MUMBAI: UK organisation The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) says that teen characters in British soaps lack ambition and are not great role models for viewers.

LSC is concerned about the fact that characters in shows like Corrie and EastEnders are stuck in bad jobs which do not inspire kids to work towards a strong career with well defined goals.

It says that characters in shows should have more ambition. Giving examples it points out that Corrie's Fiz works in a factory and EastEnders' Stacey is a stall trader. The group says they should both be setting their sights higher.

LSC points out that too many soap characters have no career aspirations. Shows should at least attempt to show them trying to improve the quality of their lives instead of staying stuck in insignificant jobs.

It notes that the UK has thousands of young people without qualifications. So it is important that television sets good examples. Television characters often set examples and if they are shown as being satisfied with being in dead end jobs then LSC is concerned that British viewers will not be motivated to try for more.