
EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays on BBC One at 8pm and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm.
