The Widow, the Doctor and the Wardrobe

[kilodalton]

I think I have the same thoughts that the rest of my Flist does re yet another idea from another author co-opted by Moffat into an episode, in this case the Christmas Special. If he's not borrowing his own past ideas, he's borrowing someone else's, it seems =/

My husband thinks the episode's planning might have gone down a little like this:



BBC meeting to discuss a Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011.
Participants: Stephen Moffat and BBC television executives.

Moffat: "Alright, here's the pitch. There's a little girl. It's World
War II England...."

BBC exec 1: "Steven we're not remaking The Empty Child"

SM: "No no no, this is brand-new. It's a little girl. And she is
enchanted by The Doctor as something out of a fairy tale"

BBC exec 2: "Young Amelia Pond again?"

SM: "No no. There are monsters hidden in a wardrobe. And a lost and
frightened little boy."

BBC exec 3: "We're re-transmitting Night Terrors?"

SM: "BOLLOCKS! Let me start again..."

BBC exec 1: "Steven just one question. Is River in the script?"

SM: "No, why?"

BBC exec 2: "Alright, we're greenlighting it, let's just get it into
production and film the bloody thing, maybe we can stay under budget
this time."

BBC exec 3: "And hope ITV doesn't decide to put on a Downton Abbey
Christmas Special"