Apparently, EastEnders is to get a new gay character in 2008.
He - for lesbians are boring - will be Jane Beale's brother. He will, according to a source, be "suave and a real charmer"- so nothing like Jane's husband, then - and follows in the tradition of Colin and Barry, Tony and Simon and that doctor who was in it for five minutes. Dr Funseeker, was it?
Now, don't get me wrong: I'm pleased EastEnders is finally getting a gay character. Since poor Naomi was dispatched after dabbling with bi-curious Sonia and encouraging her to put her lips to better use than a) shouting at Martin, and b) playing the trumpet, it's been a queer-free zone.
What's slightly worrying is why EastEnders' bosses have decided to gay-up Walford. I know what you're thinking: isn't Sean (above) gay? No, he was just in the army - though, weirdly, you can dress him up as a pirate on the official 'Enders' website.
A source - 'im again - said: "The bosses at EastEnders have seen how well Antony Cotton does as Sean in Corrie. He's become incredibly popular with viewers so they've decided it's time to have a gay character of their own."
So they're wheeling in a gay, not because it would be realistic or more accurately reflect the diversity of London and not because it's an opportunity to have a well-rounded, interesting character who'll generate plot, but because Corrie have got one. Ace. Now, would that be tokenism? Or not? I know the answer, incidentally.
