Doctor Who: 14 Cool Details Steven Moffat Just Revealed About The Day Of The Doctor
13. The Episode Originally Began With A Voiceover
The Day Of The Doctor begins with an old-school Doctor Who title sequence, before transitioning into a scene of Clara teaching a room full of students. Just as an interesting side note here, the quote she reads to her class was, according to Moffat, director Nick Hurran's idea, and took him "ages" to find.
Originally though, Moffat's script included a voiceover spoken by the Doctor, or somebody else. This would've been heard early in the episode, but was abandoned because "it gives the game away".
Also, Moffat thinks that it sucks - but judge that for yourself:
"Long ago, on the lost world of Gallifrey, the planet of the Time Lords, there was a legend much loved by the children. It told of a great hero who would return on their darkest day to save them all. But first he would have to save himself."
Okay, yeah, that is a bit naff - it sounds a bit too clichéd and a bit too "Hollywood", for lack of a better term. Plus, it does sort of spoil that the Doctor will return and save Gallifrey. Definitely the right decision to cut it.