Network bosses at Greece's state television network have come under fire from politicians and gay rights groups for editing a same sex kiss out of the local broadcast of period drama 'Downton Abbey' earlier this week.
NET channel executives opted not to show the gay kiss between a visiting duke and Rob James-Collier's scheming footman character, Thomas, citing parental guidance viewing rules.
Downton's got a worldwide fanbase, but the Greeks didn't like this bit
But leading politicians for the country's opposition party have lashed out at the decision, insisting the scene was unnecessarily censored.
A statement from SYRZIA party officials reads: "As incredible as it may seem for a democratic country in the 21st century, officials of the NET television channel censored the scene of a kiss between men from the TV drama 'Downton Abbey'. This is of course an obvious case of censorship, an extreme act of homophobia and discrimination."
Greek state television bosses insist the kiss was not censored, but edited out of the broadcast to comply with rules regarding the primetime slot. They planned to re-air the episode, unedited, on Tuesday at a later time.
Some hopefully inoffensive pics of Downton Abbey Series 3...
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Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton's new footman Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Mary, Lady Sybil and Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Earl Of Grantham, Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Dinner downstairs
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mrs Hughes and O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Mr Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Tom Branson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna Bates and Thomas Barrow
Downton series 3 episode 1
Carson and O'Brien
Downton series 3 episode 1
Daisy
Downton series 3 episode 1
Thomas and Daisy
Downton series 3 episode 1
Alfred Nugent
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert and Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Robert and Carson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anthony Strallan
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith and Anthony Strallan
Downton series 3 episode 1
Lady Edith
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna and Bates
Downton series 3 episode 1
Bates
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Anna
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Shirley MacLaine as Martha Levinson
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
Downton series 3 episode 1
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WENN | Posted: 17/10/2012 10:42 BST Updated: 17/10/2012 10:52 BST