Perrie’s mum, Debbie Edwards, was one of the shocked viewers. She tweeted: ‘Anyone watching Holby city??? Really upset.com.’
The episode features boy band obsessive Kayleigh, played by actress Alexa Davies, who finds herself on the ward when she faints at a One Direction signing.
The devoted fan tells a Holby nurse that her favourite member is Zayn.
She continues: ‘I’ve got it all worked out, all I have to do is track down Perrie Edwards, cut off her head with a rusty chainsaw, marry Zayn and have all his babies.’
Kayleigh goes on to say she’s the ‘ultimate Directioner’ and said she’d go the ‘extra mile’ to get close to her idols.
Many viewers were outraged by the storyline, with one writing: ‘The worse thing about what was said about Perrie in Holby City is that by an actress saying it is saying that it’s OK for others to say it.’
Another tweeted: ‘Complaint sent to @BBCOne about what was said about Perrie in Holby City. Disgusting!’
A spokesman for the BBC defended the episode in a statement.
‘The line referencing Perrie Edwards was made to emphasise the character Kayleigh’s devotion to One Direction. It was absolutely not intended to be taken seriously and clearly in the context is not intended to cause offence.’