McGann wows crowds

Eighth Doctor US convention debut.

Paul McGann flew into the Gallifrey One convention this weekend, making hundreds of new best friends.

It's only the second time the notoriously reserved McGann has made a convention appearance, and his American fans were bowled over by the actor's relaxed, frank and winning manner.

Claiming he's had an "epiphany" about conventions McGann sat in on three panels, chatting about his work with Big Finish, BBCi, and on the TV Movie.

He was joined on stage for one panel by Philip Segal (producer of the TV Movie) and co-stars Sylvester McCoy and Yee Jee Tso.

McGann discussed at length his hatred of the wig (What Segal referred to as "A ten thousand dollar problem"), while Segal talked frankly about the difficulties of working with Eric Roberts ("he was in a bad place at the time"), and revealed that the TARDIS set has vanished from storage ("probably on E-bay," muttered McGann).

Fans of McGann will be disappointed to hear there may well not be any more Hornblower movies, much to the actor's distress ("I was looking forward to losing a leg and getting a ship of my own....").

McGann also talked about his continuing friendship with "Richard E Can't", and announced that this wouldn't be his last convention.