The previous series of Industry was described as the ‘filthiest’ show the broadcaster had ever aired.
The BBC drama – which portrays young graduates outdoing each other in the cut-throat world of a City of London bank – was planning to have the nation grasping for the smelling salts all over again by smashing a new taboo.
The Mail on Sunday revealed that the forthcoming third series planned to show an erect penis for the first time in the BBC’s 102-year history.
Sources working on Industry said viewers were going to see the erection of Charles Hanani, the father of main character Yasmin, who is portrayed by Marisa Abela.
Charles, a billionaire scammer, is played by Rada-trained actor Adam Levy, 53, who is best known for the 2014 movie Before I Go To Sleep, in which he starred alongside Nicole Kidman.
He was going to be seen having sex in his yacht with a blonde woman in the first two minutes of the first episode.
A BBC insider said: ‘Industry has broken many boundaries but this is something else. What will be seen is a clear view of an erect penis. It will last a matter of seconds but it is jaw-dropping.
‘The show opens and before you know it you see Charles in bed with a woman who looks pregnant. He is lying here, half dressed with his penis for all to see. It is something the BBC have never done before and it will certainly put the cat among the pigeons. The BBC know it will cause the most terrible controversy but they simply need to attract young, open-minded audiences these days.’
It is not known if the penis is real or a prosthetic fake.
But the plans were then dropped on Sunday when the BBC have confirmed that they decided against using that version.
In its previous two series, Industry has come under fire for showing its characters having sex in public places, such nightclub toilets, and taking Class A drugs including cocaine and heroin. Another storyline shows two characters smoking crystal meth from a pipe.
The series – which launched three years ago – follows the rivalries of five graduates who vie for permanent positions at a top investment bank, Pierpoint & Co.
The third season debuted in the US two weeks ago on the HBO channel but will air on the BBC later this year.
Game Of Thrones star Kit Harington will appear in eight episodes as City worker Henry Muck.
In May, streaming giant Netflix came under fire after showing an erect penis in A Man In Full, an adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s 1998 novel.
Fans were stunned when actor Tom Pelphrey stripped off after his character, Raymond Peepgrass, takes Viagra in front of real estate mogul Charlie Croker, played by Jeff Daniels.