Alan Titchmarsh, 73, falls victim to North Korean TV censors as his jeans are blurred during broadcast
Alan Titchmarsh has become a surprise fan-favourite in North Korea
GETTY
Alan Titchmarsh has been targeted by North Korean TV censors after appearing on screens in the Asian country this past Monday.
North Korean state television channel, Korean Central Television (KCTV), aired a classic episode of the BBC's Garden Secrets which showed Titchmarsh demonstrating some of his gardening tips and tricks.
However, rather than simply rerun an unedited version of the episode which first aired in the UK in 2010, Titchmarsh's legs were blurred.
This is widely reported to do with the fact that the Love Your Weekend host was wearing denim jeans.
While the colour of his garments was plain to see, the censoring of the jeans was reportedly carried as part of the country's attempts to restrict displays of Western fashion.
According to US-based outlet NK News, this isn't the first time the episode has aired in the country.
Alan Titchmarsh's jeans were clearly blurred out
BBC/KCTV
The decision to blur Titchmarsh's jeans stems from the fact that the denim garment has been banned in North Korea for three decades.
NK News reports that blue jeans are deemed in North Korea as a "symbol of American imperialism".
Former leader Kim Jong-Il is also cited as demanding that North Korean citizens shouldn't wear blue jeans under any circumstances.
The instalment of Titchmarsh's gardening show was also heavily edited down from its original one-hour runtime and featured a Korean narration as well as a revamped soundtrack.
Titchmarsh hasn't publicly responded to the blurring of his jeans in this latest incident but has addressed being a figure on North Korean TV before.
He previously said, according to the Daily Mail: "I never imagined that my programmes would reach North Korea,
"But hopefully the calming nature of British gardening will be well received there."
Blue jeans aren't the only items of clothing to have been condemned by North Korea in recent years.
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Alan Titchmarsh has featured on North Korean TV before
GETTY/BBC/KCTV
Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un put a ban on mullet hairstyles and skinny jeans back in 2022 over fears it would have a detrimental effect on North Koreans.
Radio Free Asia also reports that there was a clamp down on "tight-fitting pants or t-shirts" as well as "capitalist" fashion.
Despite the restrictions, it's believed tourists to North Korea are allowed to wear the items of clothing.
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