BBC Receives Hundreds of Complaints Over ‘Torchwood’ Gay Sex Scenes

Posted by Brent Peterson on Aug 31, 2011 in Television | 23 comments

People are upset that John Barrowman's having so much gay sex on TV. We don't really see a problem...

The BBC received upwards of 500 complaints last Thursday after an episode of the sci-fi drama Torchwood showed scenes of Captain Jack Harkness kissing a male lover. Later, the two characters were seen in bed together.

According to the Daily Mail, complaints claimed that the scenes were “pointless”, irrelevant to the plot and unsuitable for children.

A BBC spokeswoman said: “We aim to depict sexual relationships in an honest and realistic way.

“These scenes are not meant to cause offence.”

When’s the last time anyone saw a sex scene that was relevant to the plot? Most of the time, sex scenes develop a character and their relationships, rather than advancing the plot.

I’ll admit that when I read this article, I didn’t really know much about Torchwood. I’ve actually never seen it, so I decided to do some research.

The show is a spin-off of Doctor Who, and deals with a group of alien hunters from the Torchwood Institute in Cardiff, Wales. The show is aimed at an older audience than the Doctor Who series. Also, the series stars openly gay Scottish-American actor John Barrowman in the lead role of the bisexual Captain Harkness.

With all this in mind, it makes the complaints to the BBC seem a little silly. The show stars a gay man playing a bisexual man in a series that is targeted at, and developed for, an adult consumer base.

This apparently isn’t the first time the BBC has received complaints about the show’s “gayness,” either.

The show, written by openly gay screenwriter Russell T Davies, has often touched on Barrowman’s character’s sexual orientation, although this is not the first time it has sparked complaints.

Earlier this month, the BBC had to address complaints that the series has too much gay sex.

The corporation recently admitted cutting out parts of a gay sex scene in the current series.

You know what, people who complain to the BBC? Gay people exist, and they are even *gasp* on TV! They even have sex! Get over it!

What do you guys think? Are the complaints unfounded? Also, has anyone seen the show (British or American version)? Do you feel like there’s too much sex?

(via Pink News)

http://www.facebook.com/william.kotarski William Kotarski

I have seen all of Torchwood, and my main complaint with this series is that this series has dragged on for too long and could probably have been made shorter. The sex scene didn’t bother me too much, then I’m not easily offended by sex scenes. After watching the episode, I commented on facebook that I was surprised that they had gotten away with it, as the scene was rather graphic. I would make the same comment if the scene had featured heterosexual sex. And I genuinely am shocked it made it in, especially as an American network was supplying much of the funding this series.

In summary, I think the complaints aren’t entirely unfounded. However, the “think of the children” stuff is BS as any parent who lets their child watch Torchwood is insane. Though my mother who has a friend who thinks that The Green Mile is a family film, so some people are pretty crazy.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=747074785 Michael Hartwyk

The other weird thing is that Torchwood originated on the BBC with sexual content and frank depiction of bisexuality. No complaints made enough waves then. Also presumably some of these viewers would also be watching the current Doctor Who, which has made several references in support of equal marriage rights for gays. Arguably the more kid-friendly show would be the one to get this flak, not the adult themed one. It is my suspicion that these are being driven by US-based Evangelicals since the show is only now being aired on Starz.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Eric-Henwood-Greer/514962678 Eric Henwood-Greer

I believe part of the problem is in the past ATorchwood has been on BBC2, which gets a lot less mainstream attention thatn BBC1 which is where it airs this season. It is true that there was more male (rear) nudity than past seasons have had, in the sex scene, but I agree it’s ridiculous to complain about a post 9pm show. I was a bit surprised that the BBC didn’t censore it a bit though, after they censored some of the sex scene in ep 3 (which was intercut with a straight sex scene with female nudity).

