I love you, my dalek

LIZ WILLIS

Doctor Who fan Paul Scoones met his wife through his obsession with the world's longest-running sci-fi series – and now makes a living from it.

He's the New Zealand fan club president of the series and is paid to write information subtitles for Dr Who DVDs.

Mr Scoones came to the attention of the BBC through his club magazine.

Watching old Doctor Who episodes and researching them now helps pay the bills.

He has also been commissioned to write two books on the long-running Doctor Who comic.

Daleks and Doctors entered the Takapuna resident's life when he was six.

"Though terrified, I always wanted to watch it," Mr Scoones says.

"Most kids had a thing of daring themselves to watch," he says.

He'd started collecting memorabilia by 11 and the only Doctor Who-free zone in his house is the lounge.

Marrying a fellow Doctor Who fan didn't help.

Wife Rochelle's collection and sci-fi collectibles business competes for space.

The popularity of Doctor Who with a new generation helps them make a living.

Mr Scoones says the show is unique because you can change the entire cast, and people will still watch it. Peter Davison is his favourite out of the 11 Doctors for his understated nature and sly sense of humour.

The show kicked off in 1963 but skipped a generation when it went off air for about 15 years from 1989. It was initially loved for its creative, low-budget special effects but the Doctor's travels are now very high tech.

"Like any fans there is disagreement about whether it's good or bad. The majority of them have embraced it."

The doctor also became a sex symbol with the arrival of David Tennant attracting many female fans.

Rochelle Scoones was only one of two female fans when she joined the New Zealand club. Now the majority of fans are women.

Most fans were either single men or men whose partners couldn't stand the show in the club's early days.

Mr Scoones is delighted at the broader popularity of the series and says his young nephews enjoy old episodes right back to the beginning.

But for ardent fans like Mr Scoones there is sadness that there will forever be gaps in their Doctor Who collection. That's because the BBC destroyed many earlier episodes because the recordings posed a fire risk.

A number have been returned to the BBC, including a New Zealand print Mr Scoones tracked down.

Go to www.doctorwho.org.nz to join the New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club.

DR WHO GIVEAWAY

The North Shore Times has a tardis cookie jar to give away thanks to Retrospace Sci-Fi Collectibles.

Put your name and address on the back of an envelope and sent it to: Dr Who giveaway, North Shore Times, PO Box 33-235, Takapuna. One entry per person.

Entries close at 10am on February 18

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