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Do TV spoilers ruin the fun?

THE autumn schedules bring an enticing list of new dramas and tense TV reality contests. But with “schedule shifting” now the norm, are spoilers spoiling the fun?

Audiences loved the BBC hit serial “Bodyguard”. It was one of the most talked-about programmes of autumn. But for those watching on catch-up, the risk of finding out key plot twists too soon was huge!

With so much instant communication, it’s hard to avoid all mentions of something we haven’t seen. Is it fair to expect others to hold back, or should we keep out of the way of spoilers if they’re going to ruin our enjoyment?

Some of us in the “Friend” office actually like to turn to the back pages of books well before the end. The page-jumpers argue that reducing the tension of wondering what’s going to happen allows them to appreciate the journey more. This approach horrifies the “wait-and-see” readers!

Teasers or trailers for forthcoming programmes also provide glimpses of what will happen. They attract more viewers – mostly.

However, we’ve probably all sat through trailers that feel like we’ve just seen the entire movie on fastforward! There’s a fine line between teasing and spoiling.

Good manners would suggest waiting until after the first mainstream showing of a popular programme before discussing the details widely. There are limits, though.

Some visitors to an online discussion about series four of the Scandinavian series “The Bridge” complained that others were “spoiling” series one. It had been shown four years previously.

That said, we’re all looking forward to this year’s “Strictly Come Dancing” final in December – just don’t tell us who wins if you see it first! ■