http://twitter.com/Moonpanther22 Kaoru Negisa

I’m an avid Torchwood watcher. It’s one of my favorite shows, and a good part of that is because of Barrowman and his character. I like that the characters are largely bisexual on the show (or at least were) and have real, legitimate relationships that, yes, include sex. There’s a scene between Barrowman and another character in the third series, Children of Earth, that deals with a relationship between the two and it’s heart-wrenching to watch. A part of me adores the gay sex (watching John Barrowman make out with James Marsters, Spike from Buffy, in the second series was totally hot), but it’s also a matter of it being a reflection of actual people having actual relationships and actually being queer.

http://www.facebook.com/william.kotarski William Kotarski

I’m pretty sure that all the major Torchwood staff (i.e. officially work for Torchwood, in it for more than one episode) have some kind of same sex experience at some point in the series:
1) Owen is kissed by the boyfriend of a girl he was attempting to “seduce” with alien technology
2) Gwen is kissed by the girl possessed by an alien who disintegrates men after intercourse (on her first day too)
3) Ianto has a relationship with Jack Harkness
4) Toshiko is seduced by an alien woman in a human body (played by Daniela Denby-Ashe, known for playing Janey Harper in My Family)
5) Jack is Jack.

http://twitter.com/Moonpanther22 Kaoru Negisa

The BBC stated back in season 1 that all of the main characters are bisexual. It was a part of their character and played very well throughout the series as far as I’ve seen. It’s unquestionably a part of them, but it doesn’t define them as people.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Grey-Diamond/1547664306 Grey Diamond

What ? Gay poeple have sex ? Neva seen that before.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=621815486 Paul Manke

Interestingly, when Jack’s boyfriend Ianto Jones was killed off people accused the writer, Russell Davies, of being homophobic!

However, Russell wrote another series that shoots that accusation right out the window. Perhaps you’ve heard of his show, Queer as Folk?

You can never please everyone!
Anonymous

…Doctor Who is SO not a kid’s show. Most of the fans this side of the pond are teenagers at the youngest. Some episodes would traumatize youngsters for ages! (Example: Blink. Holy shite.)

I’ll take these people’s complaints seriously when they complain as enthusiastically about all the straight sex on TV.

http://www.facebook.com/musiclover1991 Charlene Kathryn Gorman

I don’t know, I’ve been a fan of Dr. Who since I was about 7 or 8… I blame my dad (and the 4th Dr. 83) Although I agree with you on Blink…

Anonymous

I would imagine the complaints would have been about the explicitness of the sex scene and not the fact that it was two men involved. The entire scene was offensive and would have been equally offensive had it starred Jack and a female character. Straight or gay sex scenes can be erotic and tasteful without being explicit and borderline pornographic. Previous scenes between Jack and Ianto were tastefully handled and viewers still knew what was going on – we are not so thick we need to see every detail!

When will the BBC stop using Jack’s bisexuality as an excuse – he has yet to be seen in a sex scene with a female. Are they ashamed of this gay character.

Adult themed TV channels do not broadcast until late night even to subscribers who sign up specifically for this, why do the BBC feel it is OK for 9:30pm in a drama?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ashlei-Kennybrew/1517134772 Ashlei Kennybrew

Umm….the old torchwood episodes had plenty of straight sex in them (Tosh from the original torchwood had plenty of hot straight sex especially with the woman pilot from the 1940′s, which received no complaints), and they never received any complaints. When Jack has sex with a female, the show gets no complaints, but when it features some gay sex…all hell breaks lose!…Really?? It’s pornographic at all, its shown on BBC and on Showtime. Same show, same directed audience( aka ADULTS). If people don’t want their children watching the show, then tell them to watch some reruns of the Sarah Jane Adventures, which is a children’s show that was the very first spin off of the Doctor Who series.

