[WOMBAI]

Originally Posted by Patrick

It is the first hung parliament for 36 years and the first coalition government since the Second World War.

But hundreds of BBC viewers were left furious because the broadcaster dropped episodes of EastEnders and Holby City to broadcast a news special on Gordon Brown’s resignation.

The programme showed the Prime Minister's resignation speech, detailed the end of 13 years of Labour rule, and David Cameron's arrival and speech at Downing Street.



Despite historic changes in the real world, it seems many would have preferred to have watched the fictional goings on around Walford’s market stalls and in Holby’s hospital.

Astonishingly by last night more than 1,000 had made formal complaints to the corporation, angry at the interruption to their television schedule on Tuesday night.

One viewer said: ‘I don't feel that there is any point showing a election broadcast, which is just showing Gordon Brown going to Buckingham Palace!'

'If I or any one else wants to see this, theres the BBC News Channel, or online. This has ruined my television pleasure today when I just wanted to watch EastEnders.’

The BBC instead broadcast the two dramas on Wednesday night, but this had a knock on effect on Wednesday night programming.

School drama Waterloo Road has been pushed two weeks which also resulted in the BBC receiving hundreds of complaints, while the billed edition of DIY SOS was dropped and has yet to be rescheduled.

In a statement the broadcaster defended its position, stating: ‘The events that unfolded on 11 May 2010 will have a major significance for the whole of the UK.

‘Gordon Brown's resignation was of national importance. This also started proceedings of installing a new Prime Minister and the first coalition government in the UK for 70 years.

‘As public service broadcaster we are expected to cover such events and viewers come to BBC1 to experience such moments.’

The BBC News Special pulled in a peak audience of 11.5 million on BBC1.

Not bothered - don't watch it any more - just got bored with it!

[Beastie]

Eastenders is sh!t anyway.