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Doctor Who 'Robot of Sherwood' beheading scene cut after Steven Sotloff's Isis murder

The BBC has edited the scene from this Saturday's episode 'out of respect'

Daisy Wyatt
Sunday 07 September 2014 10:20 EDT
Clara and the Doctor stumble across something in 'Into the Dalek'
Clara and the Doctor stumble across something in 'Into the Dalek' (BBC)

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A scene featuring a beheading has been edited out of this Saturday’s episode of Doctor Who by the BBC as a mark of respect in light of recent news events in the Middle East.

The episode, “Robot of Sherwood”, has been edited to remove a decapitation in a climatic fight scene between Robin Hood and the Sheriff following the execution of US journalist Steven Sotloff by Islamic State (Isis) militants this week.

A spokesman for the BBC said: “In light of recent news events, we have made an edit to episode three out of respect.”

Last month, US journalist James Foley was murdered by decapitation in a YouTube video entitled “A Message to America” posted by Isis militants.

A third hostage, British aid worker David Haines, has also been threatened with death by Islamic State militants.

“Robert of Sherwood”, the third episode from the new Doctor Who series, was written by Mark Gatiss and filmed in February.

It centres around twelfth Time Lord Peter Capaldi and sidekick Clara Oswald meeting the flamboyant Robin Hood, played by Tom Riley.

Robert of Sherwood will air at 7.30pm on BBC1 on Saturday 6 September.

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