Post mix-up reveals Christmas plot

Secrecy surrounding the final episodes of The Office has been broken - after the scripts were accidentally posted to the wrong address.

Joanne Hiley, from Saffron Walden, Essex, says she was sent two 100-page scripts intended for someone else in the town.

They were addressed to a technician called Andy, dated August 6 and headed: The Office Christmas Special, written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, produced by Ash Atalla.

A note with the scripts asked for a health and safety assessment of the risks involved.

Now Hiley says she is considering selling them to the highest bidder.

"If I decide to go down that road, you can expect to see the revelations in the paper which can bid the most," she told London's Evening Standard.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "To reveal the plans for The Office two-part special would be like opening your Christmas presents too early.

"We hope that no one would want to spoil for everyone what is an eagerly anticipated climax to a much-loved show."

Published: 28 Nov 2003