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I am sorry to have to announce that the Blackpool Doctor Who Museum is now closed.
On the last day – Sunday 8th November – Steven Moffat came the the Doctor Who Museum for a visit, HE DID NOT KNOW THE WE WERE CLOSINING and was quite upset to hear the news, he enjoyed his visit, said he did not know why were closing “but would find out”
Steven Moffat with Michael (assistant at museum)
A lifelong fan of Doctor Who, Moffat has written several episodes of the revived series and will succeed Russell T Davies as lead writer and executive producer as of its fifth series in 2010
On Saturday the 7th we had a fantastic party day with the Hyde Fundraisers entertaining all our visitors, we had DAVROS, four yes FOUR doctors, two companions and a whole host of monsters enjoying the fun. Customers dressed up in there own Doctor Who outfits for the occasion, it was a real treat to see everyone having so much fun and I would like to thank everyone who got envolved, it made my last Saturday ever in the Doctor Who Museum a real day to remember and everyone loved it, so a big thank you.
Even Pudsy the Bear came along, unfortunately nobody else from the BBC could make it!!!
I know that David would want me to pass on his thanks for making the day so special also.
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE CLOSURE (CLICK HERE)
There are strong speculations across the net as to the fate of the props and monsters, as yet though these have not been confirmed or denied officially by the BBC, you can find more news, information (and of course lots of gossip) on sites such as:
WHOVIANNET NEWS With a Great Customer Response, Chat and Rumors
DOCTOR WHO EXHIBITIONS With News From The Exhibition Organisers
www.sylvestermccoy.com An Interesting Doctor Who News Site
PLEASE CLICK HERE & LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS BLOG
…..Please Don’t Hurt Me, I have a disclaimer honest:
Disclaimer; The opinions and comments expressed on this blog are the personal opinions of our bloggers, and in no way reflect the opinions of The Doctor Who Museum, the Companies Associated with the Doctor Who Museum or the BBC. This Blog is privately owned and run to make sure the general public, and the friends of the Museum are able to express there opinions on the Museums Closure, If the BBC, Museum Staff or any Companies associate with the Museum would like to make comments, they are invited to do so.
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87 ResponsesLeave a comment ?
My dad took me when I was a boy, and I took my son every year since it re-opened. It was a fantastic place, dare I even say magical, it was ceratinly an hour or so of escapism and its a very sad state of affairs indeed. Blackpool will not be the same without it.
Unfair!!! On a world trip from New Zealand and am making a special detour to Blackpool to visit the museum in April 2010. We have now found out a week before we arrive that it is shut. Have now basically wasted time and money that could have been used elsewhere….aaarrrggghhh!
God the BBC suits are morons – this is up there with the taping over and wiping of early Doctor Who episodes. The thing that is most galling was that they had the cheek to lie about it saying on the Exhibition website that the exhibits were to be distributed amongst the new exhibitions. These suits can out politic the politicians and again making free with our cash.
I have visited the Dr Who museum many times in Blackpool, The last time we went to Blackpool was in March 2010 and there were some work men working on the site where the museum was. Apparently it will re open at easter (2010), lets hope so. I love the vintage doctor who.
……Comment to your message by Martin …..
Hi Sorry but no it will not be re-opening at easter as the Doctor Who Museum, the BBC HAVE sold off all the props leaving this prime location in Blackpool empty, luckily the proprieter David Boyle is developing a brand new exhibition and attraction at the location called ALIEN BASE which will open shortly after easter, I will add notification of the opening date as and when I have the information,
I hope this helps
Martin
Thank you to David Boyle who was responsible for bringing this wonderful exhibition back to Blackpool and who has been treated absolutely appallingly by the BBC. The nameless grey suits at the BBC think that they don’t need to bother with the classic Doctor Who anymore. They think that the current exhibitions of costumes from the recent series are all that is needed to make money for them and that the history of the show can just be swept away and quietly forgotten about. They don’t give a damn about the fans who pay their wages with the licence fee. Nobody at the BBC had the guts to come forward and identify themselves as being responsible or issue an official statement. The BBC claimed that they were closing the exhibition in order to distribute the costumes to other current Who exhibitions. However, nearly all of the exhibition contents were auctioned off at Bonhams last month. The Times newspaper quoted some potential buyers at the auction saying that they wanted costumes to stand in their “garden” or in “a corner of their living room” to impress the neighbours – what a sad, tragic end to items that are part of TV history, sci fi history and Britain’s popular cultural heritage. It was wonderful to think that they all had a special home together in Blackpool where they were preserved and safe – now they are gone forever from public view to rot in someone’s shed. I just hope that most new owners treasure them and keep them safe wherever they have ended up. Doctor Who fans and sci fi fans throughout the world have lost an amazing place; Blackpool has lost a wonderful tourist attraction and source of revenue. When Doctor Who was revived as a new series I thought that the future of the Blackpool Museum was safe. I thought it would run and run due to the popularity of the new series– I never thought that this popularity would lead to it’s demise. I am keeping the memory alive by making an album of printouts of all the photos that I can find off the internet. If you have any photos that I could have (for personal use only), please let me know at:
doctorwhopics@yahoo.co.uk
Really shocked. I visited the Blackpool exhibition with my son 3 years ago and remembered many of the props from my first visit, nearly 30 years earlier. It was a cold, wintry spring day, we were the only ones there and my son had a great time ignoring the “don’t touch” signs and playing on Bessie and with the TARDIS console. Now it’s all gone, I’m glad I let him (I don’t normally encourage rule-breaking) as no kid will get the chance to again! They had two Bessies, one outside and one inside! I much preferred this to the slick “new series” exhibitions and took tons of photos (I wasn’t able to when I was a kid as we had a really terrible camera and the flash cubes never worked!). This is dreadful news – is the BBC responsible? I thought it was a private “museum” rather than an official Dr Who exhibition. Are some of the props, at least, at the new shop in Blackpool. I agree with other comments that some of the props were probably at the much-publicized auction last month. What a loss.
