Bennett defends 'EastEnders' baby plot

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Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders

© BBC

BBC Vision director Jana Bennett has defended EastEnders' controversial baby-swap plot.

It has been confirmed that over 6,000 viewers have now complained about the dark plot, which has seen tragic Ronnie Mitchell lose her son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and swap him for Kat and Alfie Moon's newborn baby Tommy.

Bennett insisted that the Albert Square drama was "absolutely not" suggesting that Ronnie - played by Samantha Womack - was representative off all mother's who have "suffered such a terrible and tragic loss".

"Taking Kat's baby is the action of a character in great distress due to a series of events that have befallen her in the last 18 months," The Guardian quotes her as saying. "It is the culmination of these that has driven her to this one moment of madness rather than as a direct result of the loss of her baby."

She added that "the issues of grief caused by the loss of a child and sudden infant death syndrome more generally are sensitively handled".

"EastEnders has a long history of tackling difficult issues in a way that allows viewers to learn and debate the topic at hand," she said.

Bennett also reiterated that the storyline will come to a conclusion "early in the spring" and that "viewers will see Ronnie struggle to come to terms with what she has done".

Controller of BBC Drama John Yorke has also spoken out in defence of the soap's decision to feature the plot.

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