TV viewers offended when Coronation Street vicar kisses another man

More than 60 people complained to the UK's broadcast watchdog Ofcom when the vicar in the popular television soap Coronation Street kissed another man.

The episode showed the vicar of St Mary's, Billy Mayhew, played by the actor Daniel Brocklebank, kissing Todd Grimshaw, played by Bruno Langley. 

Mayhew had split up with his previous boyfriend, the Rovers Return barman Sean Tully, played by Antony Cotton, who he met on a night out in Manchester's gay village.

Ofcom reports that the first episode containing the kiss last month attracted 26 complaints, with a further 41 complaints from the repeat a few days later. These complaints mainly concerned standards but more people complained also about an offence under the religious belief and discrimination categories.

An Ofcom spokesman  told Pink News:: "We considered a number of complaints objecting to two male characters kissing in this episode, but won't be investigating. Our rules do not discriminate between scenes involving opposite sex and same sex couples. Also the scenes were not in any way sexually explicit. For these reasons they were not scheduled inappropriately and did not exceed generally accepted standards."

related articles
Coronation Street \'misleading\' viewers on euthanasia
Coronation Street 'misleading' viewers on euthanasia

Coronation Street 'misleading' viewers on euthanasia

Poisoning, alcoholism and illicit sex... the five most controversial TV vicar storylines

Poisoning, alcoholism and illicit sex... the five most controversial TV vicar storylines

The power of the popular: Should Christians engage more with the media?
The power of the popular: Should Christians engage more with the media?

The power of the popular: Should Christians engage more with the media?

News
Afghanistan's first dedicated Christian TV channel launches despite Taliban restrictions
Afghanistan's first dedicated Christian TV channel launches despite Taliban restrictions

Mozhda TV, which its founders describe as the first Afghan Christian television channel, began broadcasting Saturday, Oct. 24, as church leaders, mission partners and Afghan believers gathered to mark its launch.

Yemen is key funding hub for Islamic State attacks on Christians - report
Yemen is key funding hub for Islamic State attacks on Christians - report

The report warns that Christians are seen as a particular target by the Islamic State. 

Christian widows in Nigeria hold fast to faith as they rebuild lives after violence
Christian widows in Nigeria hold fast to faith as they rebuild lives after violence

Hundreds of Christian widows in Nigeria’s Plateau State are putting their lives back together after losing husbands, homes and livelihoods to violence.

8 killed in attack on church in Jordan
8 killed in attack on church in Jordan

In response to the shooting, Church leaders vowed that Christians will not be driven from their homeland.