Record-breaking Timelord to stay

A RECORD-breaking sci-fi exhibition featuring some of Doctor Who's most fearsome adversaries has proved such a hit it is to remain in Manchester until next year.More than 180,000 fans of the travelling Timelord have already come face to face with the Cybermen, Daleks and other favourites in the Doctor Who Up Close exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry on Liverpool Road.And seven months after it opened, interest in the collection of props, costumes and monsters from the hit BBC series shows no sign of waning. Now bosses at the museum have decided to extend the exhibition's stay. Instead of closing on November 5, it will continue until January 6."We have had 180,000 visitors to the exhibition, making it the most successful we have ever had," said museum spokeswoman Sarah Roe.Among the highlights of the exhibition is the massive spider-like Empress of Racnoss, which was the focus of the Christmas Day episode last year.Dalek And for those who are brave enough there is the chance to step inside a Dalek - to see what a Dalek sees and give your own voice the chilling tone of the Doctor's arch enemy.The exhibition's opening coincided with screening of the latest Dr Who series. Further costumes and props have been added to the collection as they appeared on TV - making what was already the biggest Doctor Who exhibition even bigger.Ms Roe says children and adults fascinated by the magic of the TV series have flocked to see the show. But many visitors have then stayed in the museum or returned later to see the other exhibitions and broaden their understanding of science.And while the exhibition may not focus on scientific principles behind the Doctor's time-travelling adventures, Ms Roe believes it could inspire the scientists of the future."A lot of people have been inspired through science fiction. Our own director has said he was inspired to go into astronomy having watched science fiction," she said. Further details are available at msim.org.uk or doctorwhoexhibitions.com.