The first guests announced for Reading Comic Con this May including Doctor Who royalty in the form of the Doctor himself.
Colin Baker, who plays the sixth incarnation of the Time Lord, will be meeting fans, signing autographs and posing for photographs when he attended the event at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.
And he is not the only Doctor Who star who will be in attendance.
Which other Doctor Who stars will be visiting Reading for Comic Con?
Third Doctor companion Jo Grant – actor Katy Manning – will be making a welcome return to Loddon Valley Leisure Centre.
She starred in the show from 1971-93, and has made numerous returns ever since including a guest appearance on The Sarah Jane Adventures and on a range of plays produced by Berkshire-based audio drama company Big Finish.
And for fans of the modern-era of Doctor Who, Camille Coduri will be visiting.
She played Jackie Tyler, the mother of Billie Piper’s character Rose. She appeared with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as Doctor Who.
Who is Zippy?
Ronnie Le Drew played Zippy in the children’s lunchtime show Rainbow.
The mischievous puppet had a zip for a mouth and would often make inappropriate comments.
Ronnie was Zippy’s right hand man, although unseen from under the desk.
He also worked with Harry and Matthew Corbett and Richard Cadell on The Sooty Show, mainly giving Sweep a helping paw.
As Zippy, he also appeared on Ashes To Ashes, The Generation Game and Channel Five’s karaoke show Night Fever.
What else will happen at Reading Comic Con?
A lot!
Guests include Nick Gribbion, an official sketch card artist illustrating trading cards for Topps, Upper Deck, Dynamite, Cryptozoic, RRParks Cards, Unstoppable, and Rittenhouse Archives.
Also planned to appear is Lee Townsend, a British comics artist — specifically, an inker. His atramentous work includes Sinister Dexter, Bison, Synnamon, Breathing Space, Tharg’s Future Shocks, Judge Dredd and Flesh, all for 2000 AD, as well as issues of Marvel Heroes, Spectacular Spider-Man and Marvel Rampage for Panini.
Artist Kev F Sutherland, who has written and drawn comic strips for everyone from The Beano to Marvel Comics, from Doctor Who to Viz magazine, and most points in between, will be dropping in.
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Since 2021, he has published a series of Pop Star Colouring Books, with illustrations and articles on everything from Eurovision and Punk to David Bowie and Rom Coms.
More guests will be announced, and there will be displays set up recreating moments from movies and television shows, including Scream, Game of Thrones, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
There will be a retro gaming area, and there will be plenty of stalls seeing everything from the latest releases to back issues.
A Lego play zone, a Super Mario Photo Op, a visit from Berkshire Busters and the Joker Squad means there will be plenty for everyone to enjoy.
The latest news is at: https://www.creedconventions.com/whats-on/
Who is Reading Comic Con aimed at?
Organisers say the event will be family friendly, and suitable for fans of sci-f and comics.
Those who enjoy dressing up as characters – known as cos play – will also be made welcome, as many others will be doing the same. People can wear outfits based on their favourite film, TV or fictional character, with competitions available.
How do I get more information about the gigs?
Reading Comic Con is organised by Creed Conventions and they have been operating events in the area for several years.
They arrange an early entry, from 10am on Sunday, May 11. This costs £13.54 including a booking fee.
General entry from 10.30am is £10.41 or £6.23 for children.
A family ticket is £27.13.
The event closes at 4pm, and it takes place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Lower Earley – it’s next to the Asda superstore.
Prices for photoshoots – where a professional photographer takes a picture of the attendee with a star – vary.
Ronnie Le Drew will cost £16.68 including booking fee, Camille Coduri and Katy Manning cost £21.90, and Colin Baker £27.13.
Tickets and photo shoots can be booked by logging on to Reading Comic Con’s Eventbrite page: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-comic-con-may-tickets-951911441747?aff=erelexpmlt
There is parking on site and overflow parking nearby.
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