An absolute disgrace! There has been a presence here since the 70’s. Why close it? The amount of publicity it got alone must have been worth it.
COMING TO BLACKPOOL IN OCTOBER 2010. ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN EXCITED THAT THE GRANDPARENTS ARE GOING TO SEE DR WHO MUSEUM. SORRY KIDS, SHUT!!!!!!
mY HUSBAND SAW IT IN ABOUT ‘75 WHEN HE LIVED THERE.
I’ve just seen this
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8499745.stm
Is this where to props have gone? Bloody BBC
well here we go the auction details are now up inc prices.
Along with my son Jason we had a great time in 2009 going around the Blackpool museum, it was not our first time we had seen a classic piece of history at it’s rightful home in Blackpool.
No doubt along with everyone else i am shocked and saddened the BBC has seen fit to shut this wonderful place down, why they could not have kept this place going and improved on it escapes me and i fear this is just another one of the BBC’s mistakes it has made over time!
Sadly everytime i come to visit Blackpool in the future i will know it is a poorer place due to part of it has gone forever! Blackpool and Doctor Who have been well know and loved for many years.
I just found out that the Doctor Who Museum in Blackpool closed down! I visited in August after taking 3.5 hour train ride from Edinburgh. A traffic cop told me it was closed and I nearly had a nervous breakdown. Luckily, it was still open. I had no idea it would be closing down. I took plenty of pictures. I haven’t been this gutted since the Words & Pictures Museum closed. I’m from NJ and just figured I should go see it since I only go to Britain once a decade. I’m glad I did. It was wonderful seeing all the exhibits. Thank you to everyone involved in the museum.
Just got back from a few days in Blackpool and was sorry to see that the Doctor Who Exhibition was closing. I thought it was just for the winter season, but was told about the circumstances under which it is closing for good.
I really can’t see a reason why this could happen, kids and adults LOVE Doctor Who and it doesn’t matter when the Doctor changes, people still love the Doctor they ‘grew up with’ and an exhibition like this allows kids to see the history of a great programme……..this does not bode well for things to come…if indeed this has something to do with re-branding!!! You can’t ‘kill’ the past!!!!!!!!!
Gutted. Just returned from Blackpool with my six yr old son. Took him to the exhibition, one of his favourite wplaces, as a treat after having a swine flu jab. Obviously we didn’t know about the closure… He cried. Sad journey back to Manchester.
First went to exhibition when I was about eight, and still have my Tom Baker postcard.
This is a real shame. The exhibition was so much fun. It’s awful to think everything will be split, never to be seen together again.
So do I spend a fortune going to Cardiff now? And have they altered the board as seen at MoSI from New Earth which said ‘lemongrass’ instead of ‘apple grass’? Things like that count!
Rant over.
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=18192
Here we go people, final confirmation of what is to happen.
Yes, Bonhams is gearing up for a big Dr Who event.
on a weekend trip to blackpool on my first evening walk, I was suprised to see a dr who museum. I did not know it was there and looked forward to going the next day.I have been a dr who watcher most of my life,I was very disapointed to get there and told it was closed.Why oh why has someone done something so petty as to spoil a lot of peoples enjoyment,and what for,no one seems to know.
So very sorry to hear about the closure. This was one of my favourite places to visit, and I have some great memories from here as I am such a fan of the classic series of Doctor Who. Wonder if we could get a petition together if it would help?
What a shame. For the past 3 years (Since I got into Doctor Who) every time I drove past when we were on holiday, seeing the lights etc, I so wanted to look. Only did I go when the announcment came of its closure. A great place, I visited in the half term. Very sad to see it go. I hope that they will either reconsider or the BBC will put another there.
went to the museum on the wednesday before it closed.absolutly jam packed with people of all ages spending money so can not understand why shut an enjoyable place like this which is also a little goldmine.someone at bbc has dropped a big clanger.brought my two kids when they were still in there prams. oldest is now 13 and has a few disabilities very difficult to explaine why it shut down.like many people did shed a tear on the train on the way home stu aged 42.
