Honey Mitchell
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| EastEnders character | ||||||||||||||||
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| Honey Mitchell | ||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Emma Barton | |||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Kate Harwood | |||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2005–2008 | |||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 22 November 2005 | |||||||||||||||
| Profile | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 29 February 1976 | |||||||||||||||
| Status | Married | |||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Laundrette assistant | |||||||||||||||
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Sue "Honey" Mitchell (née Edwards) is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is played by Emma Barton. She made her first appearance in the show on 22 November 2005. It was reported on 19 April 2008 that she had been axed from EastEnders, and that she will be making her last appearance in Summer 2008.[1] [2]
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[edit] Character creation and development
The character Honey Edwards was introduced in November 2005 by the executive producer Kate Harwood, as a love interest for Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick).[3] Actress Emma Barton was chosen to play the role in September 2005, after a successful screen test with Perry Fenwick.[4] Barton commented, "I can’t wait to join EastEnders and play Honey. She’s a really sweet girl, who always wants to do the best for everyone but she’s not exactly the brightest star in the sky."[5]
[edit] Down's syndrome
A relationship between Honey and Billy was quickly developed, and within two months, an upcoming baby had been introduced into the characters' narratives, with Honey announcing she was pregnant in January 2006.[6] The pregnancy was the start of an on-going storyline about Down's Syndrome (DS) as in September 2006, Honey and Billy's baby, Janet, was diagnosed with the disorder shortly after her birth. EastEnders' producers began to work on the DS plot in February 2006. Real parents with Down's children were approached to act as consultants in the making of the storyline - meeting with writers and the actors who play Billy and Honey.[7] On-screen, Honey was shown to be devastated, rejecting her baby and wanting to have her adopted, while Billy wanted to keep his daughter, placing strain on the couple, who married in the serial the day of Janet's birth.[8]
The Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) worked with EastEnders on the storyline. Their medical advisers were consulted about possible health problems that Billy and Honey’s baby might encounter. According to the DSA in 2006, DS people are under-represented on mainstream television, and EastEnders helped to redress that imbalance. The DSA used their influence to change certain elements of the scripts that they were unhappy with, such as persuading them to change the way Billy and Honey were told of their baby’s diagnosis; however, they had no influence over the characters' reactions or the plot in general. For the first two weeks after Janet's diagnosis, the DSA provided a helpline for worried parents or anyone wanting advice about DS. EastEnders also provided a link to the DSA website from theirs, to ensure that people looking for information could find the association.[9]
The storyline was developed with characterisation in mind. Some characters, such as Peggy Mitchell, were shown to respond negatively towards the Mitchells DS baby; views that were included so that the positive aspects could be voiced by the "more enlightened characters". The programme makers' main priority was to show the reality of having a child with the condition, "with all of its positives and negatives" and "create awareness among thousands of people who know very little about Down’s syndrome, who might have out-dated or prejudiced views." EastEnders took advice from DS organisations and families of DS people throughout. Care was taken to ensure that viewers empathised with Billy and Honey, to portray their journey in a "realistic way".[9]
The DSA have expressed their desire to see a Down’s syndrome character becoming a permanent member of the EastEnders cast, as "it would be a fantastic opportunity to bring Down’s syndrome into mainstream awareness, and to present a 21st century picture of family life for those who have children with the condition." In 2006, EastEnders pledged that they intended for Billy and Honey’s baby to grow up as any other baby would in the soap; however, it has been noted that the plot is dependent on the actors involved, and other practical problems that could arise. EastEnders pledged to make every effort to portray "a positive image of a family who have a baby with the condition."[9]
[edit] Reception of DS storyline
The episodes received criticism for innaccuracy.[10] Sue Jacob, a teacher at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said EastEnders presented a "poor picture of midwifery practice". During Janet's birth, Honey was refused an epidural while in pain, and later she was told that her baby had Down's syndrome alone, without her partner or family there to support her.[10] Jacob commented, "Women are vulnerable after giving birth and they need support systems in place [...] The person caring for her is repeatedly referred to as a nurse in the episode but there is no way that a nurse would be in charge after birth. The midwife would also have been open and honest and said 'We need to get the baby checked out and we will get your partner' [...] What the soaps do is set scenes which prompt people to talk about things which are affecting their lives. We are concerned people will wrongly think this Down’s syndrome story shows what really happens, and that if you have a problem there is no one there to support you. Showing something like this is not helpful."[10][11] Furthermore, Jacob noted that Honey was left alone for a long time to worry about the baby, which appeared rigid, and not floppy, as Down's babies do.[10] In Jacob's opinion, a midwife would have been repeatedly in and out of the room to check on the mother. Additionally, one episode showed a health visitor reprimanding Honey for refusing Down’s syndrome screening and Karen Reay, director of the Community Practitioners’ and Health Visitors’ Association called the episode "insensitive and patronising". She added that the episode contained "glaring anomalies", giving new mothers a "fictitious and misleading" view of health visitors, which could "damage relationships with health professionals".[11]
