EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere is a BBC Three documentary (also on iPlayer) released in October 2025, which dives deep into the show’s current storyline involving Joel Marshall and how online misogynistic culture (the “manosphere”) is influencing young men. Apple TV+5eastenders.fandom.com+5eastieoaks.com+5

The documentary is fronted by actors from EastEnders, in particular Max Murray, who plays Joel Marshall, Diane Parish (Denise Fox), and Ellie Dadd (Amy Mitchell), characters who are centrally involved in the Joel storyline. tvguide.co.uk+4eastieoaks.com+4eastenders.fandom.com+4

The aim is twofold: first, to show how Joel’s attitudes — misogynistic worldview, influenced by harmful online content — mirror real-world experiences of many young men; and second, to explore the effects of this misogyny on those around him, especially women or people who suffer as a result. The documentary brings in real people with lived experience, as well as experts, charities, poets, and academics. TVmaze+3eastieoaks.com+3uk.headtopics.com+3

One of the expert voices is Professor Harriet Over (University of York), who helps explain what the “manosphere” is — its forms, its reach, and how online radicalisation can happen. There are also contributions from charities such as Beyond Equality, and real-life stories of people whose lives have been “turned upside down by the effects of misogyny.” eastieoaks.com+2eastenders.fandom.com+2

The documentary also explores the interplay of online communities where misogynistic ideas are normalised, how algorithms can feed such content to young people, and how “influencers” or powerful voices in this online space can radicalise or encourage such attitudes. These are not mere fictional or exaggerated concerns — the documentary tries to root them in real examples, people who have been impacted. tvguide.co.uk+2eastieoaks.com+2

Another thread is how people close to Joel in the show — family, stepfamily, friends — are dealing with what they witness. The documentary uses these fictional relationships to mirror real parents or peers struggling to understand or respond to harmful online influence. It reflects on responsibility: what role do parents, schools, social platforms, and society have in preventing radicalisation or helping young people before it goes too far. tvguide.co.uk+1

There is also a focus on women’s perspective: those experiencing the effects of online misogyny directly — harassment, threats, demeaning language. Ellie Dadd, Diane Parish and others discuss how online misogynistic beliefs translate into real world harm, both emotionally and even physically. The documentary pushes viewers to consider not only how men are influenced, but what happens to those who become the targets of these views. tvguide.co.uk+1

Emotionally, the documentary is strong: giving Joel’s actor a chance to discuss what it was like to play someone moving through that kind of radicalisation, showing the tension in his relationships on EastEnders, and juxtaposing that with interviews of young men who feel they were radicalised or led into misogynistic online communities. Viewers get both the “why” and “how” of what’s happening. tvguide.co.uk+1

The documentary length is about 30 minutes. eastieoaks.com+3TVmaze+3uk.headtopics.com+3 It was made in collaboration with charities and expert groups to try to ensure sensitive and accurate portrayal. Organisations like The Lucy Faithful Foundation, Beyond Equality, End Violence Against Women (or similar), have input. eastieoaks.com+2uk.headtopics.com+2

The release of Investigates: The Manosphere is timed to coincide with a particularly intense stretch in the soap storyline: Joel’s behaviour reaching a point where its effects are visible in his relationships, including conflict, aggression, and emotional disturbance. The documentary aims to give audiences context, to help understand where these patterns of behaviour come from, and what could or should be done. tvguide.co.uk+2eastieoaks.com+2

In terms of impact, the documentary has been seen as an important conversation starter. Some reviewers have praised it for bringing attention to a serious, growing issue — online misogyny and how it affects younger people — while also recognizing that, given its short run time, it cannot explore every nuance. There are limitations, but its strengths lie in its realism and in making viewers uncomfortable in a way that pushes them to think. tvguide.co.uk

Overall, EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere goes beyond being just a companion piece to the soap’s plot. It tries to be a bridge between fiction and reality: using Joel’s storyline as an anchor to examine real-world problems, giving voice to experts and to people harmed by misogyny, and asking what responsibility media, society, and individuals have in countering radicalisation and online hate. For viewers of EastEnders, it adds layers of understanding to what they see in the primary show; for those who might not watch the soap, it stands alone as a serious reflection on how digital culture shapes beliefs, behaviours, and consequences.