It has been the policy of the BBFC not to pass scenes featuring explicit images of group gay sex if they were filmed in England, Wales or N Ireland, on the grounds that such activity was prohibited by law.
When the Sexual Offences Act 2003 comes into force on 1 May 2004, group gay sex will no longer be illegal in the UK. The Convention Rights (Compliance) (Scotland) Act 2001 has already removed the prohibition on group gay sex in Scotland.
Accordingly, from 1 May 2004, explicit depictions of group gay sex will be allowed at R18, subject to the constraints set out in the guidelines, regardless of the country in which they were filmed.