Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat was interviewed on the red carpet at the British Academy Television Awards last night by Red Carpet News TV. He talked about the plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the show and hinted that he might not have revealed all of the secrets of the much awaited Special.
“It’s one of the extraordinary success stories of television, Doctor Who. “ he said, “It’s one of the very few times that television’s created a character for itself that’s gone on to that mythic status. Usually it borrows Sherlock Holmes (ahem) or other things from literature. To have a character created by television for television that has become of mythic status and become a sort of cultural landmark in the country is remarkable – not down to me of course, down to the genius of Verity Lambert and her team.”
So, what motivated him to put the anniversary special into 3D?
“Well it’s the only show with a box that’s actually bigger on the inside, isn’t it?” he explained, “So if you’ve actually got the technology to make your television bigger on the inside, it sort of goes with Doctor Who, surely.”
The plot and cast of the 50th Anniversary Special have been much debated by Whovians worldwide. However, Moffat was less keen to reveal details about the true content of the show, beyond that fan favourites David Tennant and Billie Piper were known to be returning. He said,
“Well, do you know, all I’ve ever revealed about what we’re doing in Doctor who is anything that we’ve filmed outside, so I’m rather reticent about what’s actually in there. I notice people are making up stuff about who or what is or is not in that special, You’re just going to have to wait until November to find out the truth.”
He also refused to be drawn on which of the rumours about the show were closest to the mark and which caused him the most amusement. He warned about jumping to conclusions too early.
“Most of them are quite fanciful and some are entertainingly angry,” he said, “People who make up their own theories about what is or is not in the special and then make a YouTube film about how angry they are about their own theory. Oh, I love you all, Doctor Who fans, but now and then don’t believe everything you hear or don’t hear.”
Watch the video interview from Red Carpet News TV here:
The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special is known to star Matt Smith, David Tennant, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Billie Piper, Joanna Page, John Hurt, Ingrid Oliver and Jemma Redgrave.