It's just what the Doctor ordered

For him, it couldn't come soon enough – the 32-year-old from Leith has rarely missed an episode of his favourite programme since he started watching it as a child.

The special interactive Easter event in Festival Square has been right up his street. Armed with his very own sonic screwdriver to scare off the cybermen, and donning a bow tie like the one worn by the new Doctor Who Matt Smith, Michael was ready for action.

The environmental engineer laughs: "I'm quite sad. I bought the sonic screwdriver from Forbidden Planet on South Bridge about seven or eight months ago because it's the essential Doctor Who toy.

"When I read on the BBC website a couple of weeks ago that there was going to be a Doctor Who event in Edinburgh, I was like 'tell me when, tell me when!'

"I vaguely remember watching Doctor Who even before going to school when I was four or five, and I can remember the Cybermen scaring the hell out of me.

"It was basic Saturday evening viewing and the only thing the whole family agreed on. Me and my sister carried it on."

Michael was joined by scores of Doctor Who fanatics who turned out to the big screen in Festival Square for the three-day event, which ends today.

The event was held to mark the launch of the new series, which starts tonight on BBC One.

Visitors, who were provided with 3D glasses, were treated to a preview of the new series on the large screen, before coming face-to-face with the sort of monsters who have had generations of viewers watching from behind their sofas for generations.

A scarecrow and a Cyberman appeared from a specially designed inflatable arena after the three short clips had been shown, with some brave fans cuddling up to the monsters for a photograph.

The latest Time Lord, Matt Smith, and his companion – played by Scots actress Karen Gillan – have been touring big screens up and down the country as part of the promotion.

Karen, from Inverness, studied acting at Telford College in Edinburgh, having left school at 16, and plays new sidekick Amy Pond.

While neither she nor Matt appeared in person at the Edinburgh event, fans seemed happy enough watching them in 3D on the preview clips, which included the latest Doctor Who trailer.

Spectator Alice Strawbridge, 14, says: "It was actually a really good thing to be a part of, it's made me really excited about the start of the series. I really liked having the monsters there as well.

"I have recorded most of the Doctor Who episodes and when I was younger I had all the action figures. I'm looking forward to seeing what Matt Smith is like as the new Doctor."

Fans were also given the chance to be photographed tumbling through the giant time vortex seen at the start of every episode.

Michael adds: "I thought the trailer was fantastic. I have been looking forward to the new series since last year. I have got DVDs of virtually every doctor and I never miss an episode. Even when I was working offshore two years ago, I would stop working at 7pm on a Saturday and run into a cabin to watch it.

"It's just sheer escapism. I love the acting and the only thing scarier than the weeping angels in Doctor Who is my council tax bill!"

It was the latest event on the big screen, which was constructed in Festival Square last year by the BBC as part of its commitment to bringing the 2012 London Olympics to every part of the country.

The screen has already had crowds jumping around playing interactive video games, and attracted large crowds for sporting events such as Wimbledon.

Steve Martin, 35, from Corstorphine, was also in his element at the Doctor Who event.

"I was just walking past and I saw the Doctor Who logo, and that was it," he says.

"It was quite surprising seeing the clips in 3D."

Preview clips are being shown today on the hour from 11am and 4pm.