Fans flock to The Asylum for Supernatural event

Nicola Entwistle an office worker from Rotherham and Tony Bufton, who works in insolvency and comes from South Shropshire are convention veterans.
He has been attending sci-fi and fantasy conventions since '98 and Nicola since 2000.
Tony and Nicola scored points for in-jokery in adapting their T-shirts, Nicola stealing the Save The Cheerleader, Save the World catchphrase from Heroes (the irony is surely not lost that Jensen used to be on the cheer squad in school), while Tony wore a T-shirt from the Winchester pub, favourite haunt of Britain's own answer to the brothers ­- the zombie-fighting regulars of Shaun of the Dead.
"I like the show because it taps into the same things as the X Files and Kolchak in the 70s," said Tony.
"It's the monster of the week, stuff we were scared of as kids."
"They've have also brought in Norse mythology and American Indian mythology," says Nicola. "A lot of the reason we come is to catch up with friends. It's a weekend away going to meet your heroes in the flesh."
"You have to respect their wishes," said Nicola, referring to an organiser request not to touch the stars, reportedly because of worried over swine flu. "This convention has been horrendous for screaming fan girls. The MC had to ask people to stand back and not mob them. This is the most female dominated event we've been to, although Nathan Fillion did get mobbed at Buffy."

Carole Nightingale and Cez Jackson, a mother and daughter from south London and self-confessed Supernatural freaks, were ready to share stories of close encounters of the paranormal kind.

"We like anything a bit dark and spooky," said Carole. "I lived most of my childhood across from a cemetery. I have seen ghosts and poltergeist activity in our flat, furniture being moved around. The flats themselves aren't old buildings but we have learned there used to be a mansion here and what is now our garden used to be the burial plot
"From stories we have heard it is all kids, aged about five and six," says Cez, "So we know it is all harmless fun."

Cez, who makes costumes inspired by manga and anime was carrying her doll Renesme with her.

"She is very precious to me. I have bonded with her like she is my daughter. She is a bit of a Dean-lover so I said 'okay, I'll take you to the convention'."

John Hutchinson, a civil servant from Leeds was one of the few men amongst a sea of female fans attending Asylum 3.

A convention regular who has been to all three Supernatural events, he has also been to ones for Smallville, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Gossip Girl

"I usually go round with a group of people, there are quite a lot more people here than I expected.

"I like the action in Supernatural and the fact that it is different from most other shows on the air.
"It is a good escape from Britain's Got Talent.
"The acting is great and it is the sort of show the Americans do very well British TV doesn't."

Further event info: http://www.rogueevent.co.uk/asylum/venue.html