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Steven Moffatt attacks fans over Doctor Who spoilers
Producer accuses fans who leaked plots on the internet of being vandals
THE PRODUCER of Doctor Who, Steven Moffat, has launched a furious tirade at fans who leaked the plots of the first two episodes of the current series before they were broadcast.
Details of the two adventures, including spoilers, appeared online after press and Doctor Who fans were invited to a special screening of the shows before the series began.
The production team asked people not to give away the plots and although no spoilers appeared in the media, details of the shows were posted on an internet forum.
Moffat accused the fans who posted the spoilers of being "vandals" and said: "You can imagine how much I hate them. It's only fans who do this, or they call themselves fans. I wish they could go and be fans of something else."
Warming to his theme, he rounded on the editorial skills of those who leaked the plots – and appeared to be particularly angered by one unnamed person.
He told the BBC: "To have some twit who came to a press launch, write up a story in the worst, most ham-fisted English you can imagine, and put it on the internet... I just hope that guy never watches my show again, because that's a horrific thing to do.
"Stories depend on shocking people," he added. "Stories are the moments that you didn't see coming, that are what live in you and burn in you forever. If you are denied those, it's vandalism."
Ben Cook of Doctor Who magazine said he understood Moffat's annoyance. He described the programme, starring Matt Smith as the Doctor, as the BBC's "flagship" show and said that the twists and turns of the adventures should come as a surprise to viewers.
He also said that the fan's actions were unlikely to have been "malicious". ·
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Pot, kettle, black. After each episode we are "treated" to the official spoilers that basically completely give away tiny amount of plot and element of surprise that's still left after all these years. Practice what you preach Mr Moffat and stop any spoilers.
True Fans wouldn't publish spoilers. The idea of going to the press screening and then just writing up the bare plot details and posting them online is madness. It would be like having a bloke down the pub trying to tell you the plot of The Usual Suspects and expecting it to be as exciting as watching the film.