Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat
(Picture: Dave Benett)Writer Steven Moffat said the friend whose true story inspired his hit West End play let him use the idea — as long as he invited him to the opening night.
Unfriend stars Reece Shearsmith and Amanda Abbington as timid couple Peter and Debbie, who are too polite to stop a brash American, played by Frances Barber, from inviting herself to stay.
The idea was inspired by a story the real Peter told Moffat , right, about how he had to stop an acquaintance from moving in. The writer, whose TV credits include Doctor Who and Sherlock, said: “When my friend told me about it, the real Peter, it just sounded like a play.
“It was a real conversation, he was just telling three boozy old blokes in France and I said ‘can I have it?’ and he said ‘I don’t know what you mean’.“ I said I wanted to write it but change it so she comes and he didn’t take me seriously.
“He laughed and said ‘As long as I can come to the first night and you don’t change my name’.” Moffat admitted it was difficult seeing the reaction of a live audience to his work for the first time, adding: “You don’t go round people’s houses when they watch television and see them switch over.”
Sherlock star Mark Gatiss, who directs the play, said: “A friend said to me last night the best reviews you can get is to listen to the people on the way out, and people just had such a good laugh and that’s desperately what we need right now.”
