BBC’s World on Fire depicts war torn Britain as racist in channel’s latest ‘woke’ offering – after fears EastEnders could be AXED as fans switch off
BBC’s WII drama World on Fire may soon come under fire for depicting war torn Britain as racist in the broadcaster’s latest ‘woke’ offering.
The series, starring award winning actress Leslie Manville, follows the lives of those torn apart during Germany’s invasion of Europe and returned recently for a second series.
However viewers are shown RAF officers who loathe their Jewish colleagues as well as being openly racist about ‘cannon fodder’ Indian soldiers – who also bemoan the British Empire.
Polish character Kasia (played by Zofia Wichlacz) also faced discrimination when taking in a traditional British afternoon tea with her family.
As another diner exclaimed: ‘I’m not moving anything for a bunch of refugees. You swan in here, speaking foreign. Who did you rob to afford this?’.
Slammed: BBC’s WII drama World on Fire may soon come under fire for depicting war torn Britain as racist in the broadcaster’s latest ‘woke’ offering (actor Jonah Hauer-King pictured)
Drama: The series, starring award winning actress Leslie Manville (pictured) follows the lives of those torn apart during Germany’s invasion of Europe
It comes after fears for EastEnders’ future have reportedly been ignited as fans have switched off in their droves over ‘desperate’ plots and woke storylines in recent times.
In the BBC soap’s heyday, the programme would draw in audiences of up to 30million, with storylines such as Den and Angie Watts’ divorce dominating – however, this week the soap has barely drawn in over a million viewers, according to overnight figures.
It is said that viewers have been put off by ludicrous recent plots such as soap legend Cindy Beale returning from the dead – which has been branded a ‘desperate move’ – while there are also claims that the stories have gone ‘woke’.
The decision to build an eye-watering £87million new set is also said to have come under scrutiny on the show, despite the programme recently winning big at the recent British Soap Awards, with four gongs in publicly voted categories.
And now, according to The Sun, it’s said to be a ‘worrying time’ for EastEnders, with bleak predictions that viewers may be watching the ‘final days’ of the BBC soap.
A source told the publication: ‘It’s a worrying time for EastEnders. It used to be the show which everybody was talking about but it’s now in a precarious position where older viewers are switching off, and younger viewers have no interest.
‘Bringing back presumed dead characters is a desperate move which rarely works, but EastEnders is really running out of options. We could be watching its final years.’
Despite the concerns, an insider said: ‘EastEnders still remains an institution as far as the BBC is concerned and the feedback is that young people are loving it…
Controversy: However viewers are shown RAF officers who loathe their Jewish colleagues as well as being openly racist about ‘cannon fodder’ Indian soldiers
Racism: Polish character Kasia (played by Zofia Wichlacz, pictured) also faces discrimination from London residents
‘They were particularly glued to the recent pregnancy storyline where 11 year old Lily Slater announced she was having a baby. The figures are nowhere near what they were but as far as the bosses are concerned there is a huge appetite.’
A spokesperson for EastEnders told MailOnline: ‘EastEnders episodes are made live to the audience at 6am every morning on BBC iPlayer giving the audience the choice to watch when and where they choose…
‘So when episodes are moved to a different day, or channel, due to a live sporting event it is no surprise that this is reflected in the regular overnight audience…
‘Over the last two weeks EastEnders has been streamed almost 18 million times on BBC iPlayer and remains one of iPlayer’s most popular programmes.’
EastEnders shocked last month as Cindy Beale came back from the dead, as Michelle Collins reprised her role after 25 years.
Switching off? Fears for EastEnders’ future have been ignited as fans have switched off in their droves over ‘desperate’ plots and woke storylines in recent times, it’s been reported
Concern: The show has seen an alarming dip in viewing figures over recent years
It emerged that she’d been in witness protection after her former cell mate wanted her dead – with Cindy also revealed to be George Knight’s long-lost wife ‘Rose’, who’s been hiding out in France with her ex Ian Beale.
However, despite the shocking twist, The Sun claims that Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw’s ‘desperate move’ of being her back failed to spark ‘the desired upturn’.
With actress Michelle herself saying she thought it was a ‘ridiculous idea’ upon first hearing the plot.
Figures show that the BBC drama is struggling to compete with ITV rivals Emmerdale and Coronation Street, who regularly draw in four million overnight viewers.
EastEnders’ overnight figures do not include viewers who have streamed the episode on BBC iPlayer, where it is made available at 6am on the day its due to be broadcast.
Before and after: The old EastEnders set has finally been demolished more than a year after the BBC soap opera moved to its brand new £87million set
Uh oh: It is said that viewers have been put off by ludicrous recent plots such as soap legend Cindy Beale returning from the dead – which has been branded a ‘desperate move’
The soap has also reportedly had big name former stars sharing criticism over storylines, with Mick Carter actor Danny Dyer previously stating of his character: ‘I didn’t quite know who I was playing any more.’
While he also referred to the falling ratings as he noted that he’d had several people ask him over the years if he was still in the soap as they no longer watched it.
Elsewhere, Heather Trott actress Cheryl Ferguson was said to have claimed that the show was no longer ‘relatable’ as it was too violent.
It comes as it’s been revealed that the soap’s writers have got some viciously dynamite fights planned between the Cindy and her former mother-in-law, Kathy Beale – played by Gillian Taylforth.
They infamously despised one another after Cindy cheated on Kathy’s son Ian with David Wickes – and now EastEnders executive producer Chris Clenshaw has described the moment they come face to face once again 26 years after Cindy left as ‘absolute dynamite’.
Chris said: ‘Cindy’s a little softer through everything that has gone on, after 25 years of living a different identity and living a lie to her other family…
‘What comes quite apparent later in the year when she returns to Walford is it doesn’t take long before we see flashes of the old Cindy Beale and she still has it, there’s some absolute dynamite between Cindy and Kathy…
‘It doesn’t take long and it’s still the same Cindy at the core, she’s just been on one hell of a journey since we last saw her.’
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