Matt Smith 11th Doctor Who waxwork, TARDIS and Companion costumes on display...

True story, the other day I was walking my dog at Runyon Canyon in L.A. and wearing my Doctor Who TARDIS t-shirt and I got saluted and was called a fellow 'Whovian' by a random stranger, but obviously another fan of the show. It really does still amaze me that the Doctor who been so embraced across the Atlantic, which shouldn't really surprise at all as he can travel through all time and space.

11th Doctor Who waxwork, TARDIS and Companion costumes

 at the Doctor Who Experience in Wales

So imagine my delight when I was recently visiting my home country of Wales and I took a trip to the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay, across from where they film the BBC sci-fi show which is fast approaching its 50th anniversary.

In addition to a fantastic interactive walk-through experience, there's a veritable treasure trove of costumes, props and sets from the very latest episodes, to infamous monsters and creatures from yesteryear. It really is well done and I spent hours walking around and around taking literally hundreds of photos of all the fantastic exhibits.

Matt Smith Doctor waxwork and TARDIS

Doctor Who is a brilliant concept (and a British institution), an alien time and space traveller who has two hearts and can regenerate into a totally new personality (and actor), plus who travels with 'Companions' to share his otherworldly adventures. 

I grew up watching it as a kids teatime show, when you really did feel like hiding behind the sofa because of the likes of the Daleks and Cybermen, through the Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy eras (plus watching re-runs of Jon Pertwee).

Recent revelations suggest that Matt Smith's 'Doctor' may not necessarily be the eleventh version of the Time Lord that we thought, but only time will tell.

The news that Matt Smith intends to leave after this year's 50th anniversary celebrations and Christmas 2013 special is no surprise after four years playing the role, but I've grown to love his slightly kooky and eccentric bow-tie (and occasional fez) wearing Doctor. That's why it was such a thrill to see this youthful waxwork of him dressed in his tweed jacket and braces beside his very own original T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time and Relative Dimension in Space).

Just as the Doctor can regenerate, so too can his unique and iconic time machine and spacecraft. Following its violent crash-landing in Amy Pond's garden in Leadworth, the TARDIS reconstructed and repaired itself to look much more like a real 1960's-style London Police Telephone Box, with white window frames, midnight blue paintwork and a St. John Ambulance emblem, just like the blue box we saw at the beginning of the TV series in 1963 (even though it was televised in black and white).

Original Amy Pond costumes from Doctor Who series 5

Not only did the fifth season of Russell T. Davis resurrected Doctor Who show introduce us to Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor, but it also is famous for the debut of his red-haired feisty new Companion 'Amy Pond', played by Karen Gillan (plus when Steven Moffat took the reins of the BBC show).

Amy Pond first met the Doctor after he crashed in her garden in the episode 'The Girl Who Waited' when she was seven years old and was played by Caitlin Blackwood (Karen Gillan's real-life cousin). Telling her he'd be back, the Doctor didn't return for another twelve years to find that young 'Amelia' had all grown up and and thought of him as her imaginary friend, the 'Raggedy Doctor'.

Amy Pond costume worn by Karen Gillan in Doctor Who

These costumes worn by both actresses to play Amy Pond were photographed on display at the Doctor Who Experience on May 20, 2013, alongside one of the outfits worn by Amy's boyfriend and eventual husband 'Rory Williams', or 'Mr. Pond' as the Doctor like to refer to him.

Rory Williams costume worn by Arthur Darvill in Doctor Who

If you ever get the chance to visit this fantastic exhibition, you should really take the opportunity. I can't recommend it enough and can't wait to return on my next visit home to the U.K., especially as it's a constantly evolving display which has classic memorabilia from all of the Time Lord's incarnations, but also features items from the newest Doctor Who episodes. My advice, book an early time slot to avoid the hordes of screaming school children for your chance to appreciate the costumes and props in relative peace and quiet.

Plus if you're a Matt Smith fan, be sure to check out these Doctor Who billboards from around L.A.

Be sure to stick around in the days to come for even more out of this world treasures from the Doctor Who Experience.

Mr. Bean's Holiday Mini movie car on display...

I've spotted Mr. Bean's Mini on display on the Universal Studios Backlot Tour in the past, but whilst there are areas under construction at the Hollywood theme park they've rolled out a few familiar movie cars to help create the perfect photo opportunity (like the Fast & Furious 6 movie cars).

British Leyland Mini picture car from Mr. Bean's Holiday on display

This yellow and black Mini featured in the 2007 sequel for Rowan Atkinson's bumbling British character who hardly ever speaks, Mr. Bean's Holiday, was snapped in the Upper Lot on May 7, 2013.

Personally Mr. Bean is not my cup of tea and I'm much more of a Blackadder sitcom fan, but it's always cool to see cars that have been featured in movies.

