Steven Moffat attacks Doctor Who plot leaks

[Hillary]

linkhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13353367

Doctor Who chief writer Steven Moffat has attacked fans of the show who reveal crucial plot lines ahead of transmission.

"You can imagine how much I hate them," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "It's only fans who do this, or they call themselves fans.

"I wish they could go and be fans of something else."

Before the current series began, a fan posted the entire plot of the first two episodes on an internet forum.

They were among a number of fans who were invited to a press screening, at which the production team asked people not to give away spoilers.

"It's heartbreaking in a way because you're trying to tell stories, and stories depend on surprise," said Moffat.

"So 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 [is heartbreaking].

"I just hope that guy never watched my show again, because that's a horrific thing to do."

He said the majority of Doctor Who fans were "spoiler-phobes" who refused to go online for fear of finding out any information in advance.

"They want to preserve the surprise," he said. "The tragedy is you have to work hard at that now."

Moffat said he believed that keeping elements of storylines under wraps was an essential element in drama.

"Stories depend on shocking people," he said.

"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."

The current series of Doctor Who continues on BBC One on Saturday.

[Iroscato]

That's pretty bad that he specifically asked them not to reveal the details. I've seen a few spoilers for season 6 myself lately, and I'm keeping tight-lipped about them. But it's a violation of trust, and plus it spoils it for people who don't want to know. Once you've heard it, you can't unhear it. (Is that a word? It is now...)

[Broomstick]

I can't stand jackasses like that, either.

I like Dr. Who, I enjoy discussing it on the internet, but I personally do not want spoilers, thank you very much. I don't even want spoilers for 40 year old episodes I haven't seen yet, much less the latest episodes.

If Moffat can identify the fan who leaked can he do anything about it? Here in the US I imagine you couldn't get into such a press conference or pre-screening without signing a non-disclosure agreement with some ability to be enforced by law, but I also know UK laws differ in many respects. Damn shame if it would have to come to that sort of paperwork, but that's modern life I guess.

[Ugolino]

"He said the majority of Doctor Who fans were "spoiler-phobes" who refused to go online for fear of finding out any information in advance."

I don't think so, somehow...

[aussiemuscle308]

yes, i know of a few who fans have specifically said they are trying to avoid spoilers

i guess at future press screenings, they'll have to sign non-disclosure agreements.

[FaxModem1]

I try and stay as spoiler free as possible. It makes my enjoyment of any show that much more enjoyable.

[Shroom Man 777]

Spoilers suck, but he shouldn't get too torn up about it. It's a natural part of showbiz that some overly curious guys want to know what happens, and then tells it to other curious people. Eh.

[andrewgpaul]

I think he was more miffed at the half-witted attempts at describing the spoiled plots. It's one thing to watch an episode and think "that was a bit boring", but another thing entirely if someone reads an internet spoiler that misses out the reasoning behind certain plot elements, plays up minor details and generally gets it wrong and misses out on something they might otherwise enjoy.

[Iroscato]

I think he was more miffed at the half-witted attempts at describing the spoiled plots. It's one thing to watch an episode and think "that was a bit boring", but another thing entirely if someone reads an internet spoiler that misses out the reasoning behind certain plot elements, plays up minor details and generally gets it wrong and misses out on something they might otherwise enjoy.

Good point, plus there's the other side of misrepresentation, they might watch the show just wanting to get to the spoiled part, and disregard the rest of the episode, thinking they already know what's going to happen.