Yahoo News EastEnders is in the clear after bus crash complaints
EastEnders has been cleared by Ofcom after a number of complaints were made recently over the dramatic bus crash scenes and Sharon Mitchell's use of language.
The BBC soap had a seemingly controversial month in January, as viewers complained to the broadcasting regulator over two separate episodes.
A total of 33 complaints were lodged after a bus carrying a number of the Walford teens crashed into the bridge - leaving us fearing for the lives of Martin Fowler and Whitney Carter.
While the bus crash episodes went down a treat with the majority of fans, some felt that the timing of the plot was "insensitive" due to the Berlin terrorist attack in December, which left 12 people dead after a truck deliberately drove into a Christmas market.
Elsewhere, 117 viewers complained after Sharon ranted about her husband Phil being a "stupid, stupid, stupid bastard", following her discovery that he was the father of Denise Fox's baby.
Discussing the bus crash scenes, an Ofcom spokesperson said: "We considered 33 complaints that scenes of a bus crash were offensive, in light of recent actual events. However, we found that the episode was not graphic or explicit, and was part of a long-running storyline."
On Sharon's bad language, the spokesperson added: "We assessed a number of complaints about a character's use of offensive language in this pre-watershed soap.
"We found the single use of the word was justified by the storyline. We also took into account the programme's established role in presenting sometimes challenging and distressing social issues".
So there you have it - Phil really is a stupid, stupid, stupid bastard.
EastEnders continues at 8pm tonight (February 6) on BBC One.
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