Brendan Sheppard, 49, has spent £30,000 building a full-scale replica of the 1983 Doctor Who Tardis console room in his rear garden in South Kyme, Lincolnshire. The massive 10m by 5m Tardis sits within a specially constructed studio behind his property and has welcomed visitors.
Two-year project with skilled craftspeople
With help from a group of skilled craftspeople, Sheppard spent two years recreating the Time Lord's command centre, complete with its illuminated displays and time rotor. He commissioned a full-scale police box from prop manufacturer Simon Nash five years previously. They worked closely with the original designer and BBC production team, taking precise measurements and sourcing authentic panels and fibreglass moulds. Trainee carpenters assisted in constructing the walls and pillars. Electronics expert Darryl Harrison recreated the lights, controls and time rotor, dedicating three months to analysing vintage episodes frame by frame to ensure every flash occurred in the correct sequence.
'Joy is the theme'
On finishing the project, Sheppard said: "I was quite emotional - a bit teary-eyed. The sound, the look, being able to flick buttons. I was really overwhelmed and emotional. Joy is the theme that has run through this whole project. It's like bringing my childhood to life."
Open to the public
Sheppard initially contemplated using the Tardis as his workspace before deciding to open it to the public. "I realised that I couldn't keep it to myself - I wanted to open it to the public," he explained. Guests can step through the police box for a 20-minute immersive experience featuring Peter Davison, challenges and recognisable allies and adversaries. The £20 experience launched at the start of July and has already reached capacity for this month and next, with reservations being accepted for the following year.
Emotional reactions
Sheppard noted: "People are telling us it has been a childhood dream to walk through those doors. One guy was quite teary when he visited." Sophie Aldred, who portrayed Ace alongside Sylvester McCoy's Seventh Doctor, formally launched it while wearing her character's iconic black bomber jacket. Sheppard remarked: "It meant so much to have the last Doctor Who companion who worked on that set see the finished product."
Cost and challenges
He revealed the construction set him back between £30,000 and £40,000, with the roundels and gleaming time rotor amongst the priciest components. However, one of the tiniest features became his greatest challenge: the curved door handle. After even considering cutting up a basketball hoop, Sheppard purchased copper piping from Screwfix and connected with a fellow Whovian who shaped it around a bollard. He explained: "It was probably the simplest sounding thing that proved the hardest part."
Reflections on the project
When asked what his younger self would make of it, the Belfast-born enthusiast said: "I think the younger me would have wet himself. You probably wouldn't see him for three days - he'd be in the Tardis." His creation has launched just as Doctor Who faces another transformation behind the cameras. Showrunner Russell T Davies has departed, the 2026 Christmas special has been cancelled and production is being put out to tender. When asked what he hopes to witness from the programme moving forward, Sheppard quipped: "I'll take it on. I think Doctor Who will outlive us all."
