Wigan to host major Doctor Who event

Dalek and friend Megan Bland on a previous visit to Wigan for a comic con

It might be quite a long way into the future yet, but in 11 months’ time the Galleries shopping centre - which, let’s face it, has plenty of spare room in it these days - will be overrun by alien creatures including Cybermen, Silurians and, of course Daleks.

The mall has proved a popular haunt for comic con organisers in recent years but this tribute to the long-running sci-fi show promises to be something the borough has never seen before.

One of the stars of the show is set to be Bessie - the yellow Edwardian Roadster driven by the Third Doctor Jon Pertwee in the early 1970s - and which used to be an exhibit at the now defunct Doctor Who museum in Blackpool.

Motoring legend: the Third Doctor's famous roadster Bessie

And there’s plenty else for aficionados of the famous Time Lord.

The company organising the event - Dalek Operators UK, USA, Canada and Australia - says there will be around seven Dalek props involved along with costume displays including the First, Fourth, Sixth, 10th and 11th Doctor outfits, Capt Jack Harkness, Cybermen from 1980s and characters walking/trundling about. Among the aliens will also be a Silurian and Doctors walking about with buckets collecting for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Fans can look round a recreation of a Tardis interior and there will be all manner of props on display including sonic screwdrivers, Tardis keys and sonic sunglasses.

Dalek Operators spokesman Connor Watson said: “This is going to be a major happening and must-see for all fans. It will be the biggest Doctor Who event since Hyde Fundraisers’ The Trial Of Davros in 2005 and the biggest Doctor Who event in Greater Manchester since The Doctor Who Temporary Museum in 2007.”

Wigan has a proud record in welcoming Doctors to town, notably Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann. The Galleries event will run from 10am to 5pm on July 3 2021.