EastEnders fans have hit out at the focus on Mick Carter in the tragic knife crime storyline.
Schoolboy Shakil Kazemi was murdered and Keegan Baker stabbed in hard-hitting scenes last week, but as the fallout continues viewers have been disappointed by the way Mick Carter seems to have taken a central role.
While Bonnie Langford’s acting as Shakil’s devastated mother Carmel has been widely praised, other characters seem to have been sidelined to allow Mick to be involved.
Viewers watched as Mick found Keegan after he was stabbed, but turned away Shakil as he begged for help while he was dying.
Fans have hit out at scenes in the hospital where instead of Shakil’s brother Kush being the focus, Mick was.
Read more: EastEnders SPOILER: Keegan to take revenge?
Writing on Digital Spy’s forums, one said: “It felt wrong they were in the same scene with the Kazemis.
“The producers can’t resist having the Carters involved.”
Another added: “Definitely. Karen was barely in it. Keegan might be OK but being the mum of a stabbing victim deserves far more screen time in the immediate aftermath, rather than the local landlord.”
A third wrote: “Shakil never had anything to do with Mick in life so I fail to see why he should have anything to do with Mick in death.
“He doesn’t belong in this storyline and I hope they don’t go on and on about him feeling guilty.”
However, others were glad that Mick was the one who found Keegan.
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One wrote: “He’s the local landlord and Shakil made it his businesses by going to him for help.
“It’s no different than someone going to the minute mart or Ian’s chippy for help. You assume that all the business owners know their customers.”
A second said: “They had to focus on Mick’s guilt. He made two mistakes, One was not realising Shakil had been stabbed and the second was moving Keegan instead of waiting for the ambulance. There was a message being told here…”
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EastEnders airs Monday and Friday at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One