Updated: 'Enders accused of Boris Johnson 'bias'

EastEnders producers have been accused of political bias following the decision to recruit Mayor of London Boris Johnson for a cameo appearance.

Johnson filmed a short scene with Walford legend Barbara Windsor (Peggy Mitchell) at the Queen Vic in July. Their meeting will be seen in tonight's episode.

The Conservative politician's predecessor Ken Livingstone, who held the mayoral post from 2000 before being defeated by Johnson in 2008, has now told The Times that he was once rejected by the BBC One soap when he asked its bosses to highlight a Labour recycling campaign. It is thought that he wanted promotional posters to appear in the background during scenes.

Livingstone said: "They said it wouldn't be appropriate, that it was political. They've obviously changed their tune, but then they have always been quite keen on Boris. They were relentlessly hostile to me in the 18 months before the election but never gave Boris a push."

Murad Quereshi, a London Assembly member for the Labour Party, added: "The BBC need to be even-handed when they are dealing with the mayor's office, no matter who is in there."

The show's surprise storyline sees matriarch Peggy meeting Johnson unexpectedly when he decides to pay a visit to Walford.

A spokesperson for the BBC this afternoon told DS: "Boris Johnson makes a cameo appearance in EastEnders as part of the storyline where Peggy Mitchell stands as an independent candidate in a fictional local election. His appearance is compatible both with BBC Editorial Guidelines and the principle of due impartiality."

> Boris Johnson defends 'Enders cameo