If you are a fan of the comedy character, be sure to also check out Rowan Atkinson's Mr. Bean movie costume on display at the London Film Museum.

Mr. Bean's Holiday movie poster

Fast Times at Ridgemont High cheerleader uniform on display...

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is another of those classic American coming-of-age teen comedies from the 80's (1982 to be precise), based on Cameron Crowe's book of the same name.

Cheerleader uniform worn by Kelli Maroney

as Cindy Carr in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

The movie follows the lives of several students over the course of an academic year at the fictitious Ridgemont High in Southern California, played by the likes of Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates.

Marilyn Vance was Costume Designer on the film and this cheerleading costume worn by Kelli Maroney as 'Cindy Carr' was photographed on display within the NBC Universal Experience attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 7, 2013.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High movie poster

If you like this movie costume, be sure to also check out Hayden Panettiere's cheerleader uniform from TV's Heroes series.

Eminem 8 Mile movie costume on display...

In 2002 real-life rapper Eminem starred in the hip-hop movie 8 Mile, as a young white Detroit rapper struggling with his life and to launch a rap career in a genre dominated by African American artists.

Costume worn by Eminem as Jimmy 'B-Rabbit' Smith, Jr. in 8 Mile

Mark Bridges was Costume Designer on 8 Mile and here's one of the outfits Eminem wore in the movie, described as a rap battle costume in this exhibit at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 7, 2013.

As well playing the lead character, Eminem also won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Lose Yourself', the first ever rap song to win this highly coveted Oscar.

8 Mile movie poster

Will Ferrell's costume and soccer trophy from Kicking & Screaming on display...

With Will Ferrell reprising his role as 'Ron Burgundy' in Anchorman 2 later this year and my favourite Christmas movie being Elf, I thought I'd share this fun costume and prop from one of his lesser known movies, 2005's Kicking & Screaming.

Original coach tracksuit and whistle worn by 

Will Ferrell in Kicking & Screaming

In the movie Will Ferrell plays family man 'Phil Weston', who takes on the responsibility for coaching his son's little-league soccer team and finds his father's highly competitive nature has been passed on to him, making him mean and obnoxious to kids and parents alike.

Kicking & Screaming movie poster

Pamela Withers was Costume Designer of this blue tiger-striped coaches tracksuit worn by the funny guy, which was photographed on display along with the soccer trophy prop from the comedy, at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 7, 2013.

Soccer trophy prop from Kicking & Screaming

If you're a Will Ferrell fan, be sure to also check out these original props and masks from the 2009 Land of the Lost movie remake he also starred in.

Erykah Badu's costume from Blues Brothers 2000 on display...

Lightening doesn't always strike twice, especially in the case of sequels. Granted there are exceptions, like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and X-Men 2, but sadly the same cannot be said for 1998's Blues Brothers 2000, which paled in comparison to the 1980 cult hit.

Original costume worn by Erykah Badu in Blues Brothers 2000

In the movie Neo-Soul singer Erykah Badu plays 'Queen Mousette' and this is one of the costumes she wore. Designed by Deborah Nadoolman, this outfit was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 7, 2013.

Blues Brothers 2000 movie poster

If you like this colourful outfit, be sure to check out these costumes and props from The Blues Brothers original movie, including costumes worn by John Candy and James Brown.

Queen Mousette costume detail from Blues Brothers 2000 on display

Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx White House Down costumes on display...

New dad Channing Tatum continues to have another great year, and this Summer sees him go all Die Hard in his new Washington D.C. under siege action movie, White House Down.

Original movie costumes featured in White House Down

Lisy Christl is Costume Designer on the film and this display for Roland Emmerich's explosive new action-thriller was photographed within ArcLight Hollywood's cinema foyer on June 16, 2013.

White House Down movie billboard

Channing Tatum's U.S. Capitol Police Officer 'John Cale' has just been interviewed and denied his dream job of joining the Secret Service when the White House comes under attack by a heavily-armed paramilitary group. Not only must he rescue Jamie Foxx's 'U.S. President James Sawyer', but he also has to keep his daughter safe from the terrorists too.

Original costume worn by Channing Tatum 

as John Cale in White House Down 

In addition to Channing Tatum's blood-stained, bullet-ridden vest, you'll also notice the unorthodox sneakers worn by Jamie Foxx's President, no doubt all the better for running from the White House invaders.

If you're a fan of the actor, be sure to also take a look at Channing Tatum's Roman Centurion costumes from The Eagle on display.

Suit worn by Jamie Foxx as 

U.S. President James Sawyer in White House Down

Only time will tell if White House Down can beat this Spring's similarly themed Olympus Has Fallen, starring Gerard Butler, at the box office.

White House Down movie billboard