Yahoo News EastEnders relaxes social distancing rules for dramatic Mick and Katy showdown scenes
Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct and suicide that some readers may find upsetting.
EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders relaxed social distancing rules for its dramatic Mick Carter and Katy Lewis showdown scenes.
On New Year's Day, Mick will finally address his deepest fears head on as he confronts Katy over the sexual abuse she subjected him to when he was in a care home as a teenager.
For the upcoming scenes, Danny Dyer and Simone Lahbib were able to film in close cohort while still taking all the usual safety precautions.
"I think the big scene where Mick finally confronts Katy, it needed to be filmed that way so we could organically make it work, instead of the technicalities that come with filming socially distanced," explained Dyer.
"It was important that we did those big scenes and we were able to really get in each other's faces," he continued. "Mick really needs to express himself about what he's been going through. It's really interesting to see Katy's reaction she sort of gets off on it – it's like she likes Mick's pain which I think was really clever to show just how nasty the character is."
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On what he hopes viewers will take away from the episode, he said: "I just hope that it shines a light on suicide [or suicidal feelings] – especially in men, who we know are at greater risk.
"I think men who, through time, haven't been known for really talking about feelings and expressing ourselves, which we know can make problems worse. It's so important to do that now – it's vital."
He added: "Whatever the problem, there's always someone who will listen and support you, talking can help to see different perspectives and a way through things. If you're struggling to cope and things start to feel overwhelming, talking can be a lifesaver. I think Mick's story is a real example of that."
EastEnders will air these scenes on New Year's Day at 8pm on BBC One.
Readers who are affected by the issues raised by this storyline can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or by email via help@nspcc.org.uk.
Young people can contact Childline on 0800 1111 or via 1-2-1 chat on www.childline.org.uk
The SurvivorsUK National Online Helpline for Male Survivors can be reached from 12pm – 8pm every day via http://survivorsuk.org, by text (020 3322 1860) and by email (help@survivorsuk.org).
We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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