Actors say EastEnders needs more gay and mixed-race characters

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Two EastEnders stars have criticised the soap for not being diverse enough.

John Partridge and Nina Toussaint-White claimed it does not represent London’s East End properly.

Partridge, who plays gay character Christian Clarke, said: “There still need to be more gay storylines because gay is mainstream now.

“You’ve only got to turn on your TV to see gay presenters, journalists – it’s all out there.

“As much as I say it’s not a big deal there’s still a taboo about it. While some people say it’s difficult to show a gay relationship at 7.30pm, what’s so offensive about two men together really?

“So I think ‘Bring it on – the more kissing the better!'”

Toussaint-White’s character Charlie Clements is currently dating Bradley Branning.

She told The Sun: “You never got mixed-race relationships before and I’d like to see more of them. It’s getting better but it’s under-represented.

“EastEnders is set in London and there are a lot of black people, Asian families and other cultures there and it doesn’t show that.”

A BBC spokeswoman said: “EastEnders has always reflected the diversity of London’s East End. The Masood and Fox families are among our most loved characters with some of the most topical and ground breaking stories.”

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