Doctor Who fans have been left fuming after villain Sutekh’s 1975 debut in the sci-series was seemingly altered with CGI, following his return to the show after almost 50-years last week.

The latest episode, The Legend of Ruby Sunday, the evil god – who first appeared in  Pyramids of Mars and faced off against Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor – was confirmed as the Timelord’s final foe of the 2024 series in a huge twist ahead of Saturday’s finale.

To coincide with his return BBC Four spin-off series Tales of the TARDIS saw 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa regale companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) with his and  Sutekh’s first meeting, before the 1975 episode was shown in it’s entirety. 

But some eagle-eyed viewers took to X to complain after noticing one ‘iconic’ and famous aspect, known to many as ‘The Hand of Sutekh’ had been removed ahead of transmission. 

In the original episode when the actor playing the villain stood from his throne in the bulky costume, a hand from a member of the crew could be seen briefly peeling a cushion from the character’s bottom in a blink and you miss it moment. 

Doctor Who fans have been left fuming after villain Sutekh’s 1975 debut (pictured) in the sci-series was seemingly altered with CGI

The baddie made an epic return to the show last week  (pictured)

But some eagle-eyed viewers took to X to complain after noticing one ‘iconic’ and famous aspect, known to many as ‘The Hand of Sutekh’ (R) had been removed ahead of transmission

Taking to X fans furiously wrote: ‘Aww the hand of Sutekh’s gone! I’m of mixed emotions about this’: ‘THEY DIGITALLY REMOVED THE HAND’: ‘Not only did they remove the Hand of Sutekh, they stole the Cushion of Sutekh too! Dr Who fans may now commence rioting’. 

‘Disappointed to see they’ve edited out the Third Hand of Sutekh holding down the Comfy Cushion of Sutekh’: ‘Yeah, very disappointed about that, spoilsports’. 

MailOnline have contacetd BBC for comment.  

In the new episode, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) tried to identify Ruby’s mother by reconstructing CCTV footage in 3D, but they were unsuccessful, leaving her emotional.

A dark red cloud then appeared inside UNIT’s time window device and then escaped into the corporeal world.

Later, Susan Twist – who has been a recurring guest star and was thought to be the Doctor’s granddaughter –  morphed into a demonic entity while still on a worldwide livestream, leaving the Doctor stunned.

Sutekh described itself as both ‘mother and father’ to all of the gods of chaos in the universe, warning: ‘He has hidden in the howling void.

‘He has hidden within the tempest. He’s braved the storm and the darkness and pain and he whispered to the vessel. All this time, he whispered and delighted and seduced and the vessel did obey.

In the original episode when the actor playing the villain stood from his throne in the bulky costume, a hand from a member of the crew could be seen briefly peeling a cushion from the character’s bottom in a blink and you miss it moment.

To coincide with his return BBC Four spin-off series Tales of the TARDIS saw 15th Doctor Ncuti Gatwa regale companion Ruby (Millie Gibson) with his and Sutekh’s first meeting, before the 1975 episode was shown in it’s entirety (Tom Baker pictured in the episode) 

Taking to X fans furiously wrote: ‘Aww the hand of Sutekh’s gone! I’m of mixed emotions about this’: ‘THEY DIGITALLY REMOVED THE HAND’

‘The Lord of Time was blind and vain and knew nothing.’

Fans praised the episode, with one penning on X: ‘Rather enjoyed that Doctor Who episode. Best of the series’;

‘That reveal was 1000/10’; ‘What an amazing episode. I cannot wait until next week!’ 

Doctor Who’s series finale will be released at midnight on Saturday on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and will air at 6:40pm on BBC One that evening. The series is available to stream internationally on Disney+.