AUSTRALIAN customs officers are clearly a zealous breed. Last week they seized a Dalek sent by the BBC to Sydney for an Easter exhibition which will be opened by the Princess Royal on Wednesday.
The gargling, flashing creation, star of many an episode of Dr Who, was impounded until assurance came from London that it would be leaving the country immediately after the exhibition. Otherwise, insisted the officials, duty would be levied and the machine entered in Australia's balance of trade ledger.
Happily, the matter was eventually resolved and the Dalek allowed to roam a free robot again. It will be the star exhibit at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and is expected to draw large crowds by announcing at regular intervals: "I am a big tinny. Ex-term-in-ate!". (A "tinny", says my Strine dictionary, is a beer can.)
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