Any news from Steven Moffat? Did he come through in time?
To all the creatures that have been enemies of the Doctor, now add the BBCwormerons.
This destruction of a part of late 20th century Britain’s cultural heritage and broadcasting history is in perfect keeping with the attitudes and mentality of a clique of boors and spivs that now drools over its franchise to market their design of a Doctor to all corners of a defenceless planet. Now, had the Museum been located down south in London …
Hi – we visited on Saturday 7th and had a great time, Davros was fantastic.
We were really sad to see that you were closing.
Here’s hoping for a rethink from BBC in the future.
Good luck.
Mark
Came on Friday to see the last hurrah. Had a great time, can’t believe The Moff came, genius!! Was brilliant to see the stuff that I enjoyed when coming to the exhibition in the 80’s. One day it will be back, oh yes….
Utter Disgrace that the exhibition must close. I spent many happy hours in the original exhibition when it was facing Central Pier. I visited it at the main Dapol place in Llangollen and have enjoyed the more recent one where it has been in Blackpool for the past 5 years.
Is this because the BBC are now getting too possessive with a programme that they abandoned and washed their hand of from 1989 until 2005 (apart from a brief one off in 1996)? And now Doctor Who is the success that it is they don’t want anyone else to be involved?
Another example of the decadent, jobs for the boys, closed minded institution that is the British Broadcasting Corporation. Remind me again, who pays for the BBC?
Every time i go to blackpool, i always pay a visit to the exhibition and over the course of the past year or so i got to know some of the staff, and this is one of the best dr who exhibitions in the uk, if not the best one, and tbh the bbc made a very stupid choice by closing it, some people can be soo thick, if you got a good thing then keep it, not get rid of it while its in its prime!! grrrr i cant believe how thick the beeb can actually be :’) i went there on its last day i went around and it remined me of what dr who is all about, it was a fantastic exhibition and will be missed
i have heard that the items are not being distributed among the remaining dr who exhibitions but are being sold at auction by bonhams auctioneers when i contacted the bbc to ask for more details i could not get an official comment on this matter however there is a special dr who night on saturday 14th november the details of which are being kept very closely under wraps? live auction? perhaps
Please keep us up to date with any feed back from Steven Moffat?
Will the Museum “regenerate”. let’s hope so.
so sad to hear abou the closure of the museum,we been in it twice. my funniest memory was being frightened by a cyberman appearing in one part,totally unexpected,i screamed. we did get photos with him though.my fave doctor is david tennant,but it is sad the artifacts from earlier is being removed,especially for fans of earlier doctors,every fan has their fave.
What on Gallifrey do the BBC think they are doing? A week before the latest of the “specials” they force the Blackpool Museum to close!
Given that the new story’s ratings are bound to suffer from lack of regular schedule, do they really want the bad publicity of this stupid and pointless decision as well? This is not supposed to be a rhetorical question – I’m old enoughs to remember similar stunts 20+ years ago that were designed to upset the viewing figures and cancel the program. Eventually they succeeded.
The bottom line is the Museum in Blackpool is simply a fun place to be that and hurts nobody; when you consider the merchandise that they sell and the interest it generates it’s certainly not harming the BBC. It’s organisations like this that helped sustain the show from 1990 to 2005 and make words like TARDIS and Dalek part of our culture. Steven Moffat and his team should be encouraging the Museum rather then let it be shut down.
Any way it’s just gone 8pm on 8/Nov/2009 – the Museum’s door will have just closed. Who knows if they will open again?
where will the auction for the items be?
I just received the news about the closing of the museum. As a lifelong fan of Science Fiction and the Doctor Who program in particular. I am shocked, saddened and far beyond annoyed at the fact that I will now never get the chance to enjoy visiting the museum. I think its outrageous that, particularly now that the program has made a successful return to the screen that the BBC has removed from existence such a much loved institution. Over the history of the program there have been several Doctor Who special events that, as an American, I didn’t have the opportunity to see. Even so, with the Doctor Who Museum in place there was, or so I thought, an opportunity for some future time that I could see and revel in the memories brought back by the props, costumes, anditems that, until now, had been displayed and preserved in Blackpool. I only wish that, that just once, just once, I could have seen with my own eyes instead of threw someone else’s experience.
Went today with my son as we have done very often. Tinged with sadness this time. I really thought that the BBC had learned their lesson when it came to Doctor Who. Closing this museum down is a mark of ignorance (of the shows legacy) and arrogance (of the public and licence fee payers). BBC, there is still time to reconsider!!!
I would like to take this oportunity to thank Mr David Boyle and all of the various staff over the last five years for making our visits to the Blackpool Exhibition so memorable.
David and the ‘exhibition’ where so genorous with the display material that they loaned to us when we put on Dr Who Exhibitions in conjunction with Rochdale Libaries for which I offer an heart felt thanks!
