BBC's Doctors explores 'furry' culture: Daytime soap shows how teenager who 'dresses up as a teddy bear' is thrown out by his grandfather who calls him 'perverted' before they later reconcile

BBC bosses are under fire after daytime serial drama Doctors dedicated an entire episode of its show normalising 'furrys' and shamed one of its characters into apologising for calling them 'abnormal.'

During Wednesday's lunchtime episode, entitled Furryland, grandad Colin Shaw, played by Stephen Bent, was shocked when grandson Ethan came out as a furry and said his behaviour was perverted and called him a weirdo.

Viewers watched the show – in BBC One's 1.45pm slot - as Ethan excitedly took delivery of his 'Bear' costume and proceeded to walk around the house in the fancy dress outfit as his granddad showed his disgust.

But the granddad's views were challenged by GP business manager Bear Sylvester, actor Dex Lee, who goes to check on the elderly man at his home.

On his arrival, and introducing himself, Colin said: 'I've already got one bear down there as you can see. It was bad enough when 'they decided to be non binary' his name is Ethan.'

During the episode Doctors regular Bear had a heart-to-heart with Ethan about his furry persona before he returned to see his grandad Colin.

Bear said: 'Ethan is a kind, sensitive kid. You accepted their gender so why not this?'

Colin replied: 'Because it's abnormal' with which Bear said: 'Colin, being a furry is not abnormal. Ethan has found a community of people that shares their interests and they get joy from that.

'Maybe this furry thing is a phase maybe it isn't but it's not hurting anyone so does it really matter. Do you know where Ethan's going tonight? Why don't you go along and see for yourself.'

Later in the episode Bear takes Colin to the local pub where Ethan is attending his first 'furry' meet up and is sitting alongside other people dressed up as animals.

Turning to his grandson, Colin said: 'I was a bit harsh earlier I said some things that I shouldn't have and I didn't mean them. Please come home if you want to, with your suit. And your friends.'

With that the entire furry community cheers and the pair hug. But as the episode played out on-screen angry viewers took to Twitter to vent their anger and disgust.

One said: 'Are you not aware of the kinks, porn and fetishism surrounding those who identify as Furrys?' While another slammed the storyline, tweeting: 'A grandad is re-educated as to normality of #furrycommunity, Goes to furry party to apologise for his bigotry. Realises they're all lovely wholesome peeps. All the cosplayers cheer, roll credits. Utter dross.'

While another slammed the soap, and said: 'Bring back kink shaming. Normalising this as harmless and innocent, how thick do they think people are?'

The BBC announced last month that it would be cancelling the daytime drama Doctors after 23 years on our screens with its last episode airing in December 2024.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'The fictional storylines on Doctors draw inspiration from real life experience including topics such as identity, and the series has an excellent track record in championing all forms of diversity.'

The corporation added that if there are more than 100 official complaints they will appear in their fortnightly complaints bulletin.