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SINCE its return to tea time on Saturday’s after an absence of 15 years, the BBC series “DOCTOR WHO” has blasted all would be rivals into a black hole with an average of 8.3 million viewers every week! For the first time in years, families are actually sitting down, from the youngest tot, to Mum, Dad and Granny,to watch the new series unfold on TV. It’s once again the highest rated TV programme, only beaten by Coronation Street and soaps.

This popularity is becoming centred on the South West. With the series itself now filmed at BBC Cardiff, and on location across the area, it’s also become the focus to celebrate the series long history. Did you know it’s the longest running sci-fi series on the world, beating Star trek by several years, its very first episode going out on a misty November evening in 1963!

This June, Wookey Hole Caves, Europe’s largest cave system and one of the countries top tourist destinations, plays host to “DOCTOR WHO WEEKEND” featuring a host of the original stars from the classic BBC Series.

On Saturday 18th June at 10am - the day of the BBC screening the final episode of the current series - sees companions and monsters alike descend on the Wookey Hole to enjoy a family day out, with opportunities to have your photographs taken with the actors, the wander the grounds and find yourself face to face with the dreaded Daleks or imposing Cybermen. Or how about the Sea Devils, strange lizards that emerged form sea and crawled up the beach to fight Jon Pertwee’s Doctor? The dreaded Autons, shop window dummies that come to life…The Master, in black cape, chuckling away.

For Wookey it’s also an anniversary to celebrate it’s association with the series itself. Not only do the grounds and wonderful entertainments of the locations make it an ideal place to meet the Doctor and his greatest enemies, but it’s also exactly 30 years ago that the BBC filmed at the caves in the Tom Baker story “Revenge of the Cybermen”.

Confirmed to appear include some of the series most popular characters from its history, including the SIXTH DOCTOR himself, actor COLIN BAKER, on hand to save the universe. He will be joined by a face recognisable not only to Dr.Who fans but also Eastenders,Tenko and Bergerac. Actress LOUISE JAMESON who played the most popular companion of all time LEELA, dressed in animal skins and brandishing her trusty hunting knife often found the roles reversed and instead of screaming to be rescued by the Doctor, often found herself saving the him, in all time classic stories like Talons of Weng-Chiang and Robots of Death.

Colin and Louise will be joined by companions and guest characters from across the entire history, with WENDY PADBURY ( Zoe) DEBORAH WATLING (Victoria) SARAH SUTTON (Peter Davison’s companion Nyssa) ANNEKE WILLS (Polly). NICK COURTNEY (the Brigadier). Other stars include MICHAEL JAYSTON (the Valeyard), BERNARD HORSFALL (Chancellor Goth), DEE SADLER (Flowerchild) and DAVID WARWICK (Kimus). For autograph collectors, all the actors have exclusive prints that can be bought, or the photo studio where you can pose with the actors themselves and the trusty TARDIS, or you may even find yourself in the right place to find a Dalek stopping for a cool Mint Choc Smoothie from the Smoothie Bar!

Tickets are available on the day from Wookey Hole, and everybody is hoping that with fine weather, there will be something for all the family. Wookey itself has endless delights tucked in every corner, and with this years spectacular Dinosaur Valley where the actors will be signing autographs and meeting fans during the weekend, as well a merchandise rooms where you can buy everything from the latest DVD, to t-shirts and even a Dalek!

Ticket price for DOCTOR WHO WEEKEND doesn’t just give you entry to the stars themselves, included in the ticket price (Adults £15/Children (4-14yrs) £10) also entitles you to ALL the other attractions of WOOKEY HOLE including tour of the caves, the mirror maze, the paper mill, Victorian amusement arcade, valley of dinosaurs. With on site café’s, refreshments, restaurants and picnic areas, you can tailor make your day out and become part of the new buzz sweeping the country, where the very cry “EX-TER-MIN-ATE” makes the kids dive behind the corner and await the arrival of the Daleks. But don’t be afraid, with the Doctor on hand, and his companions in tow, you couldn’t be in safer hands.

And if you return for a second day to see who’s there and bring your stamped ticket with you, then both adults and children will receive a discount.

Tickets are available on either Saturday or Sunday from the Wookey Hole Ticket Office. Or you can book by Credit Card in advance via Wookey Hole, on (01749) 672243, and more information including timetables and who is appearing on which day are available through www.wookey.co.uk or www.doc-who.com