BBC under fire over sitcom 'censorship'

The BBC has been accused of ‘censoring’ Porridge after removing a line about homosexuality from a repeat.

Fans say the corporation ‘gave in to the politically correct brigade’ for exorcising a small reference to the sexuality of inmate Lukewarm, the prison chef played by Christopher Biggins.

In the original episode, first aired 30 years, ago Ronnie Barker’s character Fletcher talked about how Lukewarm kept a pristine cell, saying: ‘That sort do, don't they?’

But the line was removed from a repeat broadcast on BBC Two last weekend.

Fan Michael Coggins, a 56-year-old bus driver from Solihull wrote to The Daily Telegraph to complain.

‘Is any reference to a man's sexuality now cut out for the sake of not offending the politically correct brigade?,’ he asked.

Biggins added: ‘I find it quite extraordinary and one of the most anal things I have ever heard. It was always so well done, the gay thing. Very sensitively handled.’

The BBC said: ‘We always endeavour to transmit classic comedies in their original state. However, on rare occasions due to viewer complaints or running time we make a slight edit.’

Published: 15 Jun 2007