Warm welcome from Siberians for mysterious space visitor

A special film 'The Day of the Doctor' was seen in almost 100 countries including a number of cinemas from the Urals to the Pacific. The simulcast plot involves a Time Lord starring Matt Smith who surfs the centuries in his Tardis spaceship, in reality an old fashioned 'police box', once a familiar sight on British streets. His famous adversaries Daleks and Cybermen featured in the show as did a K-9 robot dog.

We caught up with Siberian fans of the phenomenon at a Novosibirsk party ahead of the screening, which took the audience back to the 16th century as well as into the future. 

Student Maria Yakushkina, 22, who leads a Siberian Doctor Who fan group said: 'Our society has existed for three and half a year, usually attracting about  20 people. But today we're getting many more and in our internet community we have people from other Siberian cities and even the Urals.

'This is a special day, our most significant event. I just couldn't sleep last night with excitement'.

It is rumoured that in the Cold War, a KGB spy told his superiors in Moscow: 'We will never understand the British unless we comprehend why Doctor Who is so popular'. Today it is attracting a new audience, including here in Siberia. 

Psychologist Lyudmila Beloyar, 31, said: 'When I was riding here in the metro today someone shouted to me 'Happy anniversary, doctor!'. It's so nice, that people remember!'

Valentina Kostina, 21, a student, 'It's great we have such event, and an opportunity for us in Siberia to celebrate this with the whole world.'  

Maria issued an invitation to worldwide Dr Who aficionados to come to Siberia, saying it it no longer stuck in the Cold War time warp. 

'Please come here, don't be afraid. You will find people who have much in common with you who understand all about daleks.

'We'll be really happy to meet you.'