Anonymous

A bit like having your young, christian children watch True Blood and then complaining about content. Take some personal responsibility people. The television isn’t a baby sitter, even thought that’s how a lot of people use. It’s not up to the rest of us to dumb ourselves down to the most common denominator.
http://www.facebook.com/epaauthor Angel Brown Kemph

Personally, if they don’t want to see anything, then turn the channel. I don’t watch “adult related” shows when my kid is awake and watching tv with me. So adults, actually be adults and stop acting like 2 year olds and complaining over something you should know exists in this day and time. Everyone deals with the male to female relationship thing. There ain’t no difference in the loving!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Janice-Adams/1650663883 Janice Adams

I have watched Torchwood for all of its 4 seasons now and Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, on several seasons and specials of Dr. Who. There is not too much sex on Torchwood. Captain Jack is considered omnisexual men, women, aliens. In Dr. Who he flirts with them all but keeps his clothes on and nary a hint of sex. In Torchwood he acts more like an adult, however for the first three seasons he had a male lover named Ianto played by Gareth David Lloyd. They killed Ianto off in season 3 and the uproar is still echoing through the fandom. Russel T. Davies wanted to open the story up more, or so he says. He killed of the rest of the Torchwood team except for Jack and Gwen Cooper, played by Eve Myles the year before. So now we have Jack all by himself. He has so far had one night stand with the bartender of a gay bar which the BBC cut out even though it was over in seconds and mixed in with another couple having hetero sex at the same time. The outcry from that was apparently so great they left in the next sex scene. The scene they are complaining about is a beautiful vision of two men making love although it is not as graphic as some of the scenes from Queer as Folk. It was lovely and actually was part of the story. So the charge it was unnecessary is false. It moved the plot forward and it was lovely. If it had been a man and a woman it would have been ignored by all and sundry. There are some extremely violent scenes in this season of Torchwood. Graphic violence and yet no one seems to worry about their children being exposed to that. Monitoring what their children watch is the job of the parent, Torchwood is and always has been an adult show. Parents who cannot control a simple thing like what their children are watching on TV, haven’t a prayer of bringing their children up to much of anything anyway and probably shouldn’t have children to care for.
http://twitter.com/drutter59 Dennis Rutter

I watch Torchwood regularly! Love the show, and there is just the right amount of sex and romance. There is no more gay sex, than you would see in any other series that has hetero sex. This is targeted toward adult audience and is a very good series!
http://www.facebook.com/Mel.the.Marvelous Melvin Knutson

In my experience, the show has portrayed the sex scenes (both straight and gay) in a very thoughtful, tasteful way. The scenes have always developed character and, in some cases, were central to the plot of the show. People need to get over themselves. Change the channel if you don’t like what you see!
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Landon-Smith/100000657413650 Landon Smith

I haven’t watched the show(except for the pilot episode), but my complaint is John Barrowman NOT having the gay sex in my bedroom. Though yes I know he has a partner and all, but a man can dream DAMMIT!
http://www.facebook.com/musiclover1991 Charlene Kathryn Gorman

The people complaining have obviously never seen the show, and only watched the special because it was on Stars. I’m a huge fan of the show, and have been since it started. The show was NEVER directed towards children (oh the awkward times watching such a wonderful show with the parents who equally enjoyed it… but the scenes!!! 83). I don’t have children, but personally this is a show that I as an adult enjoy but would never allow my children, or my nieces and nephews let watch, because it IS directed at a more mature audience! Hell there is an episode where an alien kill people by causing her partner to orgasm… If that’s the new “family friendly” than call me an old fashioned prude…
Anonymous

The London Stonewall organization’s slogan is “Some People Are Gay. Get Over It!” It is posted on subways and T-shirts and billboards. Looks like people still just can’t… get over it. The show is amazing, fun, and yes Barrowman’s sex life looks more like the lives of my gay boy-friends than anything I’ve ever seen on American TV. I love him, worship the frank writing of the show… and that is my humble lesbian opinion.
http://www.facebook.com/functionofjames James T Burchfield

This is a terrible show anyway.
Joey Willoughby

I would love for a network to do a study using two shows with the same plot, only difference being show 1 depicts heterosexual sex acts in every episode, and show 2 depicts gay sex acts 5/6 episodes, but the couple give each other quick kisses like when one leaves for work every episode, and see which one gets more complaints.
http://www.facebook.com/john.rand3 John E Rand

I’ve watched Dr. Who since I was a kid (I’m 44 now). It was natural that I watch the Torchwood series (BBC America version) and as far as gay sex (or themes), I say it needs more!!

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