Too gay for the UK: John Barrowman's explicit sex scene in Torchwood is to be axed for BBC broadcast, but will air in US
A gay sex scene has been branded too sensational to air on British television - despite the US opting to broadcast it.
The Americans are notorious for their strong censorship, yet on this occasion UK television bosses have been stricter.
The BBC will axe the lewd act from an upcoming episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day.
Controversial: Sex scene, starring John Barrowman, will be cut for BBC airing
In the programme, John Barrowman's character Captain Jack - an immortal former con man from the future who lives on Earth - sleeps with a barman.
The show frequently examines homosexual and bisexual relationships, with the main star Barrowman an icon among the gay and lesbian community.
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A source said: 'It wasn't that it was a gay scene that worried people, but just the fact that it was such an explicit sex scene full stop.
'You can get away with scenes like that on American cable channels, but you can't on primetime BBC One.
'Even though the show airs after the watershed, it has a lot of young fans who would have been shocked at the graphic nature of the sex.'
Too prudish? Scenes from Torchwood will be censored for UK viewers
The spokesperson also said a violent scene later in the series is to be cut.
'The UK and US versions of Torchwood are slightly different.
'However, these differences do not change the story in any way and the strong storylines are first and foremost to the series.'
Behind the cameras, Barrowman is openly gay and has been with the same partner for nearly two decades.
The former Any Dream Will Do judge met Scott Gill in 1993 while he was starring in a theatre production of Rope - a play which Alfred Hitchcock made into a film.
In Christmas 2006, the pair became civil partners.
Captain Jack first appeared as a character on Doctor Who, with Barrowman's popularity earning him a spin-off show of his own.
He is the first openly non-heterosexual character in Doctor Who history.
The BBC came under fire last month for airing an EastEnders episode featuring a naked gay couple in bed together.
Christian Clarke and Syed Masood, played by John Partridge and Marc Elliott, were seen canoodling under the covers before the watershed.
At least 125 viewers complained that it made for ‘uncomfortable’ viewing and accused the show of ‘confusing their kids’.
In contrast, 77 messages from the public praised the long-running soap for approaching the subject of same-sex relationships.
The two characters, who are trying to adopt and are planning a civil ceremony, also shared a brief kiss.
The BBC’s statement said: ‘EastEnders aims to reflect real life, and this means including and telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities.
Torchwood: Miracle Day airs on Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One.
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