An episode of Casualty has attracted more than 60 complaints over a line of dialogue that described drug abuse as a "national pastime" of Scotland. Outraged viewers bombarded the BBC after seeing English doctor Nick Jordan (Michael French) make potentially offensive comments to Scottish junior Lenny Lyons (Steven Miller) as they attempted to save the life of a heroin addict. In the pertinent scenes, Jordan tells an uncomfortable Lyons: "I thought you would be more sympathetic to heroin users... You are Scottish. It's a national pastime." "This is just insulting nonsense, which has no basis in fact," MSP Jackie Baillie told the Daily Record. "They should not engage in this type of ill-informed cultural stereotyping." In response to the episode, a BBC spokesperson clarified that Dr Jordan's jibe had not been intended as a comment on the integrity of Scottish people as a whole. "Dr Lyons is well known to viewers as a patriotic and passionate Scot," a spokesperson said. "His banter with Dr Jordan about his lack of sympathy towards the death of a drug addict is a reflection of his hot-headed temperament and strong moral code. There was no intention to cause any offence to viewers." From Digital Spy
It's nice to know they took their time out of doing Smack to complain... Some people need to get a grip loike...
It's nice that Yonner took some time out from looting shops to share his thoughts with us. Isn't stereotyping fun.
The stereotyping doesn't bother me but it does seem to be inherent within the BBC to portray Scots in a negative way, especially in English based dramas. Eastenders is probably the worst for it. Mind you, they stereotype everyone.
I say we continue to peddle this idea and stop these ****s from moving here I was in the West Highlands a couple of years ago and the local pub was owned by a stereotypically racist couple from Kent. They moved to Scotland to "get away from all the foreigners" Scotland has no pretty bits and is brimming with smackheads - move along, nothing to see here...
I don't watch it <honest> but anytime that I do catch a glimpse of it, I find myself attracted to a big fat blonde actress, who isn't attractive, but for some reason, I want to pump her?!? And if my missus had a figure like hers, she'd get a boot on the clit. please log in to view this image See wit I mean!!! She's howling! (Still shag her though)
Had this been a (factual) BBC documentary, maybe those complaining would have had a point? But fussing about the words spoken in a drama/soap opera? This feels a wee bit like a loss of perspective. And what would they have the doctor (or anyone, for that matter) say? Must all reference to Scotland or the Scots be prefaced by a strictly factual disclaimer? To me, the snippet of dialogue you mentioned sounds exactly like the sort of thing someone might stupidly/carelessly/trying to be oh so cleverly say (just spend a few hours on this forum) – fairly realistic, in other words. I’ve no problem with it. I hope the next guy wheeled in on a gurney has a hand horribly stained with green ink, fingers twisted into a claw and flecks of foam bubbling from his mouth: “I thought you would be more sympathetic towards extravagantly thin-skinned people who write joyless letters of complaint,” the doctor may then say to his discomfitted junior, “you’re Scottish. It's a national pastime." It may slow down plot development to the point of a sapping inertia, true, but it would at least momentarily put all those people who are simply dying to be offended on the back foot. (Not that I think the doctor is real or anything. No.)
Edge, maybe you fancy because she's fit? She doesn't have to be a size 8 to be sexy! As for stereotyping on TV, I've noticed that there when there are villains on telly, quite often they are mancs. I don't think there are many complaints though, as most of us don't pay the license and don't want to draw attention to ourselves
I'd spunk on every one of her chins The wife's token gay mate says she's the only woman that could turn him....
People who complain about content in a "drama"/soap opera (like Eastenders or Corination Street) are sad ****s!
Remember when Eastenders visited Ireland in the 1990's and the Irish were astounded because "I hear you have machines which wash your clothes over in England"
