"YOU buried my son under a knicker factory,” said Mrs Fishwick after hearing John Stape’s confession in Coronation Street.

He’d also admitted to helping two other people to an early grave. He then let the unfortunate Mrs Fishwick die, denying her the vital medication needed to relieve her heart attack.

But he’s only a serial killer and what’s a murder or two compared with the ruckus in EastEnders?

That business about a cot death and a baby swap has attracted 6,000-and-counting complaints from people (I hesitate to call them viewers as I’m not convinced all have actually watched the episodes) upset by a storyline that was well signalled in advance.

While producers fend off criticism – insensitive, irresponsible and tacky sensationalism are words used by complainants – poor Mrs Fishwick’s demise will pass virtually unnoted. Babies are more likely to arouse strong reaction than old ladies. Stape can kill a few more before anyone writes to Ofcom. Serial killers are regulars on soaps which, some people don’t seem to realise, is heightened drama not real life.

Remember that and, it may not alleviate the pain and anguish caused by the baby swap plot, but might help keep the matter in proportion.

Having leading actress Samantha Womack, who plays new mum Ronnie, say how filming the emotionally draining scenes were the worst moments of her life isn’t helpful. Jessie Wallace, who plays the other mother in the story, has maintained a dignified silence.

The producers did all they could to prepare viewers, highlighting the storyline in advance and providing helplines at the end of each episode.

One thing that hasn’t suffered is the ratings.

With figures rising to 11 million, EastEnders is enjoying its biggest audience for a year.

There’s been a certain amount of panic among producers. While maintaining the storyline was “dealing with social issues in a powerful and dramatic way” and issuing apologies, they’ve decided to conclude it earlier than originally planned.

The huge volume of complaints outdid the number who objected when Ronnie’s daughter Danielle died in a car crash in April 2009.

EastEnders is no stranger to controversy, although not on quite this scale. It’s barely two minutes since people were upset by preacher Lucas Johnson’s murderous ways. He killed his wife’s exhusband and then his wife (although she wasn’t dead and lived to see him put away).

The BBC was forced to issue a statement stating that Lucas wasn’t intended to be representative of Christians but “a very damaged and dangerous individual who has created a twisted version of the Christian faith in his mind to hide behind and convince himself that his actions are acceptable”.

Talking of Christian, his gay romance with Muslim character Syed Masood has been another contentious plotline. Syed had to get married – to a woman – before coming out and setting up home with Christian.

It wasn’t so much the gay angle as Syed’s religion that caused comment. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee criticised the gay storyline and then there was anger when Christian was attacked by another Muslim character. Complaints followed after Syed slammed down a copy of the Koran during one of the emotionally-charged episodes.

Sex too can pose problems as when Bianca Jackson’s boyfriend arrived in Albert Square and reignited a relationship with his 15-year-old stepdaughter Whitney – all part of the soap’s “rich heritage of tackling difficult social issues, such as domestic violence and mental health”.

More recently, Phil Mitchell’s crack cocaine binge attracted hundreds of complaints although, in the BBC’s defence, it should be pointed out that it received letters of support as well.

ITV hasn’t escape scot free, with complaints about its lesbian couple, Sophie and Sam, who were shown kissing passionately before falling into bed with each other in Coronation Street over Christmas.

It brings back memories of Anna Friel’s first lesbian kiss in Brookside, the late lamented Scouse soap that didn’t back away from tough and gritty storylines.

Not all complaints are about sex and violence.

EastEnders had one about litter and the culprit was Dot Branning, a smoker who continually throws her cigarette ends on to the floor.

A local council officer in Northamptonshire said that Dot should have received a fixed penalty notice for her littering. The complainant said she was leading a No Excuses anti-litter campaign and felt strongly that people on screen should behave properly.

“The show has a responsibility to set a good example.

We are hugely influenced by this soap. Dot is a main character and she’s old enough to know better.”