The Ultimate Wallace & Gromit Devotee: 35 Hours of Monthly Viewing and a Fifth Tattoo
Luke Poulton, a 34-year-old audiovisual technician from Hackney, has elevated fandom to an art form with his extraordinary dedication to Wallace & Gromit. He dedicates a staggering 35 hours each month to rewatching the beloved Aardman Animation creations, equivalent to a full working week, while amassing a collection worth over £5,000.
A Room Transformed into a Shrine of Memorabilia
Luke has converted an entire room in his home into a dedicated space for his 500-piece collection, which includes toys, posters, clothing, and rare items. "It's always exciting finding new pieces and it brings me that bit of joy being able to look at them when I have put them in the room with my collection," he explains. His treasures range from a Polly Pocket molded in Wallace's likeness to fluffy Gromit slippers, many sourced from charity shops, car boot sales, and Vinted.
Among his most prized possessions is a rare VHS cassette of The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, currently listed on eBay for upwards of £2,500. Other notable items available online include a "very rare" Wallace & Gromit chessboard priced at £2,300 and a garden lamp fetching £620.
From Childhood Inspiration to Lifelong Passion
Luke's passion was ignited in the early 1990s when his father introduced him to A Grand Day Out, the first Wallace & Gromit short film. "I think people see Wallace and Gromit as icons of UK animation," he reflects. "While Wallace is quite a wacky character, he's still very down to earth. That's why people just connect with him so well."
His devotion extends beyond collecting to body art, with four existing Wallace & Gromit-themed tattoos and plans for a fifth featuring Fluffles the dog, a lesser-known character. This follows his existing ink of the villain Feathers McGraw.
Celebrating Aardman's 50th Anniversary and Future Dreams
As Aardman Animation approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026, Luke plans to attend all commemorative events, including visits to Bristol's M Shed Museum and a new immersive 360-degree experience at London King's Cross. He attributes the studio's longevity to its broad appeal: "With all the TV shows and movies, there's something that everyone can get on board with. There's always the jokes for kids, but there's also the jokes for adults."
Luke's ultimate ambition is to work at Aardman's Bristol headquarters, possibly in writing or directing. "I would love to work there one day," he reveals. "It just seems like a great place to work from everything I saw there when I visited." In 2024, he had the extraordinary opportunity to meet creator Nick Park on the set of Vengeance Most Fowl, where he quizzed him about hidden "Easter Eggs" of Feathers McGraw in other productions.
The Heart of Stop-Motion Animation
Luke believes the enduring appeal of Wallace & Gromit lies in the "heart" that animators pour into their craft. "You've got to have a lot of skill to do stop motion animation and make it as perfect as it is," he says. "I don't think that will ever go away because people still love it so much. I think they're just going get better and better and we're going be getting as much brilliant stuff in the next fifty years."
Looking ahead, Luke dreams of creating an attraction that faithfully recreates the interior of Wallace and Gromit's iconic home, complete with their legendary orange space rocket in the basement. His passion shows no signs of waning as he continues to expand his collection and deepen his connection to these cherished characters.
