Doctor Who: Doncaster superfan to reunite actor Tom Baker with K9 sidekick

City actor Ricky Butler, who has created a stack of props from the long-running BBC television series including Daleks and his very own TARDIS – the Doctor’s police box time travel machine – is planning to travel to the 91-year-old actor’s home in Kent with his model K9, which featured alongside the star in a string of adventures.

Due to ill health, Ricky is giving up his collection of self-built props and wants the veteran actor to be reunited with the silver metallic dog character which became a fan favourite in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Said Ricky: “Taking my TV and film props to charity events is getting too much for me.

"I decided to let my props go - believe me, it was a really hard decision to make."

As well as K9 and the TARDIS, Ricky has also created Daleks and a working replica of the Davros chair – the transportation device used by the Doctor’s nemesis in the show.

And as a Star Wars fan, he has also created an X-wing fighter jet and popular robot R2D2.

He said: “I am recovering well from my second stroke earlier this year.

"The second one was worse than the first and a third may take me out. I’m proud of my 50 years in entertainment and charity fundraising.”

With pal on YouTuber Mani Singh, Ricky is currently planning a 400 mile round trip to Kent to reunite Tom Baker, who played the fourth Doctor Who with his old sidekick K9 as well as his nemesis Davros.

"Tom was always my favourite doctor.”

“I just want him to see the props I built. I have been a Doctor Who fan all my life.

He said: “I was eight years old when the first episode aired with William Hartnell and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Hartnell played the very first Doctor when the show first aired in November 1963 and Ncuti Gatwa is the 15th incarnation of the time travelling hero who has delighted and terrified generations of children in equal measue.

Ricky began his sci-fi building projects after suffering a stroke during the pandemic lockdown.

He has spent more than 50 years working in TV and film and rubbing shoulders with the stars. Ricky, who lives in Askern, launched his career in the early 1970s as Ricky Stardust, DJ and entertainer, and was one of the first DJs working the night clubs of Yorkshire and Lancashire, then Spain and the south of France, touring with the Sweet, Mud, the Glitter Band, Billy Fury, Freddie and the Dreamers, Black Lace and many more.

During his career, he became friends with comedian Bob Monkhouse as well as big names in entertainment such as Ken Dodd, Lulu and Cilla Black.