Shirt…

…Is Feeling Very Depressed.

Collectormania London had returned to Olympia, and so Shirt decided to attend both days of the event briefly to meet the guests that he wanted, as they were on different days. Leaving home mid-morning, he made his way via train and the District Line to the venue, entering via an entrance which seemed to be a Pizza Express, but wasn’t. Having paid the entry fee, he walked swiftly past the many sports stars who were signing by the entrance, until he reached the entertainment area. Paul Darrow (who was to be a free autograph) had cancelled at the last minute, and so Shirt was looking only for Sonila Vieshta, another of the ‘Vampires of Venice’.

He eventually found her, and five minutes later, had her signature alongside three of her fellow Vampires on his Series 5 poster. Moving amongst the stalls, Shirt saw a familiar looking mask – a Smiler/Winder from “The Beast Below”. The stall proved to be being staffed by David Ajala, who had played “Peter the Winder” in the episode. He was selling a variety of signed merchandise, including his character’s action figure. Shirt asked how much it would cost to get him to sign his Series 5 poster, and was told that if he bought one of David’s small “Beast Below” photos, he could get both items signed. This done, Shirt had an autograph that he had not been expecting to get.

Another trawl of the stalls then took place, with Shirt being very impressed by the large number of “Ashes to Ashes” cosplayers in the area where supporting actors from all series were signing. The majority were women, with most of them dressing as Gene rather than Alex. Finding nothing that he wanted to buy, Shirt left for the day, returning home via Notting Hill Gate.

The next day, Shirt left at a similar time, but had overlooked that the trains were not running. The replacement bus service turned out to be both late and too crowded for Shirt to get on. He therefore caught a bus to get to Wimbledon and the District Line. Arriving an hour later than intended Shirt found that all ‘Doctor Who’ related guests were involved in a panel on the main stage. Having looked round the stalls again, eventually he returned to the signing area, where Stephen Moore had just sat down again.

Proferring the required money, Shirt firstly got Stephen on his Series 5 poster for his appearance as Eldane in “Cold Blood”, before getting him to sign the Hitchhiker’s Radio Script Book – Primary & Secondary Phases, alongside the others that Shirt had met at Hitch Con 2009 (see CDS…A Hitch In Time). Shirt also took a copy of a photograph of Marvin’s Guide Entry, with Kevin Davies’ graphic art, but chose not to get this signed also. Stephen spoke enthusiastically about both parts, but expressed disappointment at how the Hitchhikers’ film had turned out.

Deciding to forego the three Doctors, 6-8, who were £15 each, and having perused the stalls the previous day, Shirt gathered up his items, and wended his way home, having met three Series Five guest stars in two days.

[PL]