BBC: Max burial story "was too strong"

A internal BBC report has upheld complaints about the EastEnders storyline in which character Max Branning was drugged and buried alive.

Episodes of the soap on March 21 and 24 prompted three people to complain to the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit that they were inappropriate for broadcast before the watershed. Max was buried by his wife Tanya, who later rescued him.

In its ruling, the unit said programme makers had "extensive consultation" on how to present the storyline. There was no explicit physical violence and producers thought it would "not exceed the expectations of the audience".

Ofcom is also investigating the episodes and a decision is expected in coming months.

The Complaints Unit statement continued: "The nature of the response registered with BBC Information (and with Ofcom) suggested that the emotional impact of the storyline was somewhat stronger than had been considered likely, and that it had caused upset among a segment of the audience which was neither anticipated nor intended."

The EastEnders production team has discussed the finding and promised to take it into account in future stories.