It is so sad that the Dr Who Exhibition has to close yet again!
The Memories will still live on though.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Boyle and his various members of staff from over the last 5 years for making our trips to the Dr Who Exhibition very memorable.
The ‘Exhibition’ courtesy of Mr Boyle was always generous with the Exhibition materials that they loaned out to us when we put on a number of Dr Who displays in connection with Rochdale Libaries, for which I offer a heart felt thanks!
It’s so sad that the Blackpool Dr Who Exhibition is to close, yet again!
The memories will remain, what a shame the exhibition will not.
I wrote to the BBC about this and they haven’t even had the courtesy to reply to say they received the letter.
I just hope that the current practice of focusing on Matt Smith and rebranding doesn’t backfire on them with him being a flop in the role and leaving after a year. The BBC seem the ofrget that it is we the fans who also pay for the license for which they use to come to these decisions.
I wrote an earlier comment to this page a few weeks ago and I still stand by them, in fact I am even more disgusted with the BBC as they have appeared to stick their fingers in their ears and close theirs eyes to what the people are saying.
So sorry to hear of the closure of this museum. We have just moved into the Blackpool area and have not had chance to visit the exhibition yet.Looking forward to visit on Saturday 8th!! Why the BBC needs to close it I don`t know!
It`s sad if it has been part of Blackpool for so long.
It will be especially missed by Doctor Who fans from all over the North of the country;to have such an extensive collection in one place is a must for all dedicated fans. To keep the museum on our door step would be so exciting.
Blackpool needs such a quality attraction so please,please plaease! reconsider your decision BBC !! We need Dr Who in Blackpool it won`t be the same without this fine collection. Keeping the past of this iconic TV series alive and real to a dedicated fan base in this area.
my friend and her son arrainge there holliday every year around going to the dr who exhibitions in blackpool. her son is about the biggest fan you could meet and is gutted about this, he knows alot of the staff by name and looks forward all year to this trip, and i am apalued by the BBC giving its staff this short notice this close to crimbo.
i took my wife to blackpool for the lights but could.nt enjoy our little weekend after hearing the dr who exhibition was to close we have been there twice a year and always visit the dr who museum i can not understand the bbc.s decision to close this magnificent collection of exhibits it will be sadly missed from the young and old. after the shock of this closure i went and got a dr who tattoo to mark this closure. long live the doctor old and new. bbc should think there decision on this
This is a very bad desision by the BBC, on a par with destroying old episodes.
I hope whoever came up with this idea is made fully aware of the public reaction.
To those who have run the exhibition in Blackpool past and present, many, many thanks for all the magic!
I am devasted that this Wonderful Exhibition is to close.
The staff involved are 100% devoted in their work and are to be highly praised.
Martin You have been so helpful to me I cannot thank you enough.
Good Luck to everyone.
Wendy( on behalf of Chris) Kentucky USA
Again we loose the museum. I have visited this several times over the years. Once with my Dad who is sadly no longer here, we compared the doctors through the ages and talked about what scared us over the years and how the special effects had grown and changed. This we did at Llangollen when the museum was there. I have since done this again with my son at blackpool and again had the almost same conversations with him. Are we to loose this due to the BBC and its hairbrained ideas. History is important in all manner of forms as to whether its a library or museum fact or fiction. I urge the BBC to rethink and think of the fans present and future. Dr Who is a legacy and an institution in cult classics and should be property of the public and not a block on future marketing or merchandising efforts from pittence made on times gone. PLEASE Think Again BBC……
Went this sunday, wonderful experience, Blackpool won’t be the same without it, everyone attending thought the closure a criminal shame, young families excitedly looking aroud reminded me of what the show meant to people. For the BBC to just close the place strikes me as very high-handed, ill thought out and arrogant. It gives a lot of people a lot of innocent pleasure, god knows there’s little enough of that around these days. Shame on you BBC! Try listening to the people who pay your wages for a change – ie; Us!
I am really apauled the BBC is shutting down the Doctor Who Musuem at Blackpool because they want to Revive it AGAIN!!! for 2010’s MATT SMITH era. Seriously, leave the damn place alone, we don’t want a place with Matt’s ugly face all over it. It should be a Place to see the Past of Doctor Who. I visited Doctor Who Blackpool just on Saturday and even some of the staff was upset.
I gave them Clean Intro titles too for their new videos of the Musuem.
Anywho the Beeb are making the biggest mistake and will seriously loose ratings for next year by changing everything really fast when we only revived it in 2004
-KANE!
This is sad news! I took my son on 31.10.2009 to see the illuminations and couldn’t resist a chance of going around the museum one more time, i didn’t know the premises is due to close until we drove past into town and i still cannot understand the logic of the BBC in doing this.
When you say to people especially children what springs to mind when you say the name blackpool you always get Doctor Who mentioned along with all the other attractions, I think the BBC is making a terrible mistake and instead should concentrate on making the museum even better and yes change the exhibits every now and again!
