How did Eastenders viewers react to the chess storyline?

The classic British soap opera is a unique specimen. Working-class neighborhood with rows of small houses, a thriving communal pub, and local shops including a chippie. This is supposed to mirror the lives of their viewers, who hang their washing in the garden and often struggle with important real-life issues like childcare, unemployment and rent arrears. Any character who is vaguely 'middle class' has clearly been teleported from planet Zog and struggles to fit in.

There is often a tangible resentment of success and betterment. People should know their place. Hopefully this is now a diminishing trend in British society.

The strange thing is, the Brits like their American soaps too, and the expectations are a polar opposite. Good looking actors, conspicuous consumption, a few idle rich, and hair that stays in place during a force 9 gale. No small terraced houses in sight, mostly palatial houses and plush apartments. There is a tangible whiff of success.

The BBC have not contacted me for a few weeks for chess positions, so the story line seems to be petering out. The main character involved is Bernadette Taylor (actress Clair Norris) who is supposed to be aged 15, and Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy) aged 77. An unlikely friendship blossoms when Bernadette starts helping him at his allotment, having ruined his favourite shirt at the laundrette. Ted then teaches Bernadette how to become a decent chess player (not the sort of thing working class girls do in soap operas – clearly getting above her station). One day, she inadvisedly skipped school and 'borrowed' Ted’s chess set, then thought her dog Bronson had eaten one of the chess pieces. Ted stormed over in a huff to the Taylor household after realising one piece is missing. It was found under Bernnadette's bed, raising a few suspicions eyebows. All was resolved over a game of chess in front of her family to prove she was no Lolita. Eventually, Bernadette is good enough to enter a local chess tournament.

So, how have the great British public reacted to the chess storyline? The reaction on twitter (which I monitored using the search '#Eastenders chess') has been mostly negative, with a few f-bombs thrown in. A small sample below.

Personally, I am neither disappointed nor surprised with this reaction. I have enjoyed providing the BBC with some chess positions and moves, and all exposure of the noble game on TV has to be a positive. It has been an unique experience devising chess diagrams and moves to match the scripts, and the great Christopher Timothy delivering my checkmate with a flourish of his hand was a personal highlight.