BBC bias row over Boris on EastEnders

The BBC has been accused of political bias for allowing Boris Johnson to appear on EastEnders despite rejecting an idea from his predecessor Ken Livingstone.

Tonight Mr Johnson will become the first elected politician to appear on the soap when he walks into the Queen Vic pub and meets landlady Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, above.

Mr Livingstone approached the BBC during his last term as Mayor, hoping to highlight a recycling campaign on the show. He said: "They said it wouldn't be appropriate, that it was political. They've obviously changed their tune, but then they have always been quite keen on Boris."

Labour Assembly member Murad Qureshi accused the BBC of giving Mr Johnson free publicity.

The BBC claimed that the office of Mayor was "politically neutral".