Dr Who fans set to hit the town

DALEKS and Cybermen will do battle with The Doctor in Ipswich this weekend as dozens of science-fiction fans flock to the town for a Doctor Who convention.

As the new TV series hits the screens once more, fans will travel from across the country to attend the two-day event and will have the chance to meet the sixth doctor, Colin Baker.

The convention, called Doctor Who Unleashed II will take place at The Holiday Inn on Saturday and Sunday and is being organised by the hotel's health club manager Karen Davies.

The 41-year-old runs a Doctor Who fan club and was the winner of Doctor Who Mastermind in 2005.

Miss Davies expects a few of those attending the conference to don scarves and hats and attempt to imitate the Doctor but insists there is nothing geeky about being a fan of the hit show.

She said: “I don't see the difference between putting on an Ipswich shirt and following the football every Saturday and sitting in front of the television and following a television series - it is a different type of fandom.

“I have always loved Doctor Who since I was a little girl and it has always been part of my life.

“Everyone involved is lovely and I have made some good friends through being a fan.”

About 100 people are expected to attend the event which begins at 10am on Saturday at the London Road hotel.

Fans will be able to get autographs from Colin Baker as well as Nicholas Courtney who played the Brigadier and Angus Lennie who appeared as an extra in the Ice Warriors and Terror of the Zygons episodes of the series.

He is better known for appearing in The Great Escape and Crossroads, starring as Shughie McFee in the soap.

There will also be the chance to watch the show on a big screen on Saturday night.

Tickets are £36 for one day and £59 for the whole weekend and will be available on the door.

A similar convention took place at the hotel in July when former Doctor Sylvester McCoy was the guest of honour.

For more information should visit www.doctorwhounleashed.co.uk.

n. Are you a doctor who fan? Tell us what you think of the convention. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk+

William Hartnell: 1963-1966

Patrick Troughton: 1966-1969

Jon Pertwee: 1970-1974

Tom Baker: 1974-1981

Peter Davison: 1921-1984

Colin Baker: 1984-1986

Sylvester McCoy: 1987-1989 and 1996 (in television movie)

Paul McGann: 1966 (in television movie)

Christopher Eccleston: 2005

David Tennant: 2005 onwards.

Source: Wikipedia

Colin Baker was born on June 8, 1943.

He grew up in Rochdale and studied at St Bede's College in Manchester.

Prior to becoming the sixth Doctor Who he played Paul Merroney in the TV series The Brothers.

He is the only Doctor to have appeared in the series prior to being cast as Doctor Who. Appearing as Commander Maxil in Arc of Infinity, he shot then Doctor Peter Davison.

Baker appeared in eleven stories and spent three years as the Doctor.

Since leaving the show he has appeared in Jonathan Creek, Casualty and on Countdown.

In 1994 he became the first (and so far only) Doctor to write a published Doctor Who story, The Age of Chaos.

Following the death of his son Jack in 1983, he became active in increasing the profile of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Source: Wikipedia