Well I'm back home after an incredible whirlwind weekend down in Cardiff at the first official Doctor Who convention.
This was the first convention arranged by the BBC for the show and from end to end one of the best and most slick conventions I've ever attended and this is why. At the time you bought your tickets you had to choose your programme for the day Ood or Silurian. Each programme was exactly the same all that was different was the timings of certain events. This meant that queues were short, no one was ever too far away and it ran like a well oiled machine. Detractors were that you had to follow the plan. The plan was all but I found it gave time to everything I wanted and a fab lunch at wagamamas.
The big exciting panels were Meet the stars: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill with Steven Moffat and Caro Skinner answering questions and they did get through a lot. The second panel was Creators and Directors which was Gary Russell, Marcus Wilson, Nick Hurran, Tom McCrae and Neil Gorton. The final panel was Doctor Who Uncut which was hosted by Barnaby Edwards - Everyone's favourite DALEK with Steven Moffat and Caro Skinner again with some other people who I can't remember and the series 7 trailer. ZOMG squee
I got to meet Matt Smith briefly for an autograph and told him I had adored Christopher and his Kind which I hope came out of the Blue with all the screaming whogasms going on. I also got to meet Arthur and he's utterly lovely.
Gossip wise, it's all out there, the Daleks are coming back, as are the weeping angels and the Ponds final adventures are happening in New York. Steven Moffat says a Dr Who Sherlock xover wouldn't work because they wouldn't get anything done. However, I think a sketch for comic relief or Children in Need would allow the two to meet.
Steven Moffat was asked about whether he thought Doctor who was too complicated, he answered with no aren't we supposed to not be dumbing down TV - I started the applause for that ;)
We also saw make up/prosthetics/sfx demos which were amazing and well worth going to see.
I have a smile on my face several days later and I needed a little lie down afterwards.
The convention was very family friendly and a lot of questions were asked by children so nothing big was asked. I can't wait for November now.
