THE BBC received almost 170 complaints over an episode of Doctor Who which featured the Time Lord's first-ever gay kiss. The long-running sci-fi show made history earlier this month when Scots actor Ncuti Gatwa , who plays the lead role, shared a kiss with another man. 3 The BBC was slapped with nearly 170 complaints over a Doctor Who kiss Credit: BBC 3 Ncuti Gatwa locked lips with former Glee star Jonathan Groff Credit: BBC 3 The BBC has hit back at the complaints as it defends the sci-fi hit Credit: BBC The embrace took place in the final minutes of the episode Rogue, which was set in Regency England and inspired by the hit Netflix show Bridgerton .
The episode focused on the same-sex romance between the Doctor and intergalactic bounty hunter Rogue, played by former Glee star Jonathan Groff. In one scene, the two men danced at a ball before a smitten Rogue got down on one knee and presented the Doctor with a ring. The two men kissed just before Rogue appeared to sacrifice himself to save the Doctor's companion Ruby Sunday, portrayed by Millie Gibson .
READ MORE DOCTOR WHO A-list royalty Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club reveals impressive A-list cast OUT OF THIS WORLD Doctor Who exciting finale shake-up guaranteed to leave fans 'screaming' The BBC has now revealed that 169 people complained to them after the episode aired on June 8 that it was "inappropriate for the Doctor to kiss a man". In response, the corporation said the show, which has been running since 1963, .