So BBC take note closing this place is a bad move so why not instead do the place up and keep it as a permanent home for the greatest science fiction series of all time!
A terrible move by the BBC, just a week before the special goes on air, I think that the people at the museum do a fantastic job and loved the whole experience when I visited. I haver just phoned up the Daily Star, lets hope that they do something, if you want to phone the News Desk the number is 0208 612 7373
We visited yesterday(30 Oct)
My little boy Elliot (8 nearly 9!) is an avid fan and has recently got into the classic series and for him it was magical to see the actual stars and as a massive Colin Baker fan was delighted to meet the Colin Baker lookalike! He was enthralled to hear us chatting as I am I life long fan!!
I have followed this unique and outstanding collection since is was housed at the Dapol factory, McCoy was my very under rated Doctor when I was at school and I have never faltered in my devotion of the Doctor even during those dark years when we were all thought of as geeks!!
It being back made me so delighted and when you remember the Colin Baker quote about him being sad his children grew up without a Doctor you have to wonder why the BBC is pulling the plug on this historic collection. The BBC are responsible for its resurrection so to deny its roots is totally incomprehensible and so sad.
The BBC has still got time to step in and reconsider …
No one will think badly for a humane Uturn !!!
‘ok so you’re my biggest fan!’
Doctor Who Forever!!
When I was a small boy – about 30 years ago, my parents lost me in the Blackpool crowds. I followed the sounds comeing from the original exhibition and my parents worked out where I’d be and found me.
I moved to Australia 20 years ago and don’t get back to England as often as I’d like but I took my wife there in 2005 and we visited the ‘new’ museum. We had a great time and my wife got a glimpse of what it’s like to be a lifelong Dr Who fan.
I was looking forward to taking my son and daughter there in a few years. After converting them into fans of the show, of course.
If the rumour regarding the BBC’s decision is true – the branding – I can understand it but I think they’re missing out an opportunity to merge the two series. Putting all the new series exhibits in with the classics is a mark of respect and acknowledgement to its roots.
Every time I see a Dr Who book in the shops, I always check to see if it has classic Dr Who and they never do, so I never buy them. If the BBC think that Dr Who’s current popularity is not due, in large part, to fans of the classic series, then they are surely mistaken.
I’m so sad to hear that it’s closing , i first knew about it when i visited Blackpool on Tuesday , and saw a closing down sign on the exhibition
i’ll miss this wonderful exhibition
I have enjoyed being able to show people around this fab exhibition over the last few years.
Blackpool wont be the same without it………. you would have thought the bbc would have learned their lesson the last time they closed it, in 1985!
we believe the collection is a national treasure, and should NOT be broken up. Dr who is a massive part of tv history, the newer series would not be around today, if it was’nt for the memories of the classic shows.
we have been in today, and witnessed a massive rise in visitors, all upset about the demise of the exhibition.
i am very shocked that the exibition is closing down, i come for a visit to it every year i always loved to see the original props and outfits from all the differant series’ . I shall miss it indeed.
I was there on Sunday. Travelled from Madrid just to visit the Museum and Bletchley Park. Went through the museum three times and had a couple of incredible chats with The Doctor. Thank you very much for everything. So sorry it’s going away.
I opened the paper the other day and saw RED DWARF BACK! Yay!!! I looked across the page DOCTOR WHO MUSEUM CLOSES! Nooooooo!!!!!!
I went to the Blackpool exhibition the week it opened and have been back every year. I hope the props and costumes go onto other exhibitions and not into hands of private collectors. They belong in a museum!!!
I’ll miss seeing this place when i walk down Blackpool. Doctor Who has been with Blackpool for over 20 years. I hope some day it’ll come back because they’re Splendid chaps, all of them.
One day, I shall come back. Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.
Michael (extreme geek) saying goodbye….
I’m so sad about the closing of the Doctor Who Exhibition. I only went once but I’ll come again at some point before the 8th. As someone who’s only just starting to watch the older episodes, I’m very disappointed that I won’t get to visit when the exhibits will mean more to me.
this is a disgrace that exibition has been open for so many years and now when they will getting loads more customers, due to the new series. they decided to close it down this will be a great loss and i hope that the bbc suffer at this awful decision
I cant understand why the BBC have decided to close this exhibition especally NOW! when dr who is more popular than ever, with a whole new generation of fans. my family and i visited last week and it was the highlite of our holiday my son loved it.(especally the Darleks)It,s uppsets me to think it will be the last time we will see this collection together i have been a fan all my life and this museum brought back so many memories thanks to all the staff who were very helpful and friendly and all the best in the future xxx
I visited the exhibition yesterday 25th october for the first time ,and upon arrival reading the closing down notice , i was totally shocked , as a small boy my parents would take me to blackpool most years and my first port of call was the doctor who exhibition, it was great to see the classic exhibits and brought back many happy memories.
just what are the bbc playing at.
