EastEnders viewers were up in arms on Thursday evening after Carol Jackson used offensive language before the watershed.

The soap character, played by Lindsey Coulson, called her brother Max Branning (Jake Wood) a b*****d at 19.58 during the latest episode of the BBC One soap.

The TV watershed is 21.00, and material which may not be suitable for children should not be broadcast before that time.

Lindsey Coulson plays Carol Jackson in EastEnders
Lindsey Coulson plays Carol Jackson in EastEnders (BBC)

A spokesman for Ofcom revealed they had already received 29 complaints. He added: “We will assess these complaints before deciding whether to investigate or not.”

EastEnders fans took to Twitter to express their shock and concern.

Cameron Jolley tweeted: “Can someone tell me why Carol called Max a b*****d on EastEnders tonight? It’s meant to be a family soap”

Trevor Sheldon tweeted: “Why did carol say b****d in eastenders I gasped so hard?”

Ethan O’Donnell wrote: “Nearly knocked my cup of tea over just then when carol called max a ‘b****d’ on watershed Eastenders. Despicable.”

John Lee tweeted: “I was stunned when Carol Jackson used the word ‘b*****d’ on tonight’s #eastenders #beforethewatershed”

@acidic_magic said: “total beef on eastenders tonight also carol managed to slip b*****d into the vocab u can say on TV now”

Max Branning and Carol Jackson in EastEnders (BBC)
Carol Jackson swore at her brother Max Branning (BBC)

@cthsd wrote: “I really was not prepared for Carol calling Max a ‘b*****d’!”

Holly Smithy wrote: “Carol calling max ‘a b*****d’ on tonight’s episode of Eastenders was slightly uncalled for, I think! #beforewatershed #EastEnders

But a lot of viewers saw the funny side to the outrage expressed on social media.

@SamblyMoron wrote: “OMG @bbceastenders Carol called Max a b*****d! Is that allowed before 9pm? I was quite shocked but also found it quite funny!”

@ChrisEssex tweeted: “Why the fuss about carol saying b*****d? #EastEnders”

Jordan Howe posted the clip online and captioned it: “Wash your mouth out carol!”

And several Twitter users pointed out that Max’s wife Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) had used the same word to describe him during their divorce proceedings which aired in 2008.

Caley Pearson tweeted: “Don’t get why people are making a fuss about #Eastenders and Carol saying the B word. Didn’t Tanya do it years ago too??”

And Karl Downey wrote: “Everyone’s talking about Carol swearing. Tanya called Max a b*****d in divorce court in 2008.”

A spokeswoman for EastEnders said: “We are always mindful of the time slot in which we go out. As our regular viewers will know, Carol has been pushed to her limits by her brother and her unusual outburst reflected her frustration.”