Ahead of the return of Dr Who on BBC One on Saturday night, West Briton reporter Esmé Ashcroft went to Gorton Studio in Falmouth for a demonic makeover
I am a huge Doctor Who geek, so I was as happy as a Dalek who had found access to a lift when prosthetics extraordinaire Neill Gorton, of Gorton Studio, asked if I would like to come in for a makeover.
Since the re-launch of Doctor Who nine years ago Neill has been the BBC's go-to man for the show and helps to make all of its best-loved characters come to life.
Based in Falmouth, the studio, which looks completely unassuming from the outside, hides a treasure trove of costumes, make-up pallets and (fake) body parts.
When you walk in you are greeted by a wall covered in the head casts of some of Neill's most famous clients, which include Lady Gaga, Stephen Fry, Arnold Schwarzenegger and One Direction.
I can now say with conviction that there is nothing more sinister than having the blank faces of Ant and Dec follow you around a room.
Unsure of what to expect, I was shown to the studio in which Neill and manager Danny Marie Elias develop their ideas and teach courses to budding make-up artists.
The room, completely whitewashed with a dozen or so mirrors running parallel down the walls, was empty save for a foldout chair with a camera pointed at it, a table of flaccid alien parts, a wig and a strange smell of new shoes.
If I am honest it reminded me of a scene from The Killing.
But the eerie feel was soon dissipated when Danny, a petite blonde from Wales, breezed in and started opening windows.
"Sorry," she said striding across the room, "it's hard to get the smell of rubber out of the studio when you are up here all day working with the prosthetics."
I nodded as if I understood completely and took my seat.
In all the make-up took three hours to apply, and it was fantastic.
With the help of a miscellaneous monster arm I was transformed into a terrifying creature that would have anyone hiding behind the sofa.
Silicon
Danny started by attaching the silicon prosthetics to my face.
Cool and bouncy to the touch, the individual pieces felt like raw chicken breasts and looked alarmingly flesh-like.
Despite the mirrors I was unable to see what was happening to my face, but the specialist glue created a strong medical smell and the slight additional weight of each piece assured me that my transformation was going to be a dramatic one.
Originally hoping to become an actress, Danny chatted to me while she worked.
After deciding she preferred making costumes and preparing make-up to acting the 27-year-old turned her attention to prosthetics and became manager of Gorton Studio in January.
Like her employer she has had many famous faces in her chair and even worked on BBC One's Sherlock.
Slightly awe-struck, I asked: "Oh my goodness, what does Benedict Cumberbatch's face feel like?"
She laughed: "He is a lovely guy who really loves his fans, and Martin Freeman [who plays Dr Watson] is hilarious. They are both such nice people."
After the alien parts were firmly stuck to my skin, Danny pinned back my hair and carefully attached a wig.
"Don't worry, everyone finds it strange the first time they look at themselves with this all on," she added.
Next came the make-up, which was expertly applied in to every bubbly crack and crevice.
Intergalactic
"Brilliant," Danny said as she took a step back, "you look like a 1940s' professional alien out to do some intergalactic business," she giggled.
In almost an inverted version of an American makeover show, I peeked in the mirror for the big reveal.
It was both incredible and surreal to look at myself and see someone completely different, but I loved it.
The amount of skill in which Danny had applied everything made my face look both life-like and alien at the same time.
I could still talk and form expressions, but I looked totally alien.
"Right, time for a cup of tea," Danny said, and after a very odd coffee break and a few pictures, the afternoon's work was swept of my face.
"It is such a shame after all this effort," I told Danny.
"I know, but it is lovely to be able to come to work and do this. Don't get me wrong, there can be some long days and late nights, but this really is the best job in the world."
And after just a few hours with her, I am inclined to agree.
