The new man in charge of Doctor Who turned down a £500,000 movie deal with Steven Spielberg so he could take the job.

Bafta-winning scriptwriter Steven Moffat has quit a two-picture deal with the director and Lord Of The Rings film-maker Peter Jackson to fulfil a 'childhood dream' of working on the BBC sci-fi drama.

Moffat, who created hit BBC comedy series Coupling, had signed a £1million contract to write the first two scripts for Tintin, a £150million Spielberg trilogy based on the comic-strip hero.

Enlarge 

David Tennant as the Doctor and Alex Kingston as Prof. River Song in Moffat's most recent episode

But instead the Scottish writer will take over as the creative force of Doctor Who after Welsh writer Russell T. Davies, who revived the series in 2005, decided to step down.

While some Hollywood movie executives are baffled by Moffat's decision, he was given a sympathetic hearing by Spielberg, who is a fan of the long-running drama currently starring David Tennant.

Moffat said: 'I know a lot of people won't understand it but I've been dreaming about writing for Doctor Who since I was seven.

'There are no bad feelings between Spielberg and me, but Doctor Who has to come before Hollywood.

'The show has enjoyed a renaissance. I am working on scripts to be filmed next year. Russell T. Davies is doing four specials next and then my shows will begin. The show is all-consuming.'

One Hollywood insider said: 'No one walks away from Spielberg and all that money for a show no one has heard of. I mean, what is this doctor show about? It sounds a little silly.'

Who's boss: Bafta winner Steven Moffat

In fact, the programme has an estimated global audience of 250million thanks to overseas sales.

Among the best-received episodes this year was a two-parter written by Moffat and featuring Alex Kingston in a guest star role.

Moffat told The Mail on Sunday: 'I was under contract to do the first two of the three Tintin films. I completed the first one and then the Hollywood writers' strike happened and I couldn't work.

'I was offered the Doctor Who job and accepted immediately. I hope you won't make what happened sound too dramatic.

'I talked to Steven and he understood completely.

'I could not work on the second Tintin film and work on Doctor Who. So I chose Doctor Who.

'Steven is a fan and he understood my passion for the series completely.'

Asked to confirm that he had walked away from £500,000, he said: 'I honestly couldn't tell you the financial implications. That is all handled by my agent. I know I've made a good decision.'

Some experts estimate his pay packet for Doctor Who could be 'not more than £150,000' a year.

Tintin, about a boy reporter, his faithful dog Snowy and their friend Captain Haddock, is Spielberg's pet project. He is due to start filming in September, sharing directing duties with Peter Jackson.