Torchwood sex scenes 'not gratuitous' says John Barrowman

{jcomments on}Torchwood actor John Barrowman has insisted sex scenes in the sci-fi series are not ‘gratuitous’ after it was revealed the BBC would edit an explicit gay sex scene in a forthcoming episode.

Yesterday it was revealed the gay sex scene – that features Barrowman’s character of Captain Jack – would not be shown in full on BBC One. The scene will be shown in full on Starz in America but the BBC felt the scene needed to be edited because it would be broadcast only just after the watershed. The editing of the scene has not gone down well with some UK Torchwood fans who are unhappy about the BBC “censorship”. Now Barrowman has insisted the sex scenes are part of the plot and not “gratuitous”

“It’s not gratuitous sex,. It facilitates the story, so it’s nothing they grab just to put on the camera and sensationalise it.” – John Barrowman speaking to Zap2it. The actor also revealed that fans will find out more about Jack’s history and his past love life in the new series. “You go back into history with Jack and you discover an integral relationship that is part and parcel to what is happening. It’s a massive story about his past and probably, if I can say this, one of his true loves. So there are relationships, but there are also some one-night stands… some dirty.”

The cutting of the gay sex scene by the BBC is – to some – adding insult to injury. Fans of Torchwood were furious the BBC began broadcasting the series six days after it premiered on Starz in America. The backlash against the decision not to broadcast Torchwood Miracle Day immediately after Starz  saw actress Eve Myles comment on the decision. The BBC argued it had a contact with  Starz that meant it couldn’t broadcast the sci-fi series for at least 24 hours after the American broadcaster and that the Thursday evening slot picked by the BBC was the “best” for the show.

Torchwood: Miracle Day continues tomorrow evening on BBC One at 9pm and on Friday at 10pm on Starz in America. The first episode is available to UK residents on the BBC iPlayer service.