This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Eastenders Episode'.




 
 
Mark 
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
 
 
18th August 2011 
 
Dear Mark, 
 
Freedom of Information request – RFI20110897  
 
Thank you for your request to the BBC of 29th July 2011, seeking the following information under 
the Freedom of Information Act 2000:   
 
Please tell me what episode of eastnders this was and the date: 
It was an episode where Joe Macer and Jim Branning are in the Vic.  Joe is already drunk and Dot 
enters and starts asking about Jim. Joe and Dot have an argument and Joe gets rude to dot. I think 
it was about an antique. 

 
We believe the episode you refer to is   Ep c963 (tx: 06.03.2006) 
Jim's taking Dot's old bric-a-brac to the church. Bert suggests flogging it to Deano instead. To their 
surprise, Deano pays them good money for it. Jim and Bert head off to the dog track. 
 
Dot finds out that Jim sold her valuables. As she gives Jim an earful, Joe pokes fun at her. Dot's 
cross with him for interfering. She complains to Pauline, who takes her husband's side. Dot storms 
off. 
 
Please note that the information you have requested is excluded from the Act because it is held 
for the purposes of ‘journalism, art or literature.’    Part VI of Schedule 1 to FOIA provides that 
information held by the BBC and the other public service broadcasters is only covered by the Act 
if it is held for ‘purposes other than those of journalism, art or literature” 1.  The BBC is not 
required by the Act to supply information held for the purposes of creating the BBC’s output or 
information that supports and is closely associated with these creative activities; however, on this 
occasion we’re happy to provide the above information in response to your request.   
                                                 
1 For more information about how the Act applies to the BBC please see the enclosure at the end of this letter.  Please 
note that this guidance is not intended to be a comprehensive legal interpretation of how the Act applies to the BBC. 
 
 

 
 
If you have similar queries in future about BBC programmes, which as explained above are not 
covered by the Act, the best place to approach in the first instance is the BBC's main 
correspondence unit. You can do this by using their webform at http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/, 
by phoning 03700 100 222* (textphone 03700 100 212*), or by writing to: 
BBC Information  
PO Box 1922  
Glasgow  
G2 3WT  
 
Appeal Rights 
 
The BBC does not offer an internal review when the information requested is not covered by the 
Act.  If you disagree with our decision you can appeal to the Information Commissioner. Contact 
details are: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, 
SK9 5AF telephone 01625 545 700. http://www.ico.gov.uk 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
Lynne Connolly 
Cross Genre Project Manager 
BBC Vision 
 
 

 
Freedom of Information 
From January 2005 the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all 
types of recorded information held by public authorities. The Act also sets out exemptions from that 
right and places a number of obligations on public authorities. The term “public authority” is defined 
in the Act; it includes all public bodies and government departments in the UK. The BBC, Channel 4 
and S4C are the only broadcasters covered by the Act. 
Application to the BBC  
The BBC has a long tradition of making information available and accessible. It seeks to be open and 
accountable and already provides the public with a great deal of information about its activities. BBC 
Information operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week handling telephone and written comments 
and queries, and the BBC’s website bbc.co.uk provides an extensive online information resource.  
It is important to bear this in mind when considering the Freedom of Information Act and how it 
applies to the BBC. The Act does not apply to the BBC in the way it does to most public authorities 
in one significant respect. It recognises the different position of the BBC (as well as Channel 4 and 
S4C) by saying that it covers information “held for purposes other than those of journalism, art or 
literature”. This means the Act does not apply to information held for the purposes of creating the 
BBC’s output (TV, radio, online etc), or information that supports and is closely associated with 
these creative activities.  
A great deal of information within this category is currently available from the BBC and will continue 
to be so. If this is the type of information you are looking for, you can check whether it is available 
on the BBC’s website bbc.co.uk or contact BBC Information. 
The Act does apply to all of the other information we hold about the management and running of the 
BBC.  
The BBC 
The BBC's aim is to enrich people's lives with great programmes and services that inform, educate 
and entertain. It broadcasts radio and television programmes on analogue and digital services in the 
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World News. 
 
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and regularly reviewed by Parliament. Each year, the BBC publishes an Annual Report & Accounts, 
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