Time for a special treat for Doctor Who fans

The Arora, in Southgate Avenue, will play host to a two-day Doctor Who convention on Saturday May 7 and Sunday May 8 – and it promises to be an out of this world experience.

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) will be celebrating its own 40th anniversary at the convention – called The Capitol – along with stars from the show’s 52-year history.

Among them will be Katy Manning, John Levene and Richard Franklin, whose time with the third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee in the early 1970s is lauded as a golden era among fans.

Manning – who played the scatty Jo Grant – has become something of a legend at conventions, with her boundless energy, endless and entertaining tales and notoriously awful eyesight making her appearances well worth experiencing.

Nicola Bryant and Mark Strickson, who explored the universe with the fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison, will also be in attendance.

Former writers and script editors Terence Dicks and Andrew Cartmell will be on hand to relive the making of the series, which has spanned generations and become a worldwide jewel of British television.

Another guest will be writer Robert Shearman, whose audio play, Jubilee, was adapted for television in 2005 to become the Hugo Award nominated story Dalek, which introduced a whole new generation of viewers to the evil metal pepperpots.

Speaking of the Daleks, Doctor Who would be nothing without its string of monsters and bad guys.

The convention will play host to Nicholas Pegg and Barnaby Edwards, who have provided the voices and acting skills of the Daleks since the programme received its much-lauded re-boot in 2005.

Prolific radio and stage writer David Gooderson – who happened to play the role of the evil Davros, creator of the Daleks, in 1979 – will speak about his life behind the mask; while Cy Town, who was one of the brave souls who regularly squeezed himself into the rather claustrophobic Dalek casings in the 1970s and 1980s will no doubt have many a tale to tell.

Event organiser Tony Jordan said the final guest list would at least double before the convention kicked off, with DWAS planning to cover all eras of Doctor Who, from the 1960s to the 2010s.

He added: “DWAS events always have a charity element, and this will be finalised nearer the time. Overall the weekend will be a celebration of both Doctor Who and the Doctor Who Appreciation Society’s 40th Anniversary.”

Tickets for DWAS members cost £85 for the weekend or £55 for one day; for non-DWAS members they are £95 for the weekend and £60 for one day. Concessions are available for accompanied under 16s.

For more information about the convention, or to book tickets, log on to www.dwasonline.co.uk/thecapitol

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