The BBC has defended EastEnders' storyline in which bipolar disorder sufferer Jean Slater was being treated cruelly, following complaints from viewers.
They were concerned about a storyline in which Jean - played by Gillian Wright - was being framed for theft, which led other characters in Albert Square to believe she was going off the rails.
The soap has previously won an award from mental health charity Mind for the way it has tackled bipolar disorder in the show. The organisation has praised the show's "continued commitment to tackling mental health storylines in a sensitive and realistic way".
Last week the BBC1 soap saw Jean exonerated when others learned it was Michael Moon who was engineering her problems.
The BBC said it had received more than 100 complaints about the Michael and Jean storyline as a whole. It said it worked closely with experts to ensure accuracy.
"It is important to note that Jean Slater is not intended to be representative of everybody with bipolar disorder," it said.
"We treat all of our characters as individuals, with their own sets of behaviours and opinions, and there's no suggestion that all of Jean's characteristics are linked to her condition.
"We work closely with a number of experts in the mental health field to ensure that we are as accurate as possible when it comes to Jean's bipolar, her medication, the impact it has on her and those around her, and attitudes and prejudices towards her."
The BBC also pointed out that viewers already knew the truth: "Michael is a well-established villain, intent on destroying others for his own twisted motives, and the current storyline is completely in-keeping with his character.
"The audience were aware from the start that it was Jean who was telling the truth, even when other characters doubted her."
WATCH: Top 20 Greatest Soap Moments Of The Last 20 Years
