The film-makers behind the Elton John musical fantasy Rocketman have clashed with a Hollywood studio over a naked sex romp featuring Taron Egerton, the picture’s star, and Bodyguard and Game Of Thrones leading man Richard Madden.

Paramount Pictures have demanded that Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher and producer Matthew Vaughn cut a 40-second scene that shows Egerton, who plays the singer and Madden, cast as his one-time lover and manager John Reid, writhing on a bed. Fully exposed white derrieres are on display, but the nude escapade is tastefully done.

Nonetheless, Paramount are forcing the director to cut the scene so it will have an American PG 13 rating (roughly the equivalent of a British 12A).

The film-makers behind the Elton John musical fantasy Rocketman have clashed with a Hollywood studio over a naked sex romp featuring Taron Egerton, the picture’s star, and Bodyguard and Game Of Thrones leading man Richard Madden (pictured together)

The studio’s argument about whitewashing any gay sensibility in the film could have something to do with Fox’s sanitised biopic of Freddie Mercury’s life, Bohemian Rhapsody.

It won several Oscars, including a gold best actor statuette for Rami Malek’s portrait of Mercury. But it also took close to one billion dollars globally in ticket sales. You can see how Paramount wouldn’t mind replicating that telephone number figure.

Paramount Pictures have demanded that Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher and producer Matthew Vaughn cut a 40-second scene that shows Egerton (pictured), who plays the singer and Madden, cast as his one-time lover and manager John Reid, writhing on a bed

What’s slightly odd is that Elton himself didn’t want anything hidden in Rocketman. He told the movie makers: ‘Tell it all. Go as R-rated as you need to.’ Pictured: Matthew Illesley, Taron Egerton and Director Dexter Fletcher on the set of Rocketman)

‘Two guys have a naked cuddle to express their love for each other and that will be reduced to a fully dressed warm hello. The world knows Elton’s gay. It’s no secret,’ said my source, who worked on the film.

Also, what’s slightly odd is that Elton himself didn’t want anything hidden in Rocketman. He told the movie makers: ‘Tell it all. Go as R-rated as you need to.’

Coincidentally, Fletcher also had a hand in Bohemian Rhapsody. He took over making the film when director Bryan Singer was fired. Even so, Singer has collected tens of millions of dollars in royalties and profit bonuses. The ‘heated argument’ over Rocketman is being played out as the studio starts to screen footage to journalists.

The ‘heated argument’ over Rocketman is being played out as the studio starts to screen footage to journalists

I’ve already seen about 40 minutes worth of shots (including the sex scene) and it’s terrific: a sublime salute to one of the world’s biggest music icons. There are big set piece musical numbers featuring songs such as Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, a brilliant highlight.

Rocketman also stars Jamie Bell as lyric writer Bernie Taupin; and Bryce Dallas Howard and Steven Mackintosh as Elton’s parents. It’s released here on May 24, although there has been chatter about it popping up, out of competition, at the Cannes Film Festival.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is go-go-going gangbusters. It’s sold £5 million worth of tickets . . . and doesn’t open until June 27 at the London Palladium. On Wednesday I revealed Jac Yarrow will play the eponymous role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice show, joining Sheridan Smith and Jason Donovan. Joseph’s summer season is just 11 weeks and already I hear gossip about it moving to another theatre after that. One option being mentioned is a theatre Lloyd Webber co-owns, along the Strand. It already has a show in it ... so that can’t be true!

Faye heads back to school

Faye Tozer was a ‘goody two shoes’ at school

Faye Tozer was a ‘goody two shoes’ at school. She tells me she had ‘the fear’ — scared of what her mother would do if she played up in class.

Tozer, a singer (she was in Steps) and actress who boosted her profile on Strictly, will join the cast of top musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue on May 6.

She has been cast by director Jonathan Butterell as teacher Miss Hedge who comes down hard on Jamie, who wants to attend the school prom in a gown. Tozer hailed the musical as ‘ground-breaking’ and says Miss Hedge was a ‘gorgeous part’; and the choreography by Kate Prince ‘right up my street’.

She’ll take over from Hayley Tamaddon, joining existing cast members, including Layton Williams (who plays Jamie), Shane Ritchie and Luke Baker.