AN ANGRY bunch of Coronation Street fans choked on their chocolate bunnies when a key character in this popular TV soap said unflattering things about Christianity – on the very day the “Lord” Jesus is said to have risen from the dead.
ITV said it had received 100 complaints from Christians about remarks made by actor William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow; and Ofcom, the broadcast watchdog, logged 23.
William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow
Barlow, according to this report, referred to the faith as “superstition” and God as a “supernatural being”.
ITV pointed out that the soap is set in modern society and “represents views from all sides of the religious spectrum”.
While the Barlow family were preparing to go to church, Ken questioned his son Peter on why he was allowing his grandson, Simon, to be “indoctrinated” by the church.
He then went on to criticise Simon’s school for teaching creationism.
After the family returned from church, Ken tells his grandson that Jesus rising from the dead “may not necessarily be true” and that scientists think the Big Bang created the universe.
He argued it was important to teach his grandson humanism and give him another viewpoint to balance the teachings from the church.
The character was later seen in the pub saying he believed “children should be told the truth” and that Christianity was comforting because:
That’s how they get their hooks into you, when you’re vulnerable.
Viewers also complained on ITV’s message boards that Ken Barlow’s comments were “completely unacceptable” and “inappropriate” to be shown on Easter Sunday.
One user wrote:
To choose this script on the most holy day in the Christian calendar is insulting and greatly offensive.
In defending its decision to air the episode, ITV said:
At the moment we have a very positive story involving Sophie Webster and her new found interest in religion, and Emily Bishop has also always been seen as a very positive representation of Christianity.
Likewise Ken Barlow’s different views on religion have always been a strong aspect of his character.
Ofcom said it would be looking into the complaints.
Earlier this year Corrie bosses ran into a spot of bother when they ordered a cross to be removed from a church during the filming of a wedding scene.
HAT TIP: Harvey
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
April 15th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
I watched this episode (not a very metal thing to do!) and laughed my ass off at Ken’s comments – even turning to the missus and saying that will rattle a few religiot’s cages!
I predicted a daily wail feature and something from Stephen Birdshit Green too
April 15th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
These documentaries can be so controversial can’t they?
April 15th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
It’s like bitching that a client was mean to me on my birthday. BFG.
April 15th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Now they’re admitting God’s not a supernatural being? That’s progress!
April 15th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
How long will it be before we are all watching Koran Nation Street?
April 15th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Remigius,
“How long will it be before we are all watching Koran Nation Street?”
Very funny but thoroughly depressing at the same time! That’s a neat trick.
April 15th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
One fictional character calls another fictional character fictional, and real people get upset? Crazy world.
remigius: The rest of us never, you when you move to Saudi and become a Muslim?
April 16th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Surely the claim that a cross was obscured in a church to avoid “upsetting” non Christian religious viewers has long since been debunked. It was, IIRC, some technical filming matter. Otherwise, they could have gone to the bloody register office like everybody else. Well, like we used to do, in them days when folk got married.
April 16th, 2009 at 2:08 am
How dare a fictional character have opinions that aren’t mine! How *dare* they!
When I watched Collateral, I was appalled at the sheer lack of respect for human life that Tom Cruise’s character portrayed. I was so outraged that I wrote into the studio demanding that they pull the film an…
Whatever, I can’t keep it up (where have I said *that* before…)
I’ve never understood this idea that fictional characters aren’t allowed to have controversial opinions. Never. If someone writes a character who has racist opinions, it does not mean that:
1) The writer is endorsing the views that the character has
2) The writer holds the same views
These soaps are not, and never have been, a platform for encouraging a particular set of beliefs about anything (religion, politics etc…), whether you agree with them (as I do in this case) or not (as the christians apparently don’t in this case).
It’s a fictional character in a fictional show. All of the characters have beliefs and ideals that not everyone will agree with. I find it amazing that people have leaped on this particular character’s views on religion, when characters in the same show have been cold hearted murderers and have gotten away without any complaints.
April 16th, 2009 at 5:13 am
Shall I wear my surprised face for this? We are talking about people who base their entire belief system around a fictitious entity, it’s hardly any wonder they can’t differentiate from real life and a soap is it?
April 16th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Surely this persistant and pathetic bleating every time someone disagrees with their ludicrous fantasies must be getting as tiresome for the general population as it is for us. Note that the complaint is about how hurt they are that the broadcast was on one of their special days, no attempt at any kind of refutation.