The BBC responded by saying, "EastEnders has undertaken a great deal of research to script the storyline of Billy and Honey giving birth to their baby daughter. EastEnders takes enormous care with its research and takes advice from experts in the given field. In addition, for this particular storyline EastEnders talked to numerous families with children who have Down's Syndrome. Some of their experiences were depicted in these early episodes. Also closely involved was a senior midwife from a large UK general hospital who saw all scripts. In relation to some particular points raised, Honey was not denied an epidural - she made the choice to put herself out of reach of communicating effectively with the midwife by locking herself in the bathroom. When the news was broken to Honey and Billy that their baby had Down's Syndrome, EastEnders has in fact drawn directly from one particular true-life story - and while this may indeed not be best practice it is worth saying that good drama does not necessarily come from best practice."[10] Despite the BBC's "extensive search" to cast a real Down's baby for the birth episodes, they were unable to do so, resulting in the shots of the newborn baby being less authentic and limited.[10] The BBC added, "In the coming weeks Honey and Billy's child will be played by a baby with Down's Syndrome. It is worth noting that EastEnders has received incredibly positive feedback from the Down's Syndrome Association following the first few episodes, whom we are continuing to work with very closely." Carol Boys, chief executive of the Down's Syndrome Association, has confrimed that 40% of parents whose babies were diagnosed after birth were given no written or practical information about the condition, and 11% were told, as Honey was, by a midwife rather than a paediatrician: "The way in which Billy and Honey have learnt of their baby's disability, and their subsequent support from their health professionals, is not a best-practice model. However, neither is it an unrealistic situation. BBC researchers and scriptwriters have based the scenes on conversations with families who have children with Down's Syndrome, and the scenes have struck a chord with thousands of our parent members across the country. Some health professionals hold outdated or prejudiced views about people with Down's Syndrome that prevent them from giving parents a balanced picture of what the future will hold for them."[10]
[edit] Raid on the Vic; Honey's second pregnancy
The scenes in which Honey was attacked were subject to heavy criticism in 2007, with Ofcom receiving 78 complaints from viewers about the level of violence displayed, and concerns for the safety of her baby. The media regulatory body stated that: "In Ofcom's view the violence was not appropriately limited for this time of the evening when many children are available to view television."[12] EastEnders was found to have breached the broadcasting code on this occasion, though the BBC defended itself by stating that there had been a gradual build up to the event over several episodes, and that a content warning was aired prior to the episode's broadcast.[13]
[edit] Stoylines
[edit] Background
Honey's mother, Janet, died of a heart defect while giving birth to her. She was raised by her father Jack. Her nickname, Honey, was given to her by her father when she was four. One Christmas Day, her father was trying to watch the James Bond film Dr. No, but she stood in front of the television demanding to play. This led to Jack nicknaming her Honey, after the character in the movie, Honey Ryder. As a child, Honey was also diagnosed with a heart condition, which made her father extremely overprotective of her.
[edit] Romance with Billy
Honey was introduced in November 2005, employed by Yolande Trueman as a "honey trap" to seduce her husband Patrick and see if he was willing to commit adultery. Honey caused confusion by mistaking Billy Mitchell for Patrick, but truth prevailed, and Honey and Billy became friends. Honey had aspirations to become a model. Billy helped her find employment, acting as her manager. Billy and Honey were attracted to each other, and after a period of trepdidation, they finally confessed their feelings, becoming a legitimate couple in December 2005. The following month, Honey fell pregnant. Overjoyed, Billy proposed and despite initial objections from her father, Jack, Honey said yes.
When Jack discovered Honey was pregnant, he tried to persuade her to abort her unborn child, convinced that she would share the same fate as her mother. Not wanting to lose Honey, Billy forced her to enquire about abortion, but after a check-up, she was told that she did not have the same heart defect as her mother, and there was no danger of her dying from the same causes. Honey was furious with Jack for allowing her to be unnecessarily fearful about her health for her whole life, and she chastised him for not taking her for a check-up when she was a child. She eventually forgave her father, and began to enjoy the prospect of becoming a mother.
