EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has confirmed that the show’s ongoing cuckooing storyline will culminate with a fatal stabbing in this week’s dramatic episodes. This year, Ravi and Okie cruelly exploited Kojo’s vulnerability for criminal gain, but last week Kojo and Harry finally broke free after months of manipulation.
The storyline isn’t quite over, as this week Harry and Kojo come face to face with Okie after reporting their ordeal to the police.
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Harry defends his friend when an argument breaks out, and he accidentally stabs Okie – and EastEnders has now revealed that Okie will die from his injuries.
On Kojo’s storyline, EastEnders has worked closely with charities Causeway and the National Autistic Society. Plus, The Ben Kinsella Trust have been advised on the scenes surrounding Okie’s fatal stabbing, to make sure the story has been told sensitively and accurately.
BBC
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In a statement, executive producer Ben Wadey said: “At EastEnders, we’re proud to tell stories that reflect the real challenges people face, and Kojo’s cuckooing storyline is one that feels especially important.
“Cuckooing is a form of exploitation that too often goes unseen and hasn’t featured on EastEnders before. Through Kojo’s experience we hope to have shined a light on how easily vulnerable people can be manipulated and isolated – something that can happen in any community, but feels particularly resonant in a city like London, where people live side by side and yet can still slip through the cracks.
“Working closely with experts and charities, our aim has been to tell this story with care and authenticity, and to raise awareness as to how to identify the signs of exploitation and the importance of reaching out for help.”
BBC
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Helen Ball, CEO of Causeway, said: “Causeway are proud to have supported EastEnders on this important and timely storyline. Cuckooing is a cruel and dehumanising form of exploitation where the home of someone vulnerable is taken over by criminals. We were grateful to EastEnders for the opportunity to work with their team on the research behind this storyline.”
Dr Judith Brown, from the National Autistic Society, also added: “The awful truth is that autistic people are more at risk of abuse, victimisation and exploitation than non-autistic people.
“Because autistic people can find it hard to interpret social cues, emotions and inferred meaning, some may not always recognise manipulative or dangerous behaviours from others. We hope this storyline encourages any autistic person or parent of autistic children to learn what abuse and exploitation can look like.”
EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
EastEnders has worked closely with Causeway and the National Autistic Society on Kojo’s cuckooing story. Causeway is a leading modern slavery and crime reduction charity, while the National Autistic Society provides advice and guidance for the challenges autistic people and their families face.
The soap has consulted The Ben Kinsella Trust on Okie’s fatal stabbing scenes – a charity that tackles knife crime through education and campaigning.
