A POPULAR event has been hailed as a success after its 'biggest guest lineup' and large attendance.

Neil Cole, owner of The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi, is celebrating the success of his annual celebration of classic Doctor Who and sci-fi events.

This year's event, 'The Monster Men', held on April 20, was a unique celebration. Over 100 attendees had the opportunity to meet with stars from television and film, including renowned monster-makers Mike Tucker, Robert Allsop, And Stephen Mansfield, And monster-writers Stephen Gallagher and Glen McCoy.

A late addition to the guest list was monster legend Ian Whyte, the actor and stunt performer behind AVP, Prometheus, Game of Thrones, and Rogue One. 

The event also featured up-and-coming writers from TELOS publishing: Bedwyr Gullidge (‘Doctor Who Exhibitions: An Unofficial History’) and Mark Iveson (‘Cursed Horror Stars’ and ‘Vincent Price: The British Connection’).

Neil said: "I began planning ‘The Monster Men’ event about 12 months ago with my dear friend Keith Barnfather – founder and Producer of ‘Reeltime Pictures’. 

"For the last year, Keith and Director Roger Stephens have been making a documentary film about the restoration work I have performed on many classic Doctor Who monsters.

"Had these wonderful old costumes been left unattended, they simply would not be with us to see today. Impressed with the museum’s previous event, ‘The Day of the Triffid,’ Keith had the lightbulb moment to combine the premiere screening of the documentary—appropriately named ‘The Monster Man’—with an informal convention featuring the very creators of the monsters that I had restored. ‘The Monster Men’ was born!’

"The ‘mini-convention’ was a tremendous success with Daleks gliding into Allendale Marketplace, the monstrous alien dog ‘Fifi’ performing for fans and one visitor - Genevieve Whalesong – travelling all the way from Australia to attend.

"The event did precisely what I intended. It shone a light on the incredibly talented people who create, fabricate, and perform within the most extraordinary costumes and props for screen science-fiction. It was also important for me to keep this event affordable so that everyone could attend. The larger, corporate conventions have become astronomically expensive, increasingly exclusive, and simply beyond the pockets of a great many people – which is extremely sad. Not on my watch!’

Copies of the new documentary ‘The Monster Man’ can be bought in ‘The Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’ or online at https://timetraveltv.com/programme/593.  For more information about the museum please visit www.museumofclassicsci-fi.com .