'EastEnders' writers have spoken of their shock at receiving complaints over a gay kiss which aired on the soap earlier this week.
In scenes during Monday's episode, viewers saw new character Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) struggle to deal with his feelings for Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy) before they eventually kissed.
Danny and Johnny kissed on Monday night's episode
Pete Lawson, who wrote the episode, said on Twitter: "2014, and gay teens kissing on a soap still draws complaints. Makes me even prouder to have written that ep."
Another writer on the soap, Daran Little, also tweeted: "10 years ago Coronation Street had complaints when I wrote Todd kissing Nick... now complaints about EastEnders gay kiss... no progress.
"I thinks it's encouraging that Hollyoaks gay kisses don't get complaints, cos its viewers are young and accepting," he wrote.
The BBC were also forced to defend airing Monday's episode in a post-watershed slot, insisting it had nothing to do with the kiss, but was to accommodate family film 'Shrek Forever After'.
A spokesperson for the soap said: "'EastEnders' aims to reflect real life, and this means including and telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities," she added.
"We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in exactly the same way as we do heterosexual relationships; ensuring depictions of affection or sexuality between couples are suitable for pre-watershed viewing."
Johnny will come out to dad Mick in Friday's episode
The current storyline will now see Johnny come out to his parents Mick (Danny Dyer) and Linda (Kellie Bright), after his sister Nancy (Maddy Hill) exposed his secret during a family row.
