EastEnders is set to air a hard hitting storyline later this year covering the issue of male rape when Max Bowden’s character Ben Mitchell was attacked.
The issue of male rape had previously looked at by the soap and ultimately ditched 10 years ago as it was deemed too controversial for mainstream pre-watershed TV.
In the years since David Platt in Coronation Street was central to a male rape story while viewers will recall a late night episode of Hollyoaks which saw Luke Morgan violently attacked.
Barman Lewis, played by Aidan O’Callaghan, has befriended Max i recent weeks as he undergoes a serious crisis of identity following a violent beating involving himself and Callum at new year.
A struggling Ben has since attacked homophobes but a future scene will see things go too far, leading to Ben confiding in Lewis.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘It’s the first time EastEnders has covered this issue but they’ve always been at the forefront of telling these important stories.
‘As always, the show is working closely with different charities as they want to make sure it’s all handled as sensitively as possible.
‘The attack won’t be shown on-screen but viewers will be aware of it happening.’
Producers have been working closely with several charities, including SurvivorsUK, Survivors Manchester and the Male Survivors Partnership, to ensure it is covered sensitively.
It came after Max was seen in an Instagram conducting research on a then unconfirmed storyline.
Metro.co.uk has contacted the BBC, who plan to formally confirm the storyline in coming days.
Max said: ‘Alongside some wonderful charities, and some very inspirational survivors of male sexual assault in the UK, I think we’ve been able to really strive to tell the most truthful account we can, and I hope we can raise awareness and understanding on a topic that is rarely covered.
‘I’m honoured to be given this opportunity to tell such an important story.’
BBC head of continuing drama Kate Oates added: ‘Ben has endured a traumatic time after witnessing a homophobic attack on Callum that brought back painful memories of losing Paul.
‘As a result, Ben lost his way in life…which is when he found Lewis. Ben finds Lewis attractive, and thinks of him as a someone who can understand him in a way Callum does not; but that trust is abused when Lewis crosses a line and rapes Ben.’
‘Through this story, we hope to explore issues of consent, sexual identity, masculinity, and sexual assault, focusing on how this fateful night impacts Ben and those who love him over the coming months.’
Rape charity SurvivorsUK spokeswoman Marta Almeida, Services Manager for said: ‘Almost all of us will know a man who has been sexually assaulted at some point, but a huge number of male survivors still don’t feel there’s a space for them to come forward.
‘Storylines like this one are an amazing opportunity to explore the reality for so many men, families and communities up and down the UK.’
A decade ago, former producer Bryan Kirkwood, who moved to Hollyoaks, had pitched the idea of a male rape storyline but it was rejected by the BBC. He has recently returned to write occasional episode of the soap.
]The dark storyline will unfold next month.
You can find information and support by heading to Survivors UK
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