#djxix

Um...there's a slightly surreal moment that's just came back to me now I've actually, y'know, had some sleep.

So, before main autographs started this year, it was my job to whip round all the cast and get them to sign the charity items - the various bits and bobs that will improve value by being autographed and therefore raise more money in the raffle ticket sales/auction.

One of the many items that I had to get Chris to sign was a box with a pair of worry balls inside. As I hand it over, he gives me a strange look that I couldn't decipher. "Um...what are these?" he asks me carefully.

Hattie leans over to take a look. "Aren't they those sex balls?" she replies loudly.

Chris's face as he turned back to me with a mixture of bemusement and smirking eyebrow at the prospect of me asking him to sign some sort of sex aid was almost enough to make me totally lose my shit professionally.

I managed to hold it together. Just.

"They're a bit big, but depends on your kink!" I managed to quip. "Or?!" I prompted, "perhaps more likely, they're Chinese Worry Balls - like in Rimmerworld?"

"Ahh...!" Chris said, looking somewhat relieved as he began to sign the box. "Thank God for that..."

I had such a wonderful first experience, I just wish it was more than every two years. I can’t wait for the next one. Although, considering how happy but utterly dead on their feet all of the DJ Staff looked, I can totally appreciate why there is such a huge break between each one!

I was so impressed with all of the guests that attended, they were so generous with their time and completely up for the fun of the weekend. Special mention must go to the main cast though, particularly Chris Barrie, for the sheer dedication to signing everyone’s autographs, posing for numerous pictures and stopping to chat to all of the fans that were there that weekend. I know that the autographs ran over by a VERY considerable way (I was hearing rumours of 9pm from one person!) on the Saturday but most cast members stayed until the bitter end and all were so lovely about it.

Mark Dexter and Stephen Critchlow were particular surprising joys for me. Both were hilarious and very friendly. Mark and Chris’ Q&A was fantastic, they both work very well together and are a great little double act. Robert was so adorable (I’m not sure what it is but I always feel very maternal about Robert Llewelyn, despite the staggering 36 year age difference).

Hattie was again extremely generous with her time and very sweet. She was another person that was signing autographs for an age and never once complained.

Lucie Pohl and Suanne Braun were again, wonderful. Their Q&A consisted mainly of advice and anecdotes about acting and stand up comedy and needless to say, it was brilliantly funny and very inspiring.

And then there’s Danny.

Mad. As. A. Box. Of. Frogs.

But so nice. His Q&A was the most mental, random 45 minutes of my entire life. At one point we were talking about motorbikes and ‘pink helmets 😏’ for about 20 minutes and to this day, I’m still not entirely sure why. One thing we did learn quite conclusively is that you can give him any actor or actress and he will either have worked with them directly or know someone that has. In his own words, he is ‘the King of Six Degrees Of Separation’.

And his signed CD version of Tongue Tied, with the vinyl cover art by the genius that is Colin Howard, caused the most ferocious bidding war I’ve ever seen in the Sunday morning auction. The bidding was between two very competitive people in the room who WOULD NOT GIVE UP. It went on for the best part of 15 minutes and it sold eventually for a colossal £275! Unbelievable!

Oh..and I met a childhood hero of mine, Dave Benson Phillips!!

The weekend was wonderful, a great experience and one that I’m very eager to repeat, if possible.

All that is left to say is THANK YOU to all of the cast and crew of Red Dwarf for being so great when it comes to fan conventions, especially Dimension Jump. And a huge THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH to all of the DJXIX staff and crew who work so hard, so tirelessly for the best part of two years to make each DJ what it is. Every one of you that I spoke to was so welcoming, helpful and professional. And the fact that you do all of this for us - for the love of the show and it’s fans is just phenomenal and awe inspiring.

An absolute pleasure looking after Chris Barrie this afternoon, keeping him in tea, biscuits and grapes!

We had some lovely chats in between attendee signings to keep up the happy momentum. I *might* have teased him that he never wears ANYTHING informal. Chris laughed saying that the only time he wears jeans is when held by gunpoint. By his wife.

He enjoyed my biscuit incentives as it was a LONG haul for autographs. We kept trying to outdo one another with posh pet names - “Tea for you, darling.” “Ah, thank you, dearest.”

When it was time for me to go off shift to get ready to help with the Costume Competition, he genuinely pouted! “But…you were looking after me!” So I asked him for a quick selfie (we both agreed that neither of us are any good with technology!) which he kindly obliged me.