The BBC has edited out scenes from old Chewin’ The Fat episodes in an effort to make them more appropriate for modern-day viewers.

The hit series was first shown 20 years ago and inspired the hugely popular spin-off, Still Game. 

However, censors have cracked down on what they are allowing to be broadcast in repeats over fears that some audiences may find them offensive.

Scottish comedian and Chewin' The Fat actor Karen Dunbar, 50, recently spoke of how some of her own scenes had been axed.

READ MORE: Still Game actor calls for comedy to be 'treated as seriously as drama'

Glasgow Times: Pictured: Karen Dunbar has spoken about the programme's censored scenesPictured: Karen Dunbar has spoken about the programme's censored scenes

She told the Cultural Coven Podcast: “As part of the documentary we went down to the BBC in London where they edit the repeats.

"The week we went down Chewin' The Fat was going to be repeated at the weekend so they brought up sketches and they were asking me if I thought it was going to be kept or cancelled.

"The BBC review every repeat that goes out and will take out the bits that aren't acceptable today.

“The result of that was Chewin' The Fat went out on the Saturday but it went out with bits taken out of it that would have been in the original 20 years before it."

Exactly which scenes were cut from the episodes will soon be revealed in the new documentary Karen Dunbar: The Comedy of Offence which is set to air later this year.

READ MORE: Still Game stars to take part in live event next month

Glasgow Times: Pictured: Chewin' The Fat helped to launch the careers of Ford Kiernan and Greg HemphillPictured: Chewin' The Fat helped to launch the careers of Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill

One of the show’s creators and breakout stars Ford Kiernan, 60, has previously given his views on some of the programme’s more outdated sketches.

Last year on the Open Goal podcast he said: “A lot of the stuff on Chewin' The Fat stuff you couldn't get away with now.

"The likes of Karen pulling her skirt up I don't think you could do.

"We did get letters at the time and somebody wrote in and said 'As funny as the nation thought that sketch was, would that sketch work if it was two wee lassies at the van and it was a man?'

"Me and Greg went 'No it wouldn't be as funny.'"

"So the point was made 'Don't write any more sketches like that' so we didn't.

"Another thing is dirty Auld Betty. You couldn't have her on the telly now."

 Chewin’ The Fat ran for four series and was broadcast on television between 1999 and 2002.

Repeats are regularly shown on BBC channels and on streaming services.