Street breaks TV violence code

Violent scene: Four viewers complained

Coronation Street has been criticised by TV watchdogs for showing violent scenes which could be disturbing to young children.

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) upheld complaints by viewers that the portrayal of the demise of one of the Street's most notorious characters was too violent for a family programme.

In the September episode, TV villain Jez Quigley died after trying to murder Steve McDonald in hospital.

Last month the ITC cleared the soap for showing a separate confrontation between the two characters, which formed part of a long-running plotline in the programme.

In the criticised episode Jez tries to smother Steve McDonald, while he lies helpless in a hospital bed, only to collapse himself with blood seen dripping from his mouth.

Four viewers complained to the ITC but Granada, which makes the soap, argued that the scene had been "menacing rather than violent".

Too intense

The television company also claimed that viewers would have been prepared for the scene because of the development of the storyline over several weeks.

But the ITC ruled that the degree of menace in the scene was too intense and could be disturbing to young children.

In their ruling, the ITC said: "Here, menace and physical threats were directed at a severely injured individual in a vulnerable situation.

"Up to this point Jez's character had injected some humour into this violent storyline.

"In this scene, though, he clearly enjoys inflicting pain in a hospital setting, which could be disturbing to younger children."

The ITC ruled that the episode was in breach of the Programme Code.