At the weekend we visited the Doctor Who Museum and had a wonderful time it is very well done and the staff very welcoming and friendly. The museum is extremely well done and the highlight of our visit.
We all think it is a disgrace that it is being closed down and the wrong decision of the BBC, they should be supporting this Museum, I hope they realise that they have made the wrong decision and realise that Doctor Who Fans deserve this Museum.
BBC re-vamps Dr Who, gets the nation all hyped up about it again, then close down an absolutely brilliant exhibit, which is great value for money, not to mention a great bit of TV history – Who ever made the dicision to close this exhibit down obviously lives on another planet. Many thanks to all the staff who work there for making the day extra special, I hope you all find good jobs.
I visited the exhibition for the first time this week (went to Blackpool especially) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t believe the BBC is pulling the plug on it – it’s just so very wrong!
I’ve also visited the exhibitions at Cardiff and Glasgow and can honestly say that the Blackpool one is the best.
There is such a vast collection there – the only place in the world that you can see “classic” items now. I can’t believe the BBC are closing the doors on such an important collection. Have they actually given a reason for this?
Congratulations to everyone involved with the exhibition and my sincere sympathies.
i cannot believe this after all the effort and dedication david and the staff at the exhibition have done and its come to this closing down for the second time what are the bbc thinking!!!i have worked for david for a year playing as a cyberman and loved every minute of it the only reason i went to blackpool was because of the exhibition. cannot believe they(bbc)are destroying what can be called the last connection to the original series going to be really sad to see the doors closed for the very last time in november many thanks david and all staff past and present for giving us the chance to travel back in time and see these beautiful props that have kept me behind the sofa for many years will have to visit again for the last time soon…
I think it is disgraceful that the BBC is closing down this wonderful museum – the press should be informed of how badly they are acting so that it can be stopped and the hundreds of fans, and the people in the museum who have worked so hard, are able to continue and enjoy these wonderful memorabelia.
My son and i were there on the 10th just before the news broke and we can’t believe it. We’ve been going every year since it opened in 2004. My son got his picture in The Blackpool Gazette as one of the first visitors. This reminds me of 1985 when they closed the old one. I was gutted then as i am now. If the BBC feel the need to re-brand the show and reflect that in their Who exhibitions then fair enough, as long as they realise that we need an exhibition in the north of England. Cardiff or London are no good to me thankyou. Blackpool is the spiritual home of Doctor Who exhibitions and has been since Jon Pertwee opened the original in 1974.
Hi, yes the shop will remain open in to same location (I will keep you updated regarding opening times etc) also the online shop will trade as usual at http://www.DoctorWhoCollector.com
I absolutely love the classic series of Doctor Who far more than the new episodes which are Doctor Who in name only, as far as I am concerned. I have very fond memories of the original Blackpool Exhibition and indeed of the Longleat Exhibition and have visited the Blackpool Museum seven times over the last five years. I love the old Longleat Tardis Console, the Giant Robot, Axon, Morbius, Yeti, Davros and the old Cybermen heads. It is so sad that I will not be able to see them again, Contrary to the official press release, I am convinced that the majority of the exhibits will be auctioned off never to see the light of day again. A lot of the costumes and props at Blackpool will be damaged when moved, having been carefully preserved in the museum. A lot of Hartnell and Troughton episodes were wiped during the 70s and the BBC no doubt regrets that now as they have missed out on a lot of DVD sales. They are doing exactly the same again. This is our heritage gone forever.
I’ll really miss it, I visit with my wife and children every Easter break and believe me, there going to be heartbroken, please can anyone let me know if the shop and internet shop will remain open?
I was in Blackpool last week and was shocked to hear the museum was closing. I can remember going to one of the early exhibitions in blackpool as a boy probably in the early 80’s and for me doctor who has always been part of Blackpool just like the tower and pleasure beach it just won’t be the same without it.
I think it’s really important to preserve the history of anything. I love the new series but’s important that people can see where it came from and we should never be embarrassed by the old stuff it was as good as the technology at the time allowed.
Russell T davies has always refrenced the old series in the new stuff and always talks with great affection about it on confidential and many people now working in the current show are working in TV after being inspired by the old series.
There are some early episodes lost forever as it wasn’t realised just how important the show would become the BBC can have no such excuse now. disgraceful decision
They have to be crazy! Why are they closing it again?
Lets never pay our TV licence again!
I still can’t believe what i’ve heard.. This is a disgrace but typical of the BBC. Blackpool is the perfect place for a Dr.Who experience … the amount of people who come here the distance from london and cardiff….. what i find most upseting is the hard work all the staff and manager have put in will be pushed to one side… I’m affraid it’s another chance for the props of old to be sold off never to be seen in public again…
Can we help stop this ? can we make the BBC listen or are they just not interested in the fans of old, this makes me sad..
