EastEnders actress Cheryl Ferguson BLASTS soap for ‘normalising violence’ – 11 years after axe

Former EastEnders actress Cheryl Ferguson has blasted the BBC soap for ‘normalising violence’.

The 57-year-old played loveable Heather Trott on the show for five years before being viciously killed by Ben Mitchell (then played by Joshua Pascoe) in 2012. 

Cheryl branded the show ‘ridiculous’ and went on to claim that it had ‘lost it’s way’ after 38 years on screen.

She told the Daily Star: ‘I am not the morality police but I do think has lost its way a little’.

‘Now it is all about how many people can be stabbed or shot in the Square’.

‘I don’t think that’s the right image for soaps to give. I think it is normalising violence to younger people.’

MailOnline have contacted reps for EastEnders for comment. 

The Walford set show has seen it’s fair share of Ofcom complaints, with over 90 in 2014  following the pre-watershed rape scene between Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).

Back in 2008 the show received 134 following the death of Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord) the same years as viewers were shocked to see scenes of paedophile Tony (Chris Coghill) groom 15-year-old schoolgirl Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).

Cheryl previously revealed that she burst into tears after being told she was out of EastEnders.

She told Best magazine: ‘It was a bittersweet day. What you get with one hand, you get taken away with another!

‘When they told me Heather was for the chop, (the boss) had to get me a tissue. Sometimes a character is sacrificed to make other stories work. I get it. I knew it was going to come but it was still a shock.’

With a source telling The Sun at the time about her exit: ‘Heather’s character has been hugely popular over the years, but the decision has been taken to cut her out of the show before viewers tire of her.’ 

Exit: She  played loveable Heather Trott on the show for five years before being viciously killed by Ben Mitchell (then played by Joshua Pascoe) in 2012

It comes after rival soap Coronation Street was hit with Ofcom complaints over violent scenes which aired recently and saw Alya Nazir, [Sair Khan] stabbed and nearly killed. 

The dark episode of the ITV soap was part of a harrowing racism storyline. 

Viewers hit out at the show’s ongoing terrifying extremism plot where an attempt was made to murder Maria Connor, played by Samia Longchambon.

The episode prompted a total of 72 Ofcom complaints about the violence.

 

Murder: Heather was killed in shocking scenes (picured) leaving behind her baby George 

The scene took place as Maria gave a speech at an event organised to highlight the Weatherfield refugee drop-in centre. 

As Maria welcomed the refugees, Max Turner was on his phone listening to a character named Blake making a racist speech pledging to put an end to the refugee centre by whatever means necessary.

A far right gang has recently groomed the teen, isolating him from his loved ones and pushing him to help spread Griff’s racist agenda.

Blake has also been manipulated and acted out by attempting to murder councillor Maria. 

Pushing his way through the crowd in the restaurant Black revealed he had a knife on him and Alya stepped in front of Maria as he tried to hurt her. 

Alya was stabbed and seriously injured in the struggle before Gary Windass, played by Mikey North, tackled Blake to the ground. 

However, it was too late for Alya as she dropped down clutching her chest where her wound was bleeding. 

Viewers were left less than impressed by the ‘bloody violence’ scenes and took to Twitter to complain about the dark episode. 

MailOnline contacted a spokesperson for Coronation Street for comment.  

Terrifying: Not happy: It comes after rival soap Coronation Street was hit with Ofcom complaints over violent scenes which aired recently and saw Alya Nazir, [Sair Khan] stabbed and nearly killed