On Sunday, one of the BBC’s most closely guarded secrets – that of who is to play the next Dr Who – was revealed live on air. Except, it seems, most punters already knew.
Now, I must confess, I don’t care; I’ve never watched an episode. And this is despite the BBC billing the show as the biggest thing in the world (although, having done a fair bit of travelling, I’ve never caught a glimpse of the Tardis on an overseas network either). I can only tell you who the last Dr Who was because he shares a name with this guy. Quite frankly, if, when filling in my TV Licence form I could tick a box to opt-out of my fee directly funding the production of the show, I would. Dedicating a portion of BBC One’s evening schedule to the unveiling of said actor (Peter Capaldi, as it happens) merely inspired me to turn over and watch the cricket highlights, Hawk-Eye’s CGI being slightly less flakey.
All this, however, is beside the point. Other people – everyone, if you believe the media coverage – did care. Chief among them, were people placing bets on the Time Lord’s identity. Yet for all the Tinker Tailor secrecy – apparently only a handful of people using the codename ‘Houdini’ (give me strength…) knew Capaldi had been chosen – according to the Express, the Scottish actor went from 40-1 on the Friday to odds-on favourite on the day before betting was suspended. A William Hill spokesman suggested that “someone may have let the secret slip…”
I wonder if anyone backstage made a few quid?
