BBC fans stunned as controversial scene axed from hit kids TV show

The Story of Tracy Beaker fans noticed a major scene had been removed from the series years after it first aired on BBC's spin-off channel CBBC.

The hit children’s programme which ran from 2002 until 2005 followed the titular character’s (played by Dani Harmer) life at the Dumping Ground.

The mischievous youngster’s adventures were an onscreen depiction of Jacqueline Wilson’s best-selling 2001 book series.

Among the many memories from the show including her fierce rivalry with Justine Littlewood (Montanna Thompson) and hatred for care worker Elaine the Pain (Nisha Nayar), a controversially inappropriate moment was axed from the show.

As Tracy was absent from the scene, it instead focused on a shopkeeper and four boys from the children’s home, in the episode titled Frankelainestein/Tracy’s Fantasy.

The episode took place during Mother’s Day and the moment Marco (Jack Edwards) discovered a local shop was giving a free potted plant to each mother and a free inflatable alien to their child.

In hopes of owning the alien toy, he recruited an older kid Bouncer (Ben Hanson) who wore a dress, makeup and bonnet to pretend to be his mum.

The store owner became enamoured with Bouncer after taking off his glasses and seeing a blurry figure during their introduction.

He fell in love and began to pester the youngster, suggesting a meal out, but as he turned his back to leave, the shopkeeper pinched Bouncer’s bum and then the shocked child reverted to his normal voice to shout at the owner.

Although the scene is no longer available on BBC iPlayer, viewers quickly shared their reaction to the 2005 clip circulating on Instagram.

One commented: “Yeah I think the BBC having a grown man grope a teenage boy in drag for a children’s show was maybe didn’t sit well.”

While someone else wrote: “I remember this!! You’ve just unlocked a memory I did not need.”