Just two days after fans complained about EastEnders character Sharon Mitchell’s inexpert use of a telephone, the show is at it again – this time with a misuse of emergency numbers.
The veteran EastEnders character, played by Letitia Dean, has been fielding nuisance prank calls from Michelle Fowler’s stalker, and finally decided to call the police.
The calls, which have kept Sharon up at night, involve someone calling the house only to hang up as soon as the phone is answered.
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After talking to her best friend, Michelle, played by Jenna Russell, Sharon decided it was time to take the harassment seriously.
But when she called the police, the beleaguered woman dialled 999 – instead of using the non-emergency number, 101.
Fans of the show took to twitter to complain about the gaffe.
“Sharon just called 999 for a nuisance caller… #EastEnders” said one user, “Crank calls and they ring 999 on #EastEnders
Tut tut,” tweeted another.
Others pointed out that there is, in fact, a more suitable number available: “Why did Sharon ring 999 for that? Isn’t there a non-emergency number in Walford? #EastEnders,” said one user.
“Did Sharon really just call 999 rather than 101? #EastEnders,” said one tweeter. “Surely Sharon didn’t dial 999 #EastEnders #101,” said another.
“Well thats @bbceastenders displaying misuse of the 999 system #EastEnders,” said one fan.
The police non-emergency number, 101, has been available across Wales and England since 2012, and was rolled out to Scotland and Northern Ireland by 2014. The number is designed for exactly the kind of situation Sharon was attempting to report – crime or harassment where there’s no immediate danger, to prevent emergency services being tied up.
This marks the second phone gaffe Sharon’s committed in just a couple of days. As the nuisance calls came in, she seemed to forget they were coming through on a cordless phone.
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She spent an evening traipsing downstairs every time the phone rang, only to go straight back up again when the caller hung up. She seemed unaware that – as many fans pointed out – she could simply take the phone back upstairs with her.
“It’s a cordless phone just take the handset upstairs Sharon #EastEnders,” said one user.
“Why is Sharon rushing downstairs to answer a cordless phone? Would you not keep it by the bed at night – its not 1980 #EastEnders #isitme ,” another tweeted.