A Dalek operator on Doctor Who has been exterminated by the BBC for branding the corporation ‘c****’ in a coded message hidden in a magazine article.
Nicholas Pegg, who has operated Daleks since 2005, hid the abuse in a piece for the show’s magazine entitled ‘A History of Dr Who in 100 Objects’.
Clever Twitter users spotted the hidden message attack on the BBC and the title’s printers, Panini, by circling the starting letter of each sentence.
Nicholas Pegg,(left) who has operated Daleks since 2005, hid the abuse in a piece for the show’s magazine entitled ‘A History of Dr Who in 100 Objects’. Right: A Dalek
This produced the message: ‘Panini and BBC Worldwide are c****.’
The writer, appearing under the pen name The Watcher, finished the article with a hint to readers.
He wrote: ‘If you look hard enough, there’s always something hidden in plain sight.’
The reasons for Mr Pegg’s outburst are not clear, but fans guessed he was annoyed about a decision not to release a DVD of Shada, an unaired serial of the show from 1979-80.
Pegg had not been due to appear in the upcoming series of Doctor Who, reported The Mirror.
BBC Worldwide told the newspaper: ‘The matter was raised with the publisher who have dismissed the writer.’
The corporation confirmed to MailOnline Mr Pegg would not be appearing in the next series but refused to answer any questions.
MailOnline has contacted Mr Pegg’s representatives for comment.
Daleks are operated by an actor sitting inside them, who is in control of their movement. Their voices are performed by a separate actor.
The upcoming series of Doctor Who will be the first time the series has featured a woman as the lead character.
Clever Twitter users spotted the hidden message attack on the BBC and the title’s printers, Panini, by circling the starting letter of each sentence
Jodie Whittaker has told fans ‘don’t be scared of my gender’ after she was revealed as Peter Capaldi’s successor as the Time Lord in July following the Men’s Wimbledon Final, making her the 13th reincarnation of the much-loved character
However, the decision to cast a female actress in the role, which has previously been played by men and is currently held by Peter Capaldi, divided fans.
While many praised the BBC and the show’s writers for choosing a female actress, others slammed the decision as ‘political correctness gone mad’.
Twitter user David Stephens said: ‘Sorry this is so called equality, women’s rights, political correctness gone mad-Dr Who was written/created as a man! End of.’
Clive Walton agreed, writing on his Twitter page: ‘No the character is a man not a woman!
‘As usual the BBC have to muddy the waters through political correctness that’s what they do!’
Responding to the BBC’s announcement, former fan Tony Moretta said on the social networking site: ‘Well you’re one viewer down already.’