Hi
I was born in Blackpool in 1970 and there has been a Dr Who exhibition for as long as I can remember. My Uncle Julian worked there in the 70’s when he was 16 (when it was opposite Macdonalds/central pier).
Typical heavy handed tactics from the bbc. Notice no-one calls it auntie anymore.
They are having a good year this year…omly 4 episodes of Dr Who, 5 of Torchwood and now closing this down because it no longer ‘fits the image’ of the new Dr Who!!
I cannot believe we will no longer hear our beloved Dr Who theme music driving down the prom.
Makes me almost glad I moved down south.
martyxxx
After visiting the Blackpool exhibit with my children on countless occassions I was shocked to find out that it is closing, and amazed to find that the BBC wanted the closure to go ahead with no celebration of what has been a fantastic part of Blackpool Life, we have seen Doctor Who Events across the town thanks to the Exhibition including special shows on the lions carnival, special Doctor Who days at the local library with all costumes and props supplied free from the Exhibition and amazing party days with charity fundraisers dressed as all the favourite doctor who monsters, how this can go un-noticed and how the BBC can just expect this wonderful team to just shut the door for the last time on the 8th and “go quietly” is quite frankly disgusting, shameful and an absolute disgrace from such a large corporation, shame on you BBC, and congratulations to the team at the Doctor Who Exhibition for trying so hard to do the right thing by your loyal fans,
I have worked for David Boyle at the Doctor Who Museum for several years, it has been a joy to send people on this nostalgic trip into the past history of Doctor Who, and to see the fascination and excitement in children’s faces when they see the museum for the first time has been a joy, it has, however, been an awful week so far to see the looks on the faces of our visitors young and old when they see the signs saying “CLOSING DOWN” their have been more than a few tears shed and I must admit it has been a sad experience.
Doctor Who will be sadly missed in Blackpool
I would like to thank everyone so far who has posted onto the blog, please keep them coming!!! Please could you also send a link to this site to all your friends who you think may like to comment as the site is new it is very hard to find in Google, so the more people that get a link the better!
Once again thankyou for all your support.
Bleazy
I visited the exhibitionlast week and was discussing this travesty with the staff there. I am shocked and disgusted with the person at the BBc has has decided to place the Classic Dr items to the rubish tip (inessence) and remove the BBC from the history of the programme without which the current series would not exist. It is disrespectful to the programme, unfair on the staff, a slap in the face to all of the fans who throughtout the late 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s kept the Dr alive through their love of the programme and a sad end to the props. I am glad I saw them last week but at the same time offended that this will be the last time I can see them. The BBC should be ashamed of themselves.
The thought that items could be auctioned off is also one that I am staggered at, truth be know it is more a case that the BBC want to distance themselves from the classic who (and some of the current who) in favour of the new logo and image for the 11th Dr. I imagine that in 20 – 30 years time people will regret this decision just as they have when they destroyed so many of the recordings of the programme in the 1970’s.
Thanks to the staff at the exhibition for their work and their endeavours to bring this to the notice of the public and no thanks to the BBC.
I was planning to visit the Blackpool Exhibit later this summer and had been saving up money and making plans for an extended visit to the UK.
When I heard it was closing, I dropped everything and booked a flight from the US.
I’ve just come from Blackpool and the Exhibit is truly amazing.
David was incredibly gracious in showing me his amazing collection. I cannot believe that this magnificent exhibit is to be taken apart and scattered to the four winds.
If you can, run, don’t walk to see this before it’s gone.
I think it’s a crying shame this resource will no longer be available to the fans.
Thank you, David, for keeping it open as long as you have.
It’s sad that this place is closing.
I’ve been wanting to go for a while now and finally went on Sunday. Now I’ve seen the place I can see what a nice place it is.
There’s so much there for people to see and it’s local for people in the north west. By seeing the kids go in the Dalek and using the Dalek voice thing you could see they were having a good time.
The people working there were really friendly and you could tell they were true fans. They were dedicated to the museum and I bet that’s difficult when you know the place is shutting down.
It’s a sad loss and BBC if you’re reading this think of the kids in the north west who won’t get the Dr Who experience anymore. They won’t understand why it’s not there anymore and they will be upset. Where will the nearest Dr Who place be after this has closed????
I visited the museum this weekend after hearing it would close soon. It is a real shame that the exhibits are going to be split up as the museum holds the majority of the remaining “Old” who props and costumes. Doctor Who is really embedded in British history and the museum was a lovely tribute to the early days of the series.
I took my young nephew and niece who love to see the monsters and were quite upset when I told them they wouldn’t be able to see them again.
I hope that the exhibits are not auctioned off, because if they are, it is unlikely to be the long term fans who win them and they will be out of the public eye forever more.
The modern exhibitions are a very different experience, the Blackpool exhibition has a more fan feel and I wish David and his staff all the best for the future.
