(excerpt from DWM 168 - published Jan 1991)
Over six hundred convention goers attended Panopticon X, held at the Hotel Leofric in Coventry in October. The two day event was an excellent opportunity for fans to show their continued support of the series, while meeting more than a dozen guests including the current Doctor Sylvester McCoy and former Doctor Jon Pertwee.
Saturday's programming began with a screening of Ghost Light as well as appearances by members of the cast and crew. Although Ian Hogg and director Alan Wareing had to bow out due to work commitments, writer Marc Platt was on hand to discuss his story, as were Sophie Aldred, John
Nathan-Turner and Frank Windsor.
After a break for lunch (and a surprise visit by Mary Tamm, who dropped by to sign copies of her new Myth Makers video) programming resumed with episodes 5-8 of The Invasion, followed by a panel devoted to the Troughton Years. Nick Courtney, a convention favourite, appeared with surprise guest Wendy Padbury, who seemed slightly nervous at being escorted on stage by a massive, if slightly unsteady, Cybermen.
A Marvel panel was followed by a sold-out celebrity dinner, then the evening-was capped off by a-rousing auction, in which many of the guests took turns as auctioneers. Among the most successful items sold that night were several original costumes from Doctor Who. The auction proved to be a tremendous success, raising over £1,250.
Sunday's events began with a showing of Planet of the Spiders, as well as a panel with John Nathan-Turner. He said "I would hate to become known as the producer who killed Doctor Who," he was quite emphatic in saying that he thought the programme "has a very healthy future."
Following a clip from the last episode of Planet of the Spiders, Jon Pertwee opened the TARDIS door, and took the stage to thunderous applause. He regaled the packed auditorium with amusing stories about his work on Doctor Who, and even expressed an interest in returning to the series should Verity Lambert produce it, saying he would find it a challenge and would play it "at my own age level."
The convention ended with an appearance by Sylvester McCoy, and while the current Doctor seemed less than happy with the uncertain future of the series, he had obviously not lost any of his enthusiasm for the role, happily answering questions and joking with the fans.
On the whole, the convention was well organized, and many of the people who attended agreed that while there may have been fewer guests than at previous conventions, Panopticon X was more smoothly run and more enjoyable.
Convention organizer Andrew Beech stated that many of his stewards had been approached "dozens of times" by satisfied fans, and that tentative plans have been made to use the same
venue for Panopticon XI, tentatively scheduled for September 7th-8th, 1991.
Joe Nazzaro
© Marvel Comics Ltd. 1990