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{{article | publication = The Northern Echo | file = | px = | height = | width = | date = 2008-08-25 | author = Bruce Unwin | pages = | language = English | type = | description = | categories = conventions | moreTitles = | morePublications = | moreDates = | text = DOCTOR WHO fans filled a village community centre in Tardis-like fashion at the first of whatmay become an annual event. Sci-fi enthusiasts were joined by younger converts to the popular television saga, which has been a ratings winners since returning to the small screen, after a 16-year absence, in 2005. Lanchester Community Centre, in County Durham, was filled with models and props from the series, and saw guest appearances by some of the performers in the show over the years. They included Colin Baker, the sixth metamorphosis of the Doctor, who appeared in seasons 21 to 23, from 1984 to 1986. He was joined in autograph and question-and-answer sessions on Saturday by other actors who became regulars in former series. These included Terry Molloy, who played the doctor's nemesis, Davros, creator of the Daleks, and Nicholas Courtney, who played The Brigadier, Sir Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. But the real stars of the event were the working models of some of the Doctor's arch enemies, including a Dalek and an Ood. There was also a model of the Doctor's time machine and spacecraft, the Tardis. Composer George Hastings, who moved to Lanchester last year, organised the event to boost the community centre, drawing on his long-standing friendship with Mr Baker, who he met while both were involved in the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk at the New Theatre, in Hull, in 1993. 'We wanted to make it a family-friendly day, rather than a specialist convention, and it's gone down really well, ' said Mr Hastings. 'People have thronged here and it's been a joy to do. The overwhelming feeling is that we should repeat it next year. ' The second Doctor Who event in Lanchester is provisionally planned for August Bank Holiday weekend next year. Illustrations/Photos: Caption: WHO'S THIS: Former Doctor Who actor Colin Baker, seated, with George Hastings, organiser of the event Picture: TOM BANKS }}

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