Heres hoping that the voices of the fans will make a difference to the BBC’s plans
Tracy
took the kids in yesterday for the first time, soooo glad I did, the staff are all quite clearly devastated by this news, i have never been to a place where it is so obvious that everyone loves being there, everyone was so helfull, my youngest girl got a little scared but she was reassured and taken round, the two guys behind the counter were a great help when I wanted to choose some christmas gifts. its a wonderful exhibition and i will be very sorry to see it go, only wish I’d been sooner.
good luck guys. xx
I had been meaning to visit the Blackpool exhibition for quite some time and upon hearing that it was closing, I made the journey from London.
All I can say is “Wow”. The exhibition was absolutely brilliant and it is a real shame that it is being closed down. I have seen three other exhibitions (Earl’s Court, Land’s End and Glasgow) and while they were a lot of fun, seeing everything from prior to the new series was just fantastic. There was a feeling of something special in this exhibition which made my day.
So – what is going to happen to all the exhibitions when it is closed (and incidentally WHY the heck are they closing it?!?) I am really worried that these records will be lost for good. Will the classic series stuff be redistributed into existing exhibitions or sold off? It is important for these memories to be kept alive and it would be sad day indeed if it’s all locked up and can no longer be enjoyed by the fans.
We made what will probably be our last visit to the exhibition with great sadness yesterday. I’ve been 4 times since it opened, and the magic which I felt the first time is never diminished.
I’m not old enough to have visited the first exhibition in Blackpool, and watch the old news clips with envy, wishing I’d been there. Many kids will now grow up feeling like I do about the current exhibition, never having had the chance to go and see what is a spectacular range of props and costumes. Thanks a lot, BBC.
It’s sad that the BBC, who are supposed to be ‘for the people’, are embarrassed and ashamed of a programme that the rest of us have always loved so much. They’re happy to make a fortune off the back of it with their new toys and licences, but not proud enough to feature it on their website or support a venture like this one. I was never as fond of the new stuff as I was of the classic series, and this makes me even less likely to want to tune in.
Going to try and get down for the last day, but depends on finances really. Want to thank everyone for being so friendly to me and my fiance/family yesterday, especially Doctor John. We were the couple who got engaged in the exhibition earlier in the year (THAT’s how much we love it), and I had a really memorable day chatting to everyone. I’m sorry to see it go.
i’ve been going to the blackpool exhibition from the day it opened.david who runs it is so passionate about it.david tennant switched on the lights a couple of years ago which attracted huge crowds.kids nowadays have a real interest in the old series,and i must admit that although the new exhibitions are good in their own way they are not a patch on this friendly blackpool one.to be honest i find the new exhibitions leave me a bit cold and are forgettable after an hour .blackpool exhibition treasured memories forever!thanks to david and all blackpool museum staff for making a warm,welcoming special museum so fantastic and not just another predictable doctor who exhibition
Have I just read right? Are the monsters and props going to be redistributed and exhibited elsewhere or are they are to be auctioned off?
I live in Blackpool and have seen business after business close this year, seeing this large attraction to Blackpool close not due to lack of finance but due to the BBC’s stupidity in believing they no better than the paying public is a disgrace.
This is a disgrace There are no other Museums that have old Doctor who props the people that watched Doctor who in the old day might not like the idea of it so plaease do what you can to save the museum(:
I couldn’t help but wonder what dunderhead is running the BBC these days? I was planning to bring all my friedns down from Liverpool to have a look, and then return and we’d go to see th Cardiff exhibition a couple of days later. Now I can tell you we will do neither. I would not pay ÂŁ7.50 to see the ‘props’ from the new series, considering what you’d see whould only have been on screen for a short period with teh rest CGI. However, i have and would again pay the same amount to go to see the classic series props. What a delight it is to go ’seen that’ when viewing the classics on DVD.
I am only 19, and my first Dr Who was The Sontaran Experiment. I was delighted to get a chance to see Original Series props, rather than the Gold Daleks (what is going on with that?), Deleting cybermen and generally CGI monsters of the new series. If this had happened, and the props dispersed, when the series was cancelled in 1989 I would never have had the delight of enjoying these props.
Shame future generations won’t have the same chance as me!
I think that for the beeb to close down and hide away this part of television history is completely wrong, I visited earlier this year with my family and we had a great day, it was the only reason we went to blackpool.
Good luck to all the Doctor Who staff, I hope you all find good jobs.
Rob
I can’t believe it, I was bringing my son to the museum on November 12th for his birthday, its been planned for months!!!! This is so wrong, who is going to explain to him why he can’t go???
After working for David for many years now and seeing the hard work and dedication he has put into his exhibitions in order to ensure that this huge collections of monsters and props stay together, I was particularly upset to here that they are to be taken from his site and split up. I advise anyone who has the ability to get to the Blackpool Museum before November the 8th (particularly if they have never been before) to pay them a visit before it’s too late.
Again, I have to express my shock at the amount of notice those above have given their loyal fans who reach across the globe, and want to make it perfectly clear that this was not a decision made at the exhibition itself and was as much as a shock to us as it is for you!