An open letter to the BBC regarding tonight’s Doctor Who

Dear BBC,

Probably a year or so ago now, Steven Moffat was hunched over his computer, putting together the latest in a long line of intricate, clever and tense scripts for Doctor Who. He had a real treat in store for us: not only was he set to answer some questions about the character of River Song, but he was also bringing back the brilliant weeping angels. You’ll know all about them. They’ve helped sell you lots of DVDs.

What was particularly encouraging this time was that he had a two-parter planned for the angels, and it’s fair to say that many of us were really, really looking forward to the episode, and the cliffhanger he came up with to join the two parts together.

However, someone within your organisation had a brainwave. For they decided that what would help the tension in the last minute of a very good, tense and occasionally scary Doctor Who moment would be to play a cartoon Graham Norton over Matt Smith, just as he was delivering one of his pivotal speeches of the episode.

A cartoon Graham Norton? Have they started putting blue pop in your vending machine or something?

Steven Moffat always comes across as a very pleasant, very polite man. I have no idea whether he’ll be complaining to whoever thought the overlaying of this particular promo was a good idea. But I’d like to.

Seriously: I get that you need to promote your latest months-long advert for whatever show Andrew Lloyd Webber is flogging next, but can’t we go back to the compromise we all thought we’d agreed on? Can’t you just gabble over the end credits like you usually do? Granted, it knackers it up a little for those of us who, er, like to sing along to the end credits music, but we all have our prices to pay.

Bottom line: can you do us the simple courtesy of leaving your silly cartoons until the episode has actually finished? So that those of us who appreciate the work that goes into building up a tense 45 minutes of drama can enjoy it without distraction? You’re hardly ITV, are you?

Many thanks for your time. And once you’ve addressed this, can you get round to sorting out a new series of Torchwood too?

Regards,

Simon
Den Of Geek

PS We’re counting: that’s twice Mr Norton’s programmes have intruded on Doctor Who since it was revived. Three times, and we send the angels over...

PPS If you work at BBC Scotland, ignore the above - apparently it was only us south of the border who were Norton-ed.

In case you don't know what this is all about, here's the clip (thanks to paulychilds) - don't click on this if you haven't seen the episode!

Our review of The Time Of Angels is here...