Leaked scripts and footage have threatened to derail the new series
The BBC has issued a statement surrounding the now infamous Doctor Who script leaking, blaming the whole disaster on a “mistake” and ensuring that the requisite punishments have been doled out.
Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman film scenes for the new series of Doctor Who
“We would like to thank Doctor Who fans everywhere for their amazing efforts in helping us contain the recent leaks,” a statement from BBC Worldwide read. “The mistake was damaging and resulted in the exposure of five scripts and the first six unfinished episodes from Series 8 on a publicly accessible FTP site.”
The statement also reassured fans that “the impact has been contained to a limited amount” thanks to “fansite moderators and Doctor Who devotees,” adding: “BBC Worldwide has taken this issue extremely seriously and disciplinary action has been implemented as a result of the incident.” It continued with “sincere apologies” to showrunner Steven Moffat, the cast, production team and fans that “expect so much better”.
More: BBC Warns Fans Not To Watch Capaldi's Leaked First "Doctor Who" Episode
The leak saw an unfinished cut of first episode “Deep Breath”, starring Peter Capaldi as the twelfth Time Lord, all over the internet over a month before its release date on August 23. In addition, five scripts from the series and unfinished scenes from six episodes were placed in a publicly accessible area online.
A screening of the premiere is set to take place in Cardiff on 7 August before the team kick off their promotional world tour, which Capaldi himself is spearheading. “It's fantastic that so many people across the world love Doctor Who. After eight months solid filming deep in the world of monsters, Jenna and I are thrilled to be heading for the Planet of Fans,” he explained of the tour.
Moffat added: "I've always thought we'd all be a lot safer if the Doctor conquered the world, instead of the Daleks. Now with Jenna and Peter leading the charge, it looks like it's going to happen. I'll be bringing up the rear to handle the exposition scenes, and maybe carry some bags."
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