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'Torchwood' star John Barrowman on BBC's cut gay scene: 'It's not gratuitous sex'
Episode 3 of "Torchwood: Miracle Day," airs on Starz this Friday, July 22, and part of it is apparently for American eyes only.
The Sun reports a scene, in which Captain Jack Harness (John Barrowman) sleeps with a male bartender, won't make it to air -- on account of its generally graphic sexual nature and not the orientation being depicted.
"The UK and US versions of 'Torchwood' are slightly different," a BBC spokesperson says in response. "However, these differences do not change the story in any way and the strong storylines are first and foremost to the series."
When Zap2it it spoke with Barrowman on the "Torchwood" set, he did brag about scenes of "full-on man sex" but admitted that it's all in service of the story.
"It's not gratuitous sex," he says. "It facilitates the story, so it's nothing they grab just to put on the camera and sensationalize it."
And while the encounter in question doesn't look to have much long term relationship potential for Captain Jack, Barrowman does say that there will be some love scenes of a more complex nature as the season moves on.
"You go back into history with Jack," Barroman tells Zap2it, "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."
Fans of the show probably won't take issue with watching either.
The Sun reports a scene, in which Captain Jack Harness (John Barrowman) sleeps with a male bartender, won't make it to air -- on account of its generally graphic sexual nature and not the orientation being depicted.
"The UK and US versions of 'Torchwood' are slightly different," a BBC spokesperson says in response. "However, these differences do not change the story in any way and the strong storylines are first and foremost to the series."
When Zap2it it spoke with Barrowman on the "Torchwood" set, he did brag about scenes of "full-on man sex" but admitted that it's all in service of the story.
"It's not gratuitous sex," he says. "It facilitates the story, so it's nothing they grab just to put on the camera and sensationalize it."
And while the encounter in question doesn't look to have much long term relationship potential for Captain Jack, Barrowman does say that there will be some love scenes of a more complex nature as the season moves on.
"You go back into history with Jack," Barroman tells Zap2it, "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."
Fans of the show probably won't take issue with watching either.
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Photo/Video credit: BBC; Starz
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Having watched the previous seasons of Torchwood on BBC America, I am used to more being edited out of the US than the UK version.
So let me get this right -the scene is playing in the US but not in the UK? WOW, I always thought America was a lot more prudish when it came to sexuality. I'm surprised the UK version is being censored.
@Andy - It may still be the Doctor Who effect. This show is part of that franchise and I think the BBC is leery about being too sexual with something even remotely connected to that show. Torchwood has run love scenes before - they even had an "Orgasm monster" in the first season - but nothing quite like this.
The UK version of 'Skins' has showcased full frontal female nudity and an insurmountably amount of teenagers ingesting every drug possible... I wonder how racy this scene is to warrant it too graphic!
i dont mind the male on male sex but as a woman i would like to see Cap'n Jack with a woman once in a blue moon..when he and Gwen were having that gun lesson in Season 1 it was downright sexy!! come on Russell!! Give us ladies something to watch on Torchwood!! lol luv ya John Barrowman
Ha! In response to Eva LePelley...I've found the main reason so many women watched the first three series of TW WAS the growing chemistry/relationship between Jack and Ianto...so "us ladies" are THRILLED Starz has allowed Russell...and John, to crank it up to (possibly) "Queer as Folk" levels of sexy. VERY glad they didn't go the Gwen/Jack route. THAT would make me stop watching.
I seriously doubt it's anything about prudishness as Barrowman is EXTREMELY out over there, and is well-known for saying outrageously gay things on a regular basis. I tend to agree that what's at issue now is Torchwood finally approaching Dr Who importance after the last sexless series and they don't want to threaten that. Starz, on the other hand, is trying to become as popular as HBO and Showtime, and Spartacus's popular nudity-and-violence-a-thon showed them that was the way to go. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Starz only agreed to co-produce if they got some sex in it.
Oh Boy on Boy .. Bring it on Captain Jack!
I agree with Nina... A Gwen/Jack story line would have ended the show for me right there! Female or not, I still don't want to see Captain Jack (or John Barrowman in any other role) touching women! I was definitely in love with the Ianto/Jack story line, and I'm just sad that they never got a chance to do this (except for that brief... briefless (haha)... encounter in 'Adrift')! I'd be incredibly happy to see it go to "Queer As Folk" levels of sexy. QAF is VERY high on the sexy scale... and JB is prettier than all those beautiful boys put together. I also wouldn't mind seeing all those beautiful boys put together... We can include JB in that too... I don't mind! :P
I REALLY tried getting into Torchwood: Miracle Day, but it is just awful. As a fan of the series, I was so hopeful. But, not only is the story bad, the characters are flat. I miss the great team dynamic from the UK series. And yes, I miss Ianto.