Brian J, lots of people do still get married. One of the newspaper headlines covered by this morning’s TV news was something like “Death of the traditional family” about people allegedly no longer getting married. Just about everyone I know is a member of a traditional family.
April 16th, 2009 at 8:19 am
No one ever seems to complain when characters are murdered, raped, or behave like serial killers.
April 16th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I notice that Stephen “Birdshit” Green has managed to get in on the act after a spookily long period of silence. We thought he’d gone into hibernation, or had been “Rapturated” as Dubya would have said.
See http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk.....about.html
April 16th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Neuroskeptic, Serai and Tony,
Totally on the ball with those comments, but no Serai, you should not be surprised! Keep your surprised face for the day some religiot says something sensible. Though if you really do want to actually get to wear it some day, I suggest you find some other occasion as it is unlikely to get any use otherwise.
April 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Corrie is neither a vehicle for promoting political parties, religious or non-religious movements, not the arbiter of morality. It is a fictional drama that reflects life in a Northern town.
Having been an avid Corrie-Watcher since the black and white days, there is always something pops up in plot developments that wriggle their way under someone’s skin.
I am a Mormon-Christian, have been for 60 years, and I am active in my faith and in my mixed-faith community, but I do not expect a free pass from writers, artists, atheists, other faiths, or even from other Christians.
Life is neither static nor tranquil when it comes to ideas, and only a fool would expect it to be. But, we have to take the rough with the smooth, and take our licks when someone decides it is time to ruffle some feathers, or when something unintentionally is found to be distasteful to us, whoever and whatever we might be.
There are much better things to do with the precious commodity called life than to waste it wailing about unfairness or even outright hostility. It is a fact of life that not all the world will agree with any one person or group of persons. Adults understand that, and get on with what they consider to be life’s major aims.
Atheism is – more often than not – a personal choice, much as the path of faith a person walks is. I have never understood why anyone stoops to the childish tools of demeaning, discounting, or discomforting those whose minds suggest other avenues than their own, whether within or without any religious or political or national context.
I say TomAAHtoes, my wife says tomEYtoes: Should we go to war about it? I ask myself, What would a sane, sensible, and intelligent adult do?
It is unfortunate that, at times, even the best of us resorts to emotionalism believing it to be rationality, and then become offended when our antagonists cannot see ‘reason,’ does not thibnk ‘logically,’ and is unswayed by our rhetoric.
What absolute principle or law does mutual respect destroy?
April 16th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Ronnie Bray
“I ask myself, What would a sane, sensible, and intelligent adult do?”
I can understand why you would have to ask that question since your a Mormon.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I’m no fan of soaps but they do influence many people so it’s great to see that a secular viewpoint can be part of the show. We need episodes like this to show that there is an alternative to many people’s assumption that religion is somehow ‘right & proper’.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:46 am
This whining from the Bigot Brigade does not surprise me. You may not like what I say next but the problem is that the great majority of the so called “Working Class” are pig fucking ignorant. They don’t read much other than the Daily Mirror or, if they are intellectuals, move up to the Express. Those with any brains, including myself, get out as fast as we can. The other side of this is that apart from the brainwashing, the fear of thinking independently, they are among the best people I know and continue to meet.
April 18th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Ronnie Bray
“Atheism is – more often than not – a personal choice, much as the path of faith a person walks is.”
While the religious talk about faith in gods as if it were a personal choice, as when they say they’ve ‘accepted’ Jesus into their hearts, my atheism is more a matter of not being able to bring myself to believe in transparent wish-fulfillment fantasies. I can’t choose to believe what seems patently ridiculous.
You sanctimoniously claim to not understand those who demean or discomfort others while using the weasel word ‘childish’ in the same sentence.
Git!
The ability to mock and ridicule means you don’t have to resort to punching the other in the mouth.
We will always have war. Better it be a war of words than one of deadlier weapons.
When churches like yours go out of their way to deny marriage equality to gays, or the pope announces from cloud-cuckoo land that condoms cause promiscuity and ‘if only everyone would just stop having sex they wouldn’t be spreading HIV’ then the least you can expect is ridicule.
As for mutual respect, that applies to civil rights.
Not stupid talk or deeds.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
IIRC?
April 26th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
If It Really Counts!
April 26th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
If I Recall Correctly.
I've since been reminded that it was because the studio lighting was being reflected from the cross into the cameras.
Why are you bothered, btw ("by the way", that is) a week later?