Honey and Billy's first attempt at getting married in June 2006 ended in disaster when Honey was hospitalised due to food poisoning. The following month they tried again, but due to a series of unfortunate events — starting with a prank performed on Billy's stag night — the groom was unable to get to the ceremony on time. Their third attempt in September was arranged as a surprise by Billy's relative Peggy. Honey was heavily pregnant and while they were saying their vows, she started having contractions. She grabbed Billy and launched into a breathing exercise, then urged the vicar to continue. As Billy leaned in for a kiss after they were pronounced husband and wife, Honey revealed that her waters had broken.
[edit] Starting a family
Honey gave birth to a girl, Janet (after Honey's mother), but her happiness was short-lived, as the following day she was informed that Janet had Down's syndrome. Devatsted, Honey then admitted that she felt no love for the baby; she changed the child's name to Petal, as she was not the "perfect" Janet she had wanted.
Honey and Billy attended a support group for parents of children with Down syndrome, but being around Down's children only made Honey more depressed. She broke down and destroyed Petal's nursery, admitting to Billy that she could not cope and that she wanted Petal adopted. Billy was adverse to this and his relationship with Honey suffered as a result. Honey tried, but could not accept her baby, and at her lowest ebb she considered smothering Petal with a pillow, but could not bring herself to do it. Petal was fostered by Tony and Kim Smith in December 2006, but the next day, Dr. May Wright told Billy that Petal needed a heart operation. Billy arranged for Petal to be baptised in case she did not survive the operation, and after reading a heartfelt letter from Billy to Petal, Honey changed her mind about giving her daughter away; she went to the baptism and informed the vicar that she was naming the baby Janet after all. Janet's operation was a success, and Honey began to bond with her.
In March 2007, Honey discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Billy was apprehensive, fearing that they might love the new baby more than Janet, which Honey reassured him could never happen. They looked forward to the arrival of their new baby; however, in November 2007, Honey was knocked down whilst trying to prevent an attack on Jase Dyer. This caused her placenta to become dislodged from the uterine wall, and Honey went into labour. She was rushed to hospital where she gave birth to a boy, who appeared to be stillborn, as he was not breathing. However, he survived after resuscitation, and Honey named him William, after Billy. The Mitchells remained happy until December 2007, when their landlady, Manju Patel, threatened to evict them from their flat. Billy was unable to raise their rent money and despite attempts to barrage themselves in the flat, Mrs Patel threw them out, leaving the entire family homeless before Christmas. Relying on the kindness of relatives and neighbours, the Mitchells were given accommodation, and by April 2008 the council had rehoused them.
The couple haven't been seen in the soap since April 2008 and fans generally think this is because their brand new flat is further away from the sqaure.
[edit] Reception
In September 2006, Steve Frost, head producer of EastEnders' rival soap Coronation Street, publicly branded Honey and the Down's syndrome storyline as "Painful to watch [...] wooden and emotionless - crap." EastEnders' executive producer, Kate Harwood, defended the storyline, saying "We had incredible feedback on our Down's storyline. Fans were moved."[14]
[edit] References
- ^ "Honey is axed from EastEnders"
- ^ "EastEnders Honey gets the chop"
- ^ BEST SOAP: EastEnders. The Sun (22 November 2005). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ "Richard & Judy". Richard & Judy. Channel 4. 2007.
- ^ Honey trap heads for Walford. Digital Spy (21 September 2005). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ Sra Nathan (21 September 2005). It's Billy the kid at last. The Sun. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ It's a disablity thing. BBC. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ Could you raise a Down's child?. The Sun (14 November 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ a b c Eastenders - FAQs. DSA. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g BBC soap EastEnders slammed over Down's Syndrome baby birth. 24dash.com (13 September 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ a b BBC Criticised Over Eastenders Down's Syndrome Storyline. staffnurse.com (13 October 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ John Plunkett (25 February 2008). EastEnders violence ruled out of order. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ Matthew Hemley (25 February 2008). Ofcom raps BBC over EastEnders violence. The Stage. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ EXCLUSIVE: EASTENDER 'CRAP' JIBE. Daily Mirror (20 September 2006). Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
[edit] External links
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