EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has been criticised over its portrayal of Milton Keynes.
Recent episodes have seen Bianca Jackson return to our screens after step-daughter Whitney Dean and her partner Zack Hudson visited, following her split from long-term partner Terry Spraggan.
Scenes set in the city saw a brick thrown through Bianca's window during an argument, and another character was described as "roaming the estate, carting drugs around, and eating out of bins" rather than being in school.
"We'll leave it up to a fictional soap opera to choose how they want to depict Milton Keynes," a spokesperson for Destination Milton Keynes, the area's official tourism service, told BBC News.
"But we know it to be a thriving, multi-cultural community with more than 6,000 acres of free green spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy and with a booming visitor economy worth over £230m a year.
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"[The city] regularly features as one of the fastest-growing and most prosperous cities in the UK."
Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, said he was also unhappy with the "out of order" portrayal and would be contacting producers of the soap.
"Producers owe an apology to the people of Milton Keynes for this negative portrayal," he said, noting that he wanted "the good side" of the city to be reflected, too.
"Like every city, we have parts that aren't as good as the others, but the characterisation is completely out of order," he added.
Digital Spy has reached out to EastEnders, who declined to comment.
The episodes aired as part of Whitney's exit storyline, after Shona McGarty announced her decision to leave the soap last July.
Whitney found herself trying to help a young child called Britney with her difficult home life after discovering that she hasn't gone to school since 2020.
Things escalated for Whitney when Britney runs away, causing a confrontation between a pregnant Whitney and Britney's mum.
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Explaining the storyline, McGarty said: "Keeley hasn't been looking after her at all and Whitney feels incredibly sorry for her. She tries to help her and wants to take her under her wing. Britney reminds Whitney of herself at that age."
Following the showdown between Whitney and Keeley, which led to Whitney being hit by a car and hospitalised, McGarty revealed Zack's feelings about the situation.
"Zack is so annoyed with Whitney," McGarty admitted. "Obviously Zack was fostered so he has an understanding, but he's just so concerned about this baby that he goes back to the Square without Whitney and Whitney makes Britney her main priority instead of Zack which is quite sad."
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.

















