Male stars of the Outlander series have been sent to kilt camp to keep their modesty under wraps for US television, it was revealed yesterday.
Strapping Sam Heughan said the cast were given lessons in how to wear their Highland costumes without offending American eyes.
The 34-year-old former River City actor plays 18th century Highland warrior Jamie Fraser in the time travelling show opposite former model Caitriona Balfe, as nurse Claire Fraser.
The first 16 episodes of the series, based on Diana Gabaldon’s popular Outlander books, have been filmed in various locations in Scotland, including Glen Coe, and will premiere worldwide on August 9.
Yesterday Heughan, who has dyed his hair red for the part, said: “I had to go to a few weeks of boot camp to learn how to wear a kilt and ride horses.
“When wearing a kilt, the sit down is the most important thing. When you are sitting down, the thing you have to do is hoick it up, put it down and the bit over the top goes in between your legs.
“And you never, ever, cross your legs. Riding is another matter.”
Sam, who trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, now Royal Conservatoire, said in a US interview they had to wear the traditional kilt, the Feileadh Mhor.
“Learning how to wrap a kilt the proper way was a big problem at first – it is very long and just got in the way.
“But they had their uses. Kilts were used as a shield wrapped around the arm, and the wool would keep you warm. Even when the wool would get wet, it didn’t get you wet.
“Highlanders used to soak their tartans in water, and it would freeze on them and act like a protective igloo.
“I didn’t try that, however.”
The kilts were specially created for the series and then dyed using berries to create the colours and tartans.
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743 after stepping through standing stones in the Highlands.
When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser – Heughan – a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, she is torn between her two lives.