Proposal as Tardis leaves city
DEVOTED Whovians Daniel Green and Annabel Hobbs marked the end of the Doctor Who Experience – with a marriage proposal inside the Tardis.
The Cardiff Bay attraction closed its doors for the final time on Saturday.
The popular sci-fi attraction, which has been a huge tourist magnet during the past five years, is bowing out because its sub-lease from Cardiff council is drawing to an end.
Tickets sold out for the last day of opening, with fans of the hit BBC television show taking part in a host of activities – including interactive exhibitions and hiding from Weeping Angels.
Fans from around the UK have expressed sadness at the closure – but couple Daniel and Annabel, from Essex, marked the occasion in their own special way.
Daniel asked his Doctor Whoobsessed girlfriend of three years, Annabel, to marry him inside the famous police box.
Annabel, 24, said: “I am over the moon. I am still really surprised. What has made it so emotional is the fact that the exhibition is closing today.
“This is definitely the top place that he could have proposed to me. He has done a good job.”
The couple travelled to see the exhibition for the first time in October 2016, after Annabel successfully managed to “bully” Daniel into going along with her.
“I wasn’t a big fan of the show before,” Daniel, 26, explained.
“But seeing all of the props got me much more excited about it and now I enjoy it.
“The proposal has been planned for a long time and it has been so hard to keep it a secret, but I am relieved that she said yes and loves the ring.
“She’s very passionate about Doctor Who – that’s how I would describe it! She would like to think she’s an expert.”
So is a Doctor Who wedding now on the cards?
Annabel said: “We have had brief discussions about having some Doctor Who inspired decorations – but I don’t think I could convince Daniel to wear the attire!”
Other visitors came away from the experience feeling disappointed at the site’s closure.
One Twitter user, Sarah-Jane Pealing, wrote: “This breaks my heart. I came to the Doctor Who Experience] regularly, especially since I’ve based my Costume A-level on Dr Who. Devastated.”
Louise Burch added: “We loved the Dr Who Experience in Cardiff! Great exhibition with so much to see. Hope it finds a new home soon.”
Another user reached out to Cardiff council for an explanation.
He wrote: “@CardiffCouncil closing the Dr Who experience will be good for your tourism. Way to go. #sarcasm”.
A BBC spokesman said: “News of how we are planning further ways of taking Doctor Who directly to our audience, and how we are using the filming locations to continue the commercial presence of Doctor Who in Cardiff, will be communicated in due course.”