It was a moment that set pulses racing in living rooms across the country.

But there will no repeat of Tom Hiddleston’s bottom-baring scene in the BBC’s new John Le Carré adaptation, in order to spare the blushes of American audiences.

Florence Pugh, star of The Little Drummer Girl, has revealed the show - which starts on Sunday night - has a no nudity rule.

“America is quite scared of bums,” she said. “And nipples. We had to make sure there were no bums and nipples out. I don’t know why. Such strange people.”

It comes after the last Le Carré adaptation, the hugely successful Night Manager, featured a brief glimpse of actor Tom Hiddleston's bare behind.

The BBC is increasingly mindful of global audiences, as it now sells programmes to more than 200 countries around the world. Top Gear alone makes the corporation more than £50m a year.