10 Things Everyone Always Gets Wrong About Modern Doctor Who

6. Karen Gillan And Arthur Darvill Weren't Aware Of River's Identity

When River Song was first introduced in Silence in the Library, there were many prevailing theories about who she was. A future companion, the Doctor's wife, the Doctor themselves?!

These questions lingered, with teases sprinkled throughout the show until the Series 6 mid-series finale, A Good Man Goes to War, where we are told that, in good old wibbly-wobbly Moffat fashion, that River is the daughter of the Ponds.

You may have heard some of this story: as this was a big reveal, Steven Moffat understandably wanted to keep it under wraps so it wouldn't leak, so he created multiple false endings and reveals – including a revelation about the Doctor's real name, which was even used for the episode's readthrough.

This meant that not everyone on set knew the true identity of River. It's become Doctor Who urban legend that this also extended to both Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill, who were apparently stunned to hear the truth for the first time while recording the scene.

But this, as you may have guessed, is fake news.

Though they weren't let in on the secret as early as Matt Smith and Alex Kingston (who were filled in before the readthrough), Gillan and Darvill were told soon after by Moffat. They knew well in advance of the moment itself.

It's not clear where this myth came from or why so many people believe it, but clearly Gillan and Darvill deserve Oscars for delivering such convincingly genuine performances!