Doctor Who producers have scrambled to edit this weekend's upcoming episode to cut out a beheading scene in light of the recent executions of two American journalists in the Middle East, stating it is "out of respect."
The episode 'Robot Of Sherwood,' is set to air on Saturday, and was due to feature a fight scene between Robin Hood, played by Tom Riley, and the Sheriff of Nottingham, played by Ben Miller, but it has been edited by producers who were worried it would cause offence due to recent highly-publicised events. In a statement, the BBC said: "In light of recent news events, we have made an edit to episode three out of respect."
The move was prompted by the shocking executions of US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff over the last month, both of whom were seen being killed by militants in footage which was released and shown around the world. The episode is believed to have been filmed in February in Fforest Fawr and Caerphilly Castle in Wales and is the third of the current series, which stars Peter Capaldi in the leading role.
Doctor Who's 'Robot Of Sherwood' episode will air in the UK this weekend on BBC One (BBC)
Just last month, Doctor Who came under fire for axing a lesbian kiss scene between lizard-like woman Madame Vastra and her human wife Jenny Flint for their Asian audience after critics in the UK described it as "inappropriate." However, OFCOM said they would not be launching an investigation into the removal of the scene despite calls from furious gay protesters.
"The BBC should not bow to censorship demands from other countries. If these countries are bigoted and are not willing to show same-sex love, they have no right to demand that the BBC conforms to their standards of prejudice," the BBC said in a statement.
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