Having been brought up in South Africa without television, I could not help feeling somehow deprived of what is a cultural bedrock of the UK.

The region's first Dr Who Convention, held in Newcastle at the weekend, attracted hundreds of people. So, I thought, there had to be something in it.

Eyebrows did raise at my complete ignorance, but everyone was happy to enlighten me.

Aside from the "anoraks" I had been warned about, most enthusiasts represented a cross-section of professionals, primed with articulate defences of their passion.

After 20 minutes trundling around inside a cramped Dalek, the sweating 6ft frame of literature student Samuel Payne, 19, from Leeds, emerged to wax lyrical.

"It has touched many generations, endearing itself to children and parents alike," he said.

"When you grow up with something you keep an emotional attachment to it."

Andy Shaw, 38, from Merseyside, has also fallen for the "compelling, strange and sinister" Daleks.

For the past six years he has painstakingly constructing an array of radio-operated Daleks.

Next, I met former Dr Who Colin Baker, who was also happy to broaden my knowledge of the Time Lord.

He also poured scorn on those who belittle the programme or its fans.

I left, determined to get some Dr Who books to help me catch up on my education.