Comic Con 2023: Hundreds flocked to Guildhall for first day of event where Doctor Who stars Peter Davison and Colin Baker make appearance

Day one of Comic Con has been a success as hundreds pour into the city centre for the popular event.
By Sophie Lewis
Published 3rd Jun 2023, 16:15 BST
Updated 3rd Jun 2023, 18:50 BST
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The first day of the event has left ticket holders eager for more following a jam packed day of activities and guest talks.

The venue has been completely transformed for the two day event and there is an endless amount of things to do with each floor of the Guildhall hosting something different.

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The Joker Squad are the creators of the popular Star Wars experience area which has had large groups of people visiting all day.

Comic Con 2023 - The Joker Squad created the Star Wars experience at Portsmouth's Comic Con and Jason and Petria have been walking around the venue as characters from the film series. Pictured: Jason Roe (left) and Petria Roe dressed as a Wookie (right)Comic Con 2023 - The Joker Squad created the Star Wars experience at Portsmouth's Comic Con and Jason and Petria have been walking around the venue as characters from the film series. Pictured: Jason Roe (left) and Petria Roe dressed as a Wookie (right)
Comic Con 2023 - The Joker Squad created the Star Wars experience at Portsmouth's Comic Con and Jason and Petria have been walking around the venue as characters from the film series. Pictured: Jason Roe (left) and Petria Roe dressed as a Wookie (right)

The experience has a number of the characters from the famous film franchise and at approximately 12noon today there was a Star Wars parade consisting of Chewbacca, Stormtroopers and more.

Prop makers within the team, Jason and Petria Roe have been sporting their Wookie costumes today and they said that they are excited to be at the event.

Jason said: ‘This is the highlight of the year, we do other festivals but this is our third year here and it is amazing. We are grateful to do what we enjoy and raise money for charity.

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‘I have loved Star Wars since I was a child so since 1977 and I started the costumes about four or five years ago and I just caught the bug.’

Comic Con 2023 - Pictured: Ian Flowers (left0 as Hagrid from Harry Potter and Claire Finnimore dressed as Professor Sprout.Comic Con 2023 - Pictured: Ian Flowers (left0 as Hagrid from Harry Potter and Claire Finnimore dressed as Professor Sprout.
Comic Con 2023 - Pictured: Ian Flowers (left0 as Hagrid from Harry Potter and Claire Finnimore dressed as Professor Sprout.

SEE ALSO: Comic Con 2023: Here are 28 photos of day 1 at Comic Con in Portsmouth

From the Doctor Who experience which features the Daleks and celebrity guests, to the games corner where people can take a break from exploring and settle down with a board game, there is something for everyone.

Sporting his best clothes was Ian Flowers who went dressed as Hagrid and the seven foot Gosport man was stopping people in their tracks due to his uncanny resemblance to Robbie Coltrane in the films.

Claire Finnimore, Ian’s friend, handmade the outfit which took days to create and they have been the talk of the Comic Con town today.

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Ian said: ‘We had to test run the outfit so we went to the Harry Potter Studio Tour with it and we were getting stopped all the way round with people asking for photos.

‘It is a brilliant event, we came last year and we bought the early bird tickets when they came out for this year.’

To find out more about Comic Con Portsmouth, click here.