Actors Will Mellor and Chris Barrie will be among the celebrity guests at a Newcastle Comic-Con at St James' Park in June, it has been announced.
The family event, which promises a celebration of all things geeky, will feature a bigger than ever convention spread over two floors of the football stadium with everything from retro gaming to display sets and dinosaurs. And highlights of the June 18 pop-culture showcase are to be special appearances by a host of TV and film stars who will be available for chats and to sign memorabilia.
Among the star actors will be TV regulars Mellor, best known for Hollyoaks and his Strictly Come Dancing appearance, and Chris Barrie from sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf and sitcom The Brittas Empire as well as the Tomb Raider franchise films, which saw him play Lara Croft’s butler. Others are Angus McInnes - who took the role of Gold Leader fighter pilot Dutch in Star Wars and is currently in the soap River City - and North East talent Diane Youdale who was Jet in TV series Gladiators.
The Comic-Con host Lindsey Jordan, who is also local, says there will be plenty prime photo opportunities for people who can pose, for instance, with Transformers characters Bumblebee or Optimus Prime, or alongside Star Wars cosplay troop Mos Eisley Misfits or even at the door of hobbit Bilbo Baggins' home in The Shire. Lindsey said: “Newcastle Comic-Con is extra special for me as this is my home town.
"And it is great to see the local people merging the worlds of superheroes, villains, sci-fi, anime and fantasy together under one roof." Fans are being encouraged to don their best cosplay outfits to enter into the community spirit of what she says will be a great day out.
There will be prizes to be won at a costume masquerade and other attractions will include Star Wars activities and games; model displays; animation artists and authors plus more than 80 stalls selling the likes of comic books, toys, original art and collectibles ranging from My Little Pony to Thor’s Stormbreaker. The event will run on June 18 from 11am until 5pm.
Tickets will be available on the door costing £10 and £5 for children (cash only) while advance tickets are available online which allow early entry at 10am. These can be bought here for £12 for adults and £6 for under-16s, with a single £2.95 booking and postage fee to be added at check-out.
The event is expected to prove hugely popular. Comic-Cons have developed a cult following ever since they began in the US in the 1960s and they now span all genres including superheroes, anime, manga, horror, gaming and Disney. Newcastle Comic-Con follows on from the city's recent popular Comic Con North East at Utilita Arena.
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