Luke’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol
Katie Timms Regional Head of Content and SWNSSamMcevans (Sam McEvans)
07:23, 19 Apr 2026Updated 07:33, 19 Apr 2026
(Image: SWNS)
A devoted Wallace & Gromit enthusiast possessing £5,000 worth of merchandise and four character tattoos dedicates 35 hours monthly to rewatching the beloved animations.
Luke Poulton, 34, has set aside an entire room in his home for his extensive and eclectic collection, featuring toys, posters, and clothing related to Aardman Animation’s television and film franchises.
Luke has made it his personal quest to build an archive of memorabilia – ranging from a Polly Pocket designed to resemble Wallace’s face to a pair of furry Gromit slippers.
The enthusiast even enjoys using a novelty radio alarm clock that he first spotted in the Argos catalogue during his childhood.
He said: “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.”
Luke estimates his 500 collectables are worth well above £5,000, though a significant portion has been accumulated through hunting for treasures at charity shops, car boot sales, and on Vinted.
However, Luke’s most treasured item is a rare VHS cassette tape of The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, which is presently listed on eBay at over £2,500.
Luke Poulton’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol(Image: SWNS)
Additional collectables currently available on eBay include a “very rare” Wallace & Gromit chessboard priced at £2,300 and a garden lamp listed at £620.
The audiovisual technician from Hackney, London, dedicates the equivalent of a typical working week, 35 hours, to rewatching the animations every month.
Luke’s passion began when his father introduced him to A Grand Day Out, the debut Wallace & Gromit short film, during the early 1990s. He said: “I think people see Wallace and Gromit as icons of UK animation. While Wallace is quite a wacky character, he’s still very down to earth. That’s why people just connect with him so well.”
Aardman Animation, the studio responsible for Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run, and Shaun the Sheep, is marking its 50th anniversary in 2026.
Luke Poulton’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol(Image: SWNS)
Luke reckons the studio has remained successful partly due to its cross-generational 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 Poulton’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol(Image: SWNS)
He’s planning to attend all the events and exhibitions scheduled for the anniversary celebrations, including visiting Bristol’s M Shed Museum and a new immersive 360-degree experience launching at London King’s Cross.
The devoted fan fantasises about creating an attraction that would recreate the interior of Wallace and Gromit’s home, where enthusiasts could step inside and venture down into the basement to view their famous orange space rocket.
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However, Luke’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol.
He said “I would love to work there one day. Writing or directing would be incredible. It just seems like a great place to work from everything I saw there when I visited.”
Luke Poulton’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol(Image: SWNS)
In 2024, Luke received an invitation to meet Wallace & Gromit’s creator, Nick Park, on the studio’s set of the Vengeance Most Fowl film. Luke said he jumped at the chance to quiz him about “Easter Eggs” where the animators have concealed the villain Feathers McGraw in scenes throughout other television programmes and films.
Luke’s tattoo of Feathers will shortly be joined by a more obscure character, Fluffles the dog, which will mark his fifth Aardman-themed piece of body art.
He’s also enthusiastic about what Aardman will deliver with a more friendly penguin, Pingu, in an upcoming remake.
Luke Poulton’s ultimate ambition is to secure employment at Aardman’s headquarters in Bristol(Image: SWNS)
Most importantly, Luke says his devotion stems entirely from the “heart” that the animators invest into the craft.
“You’ve got to have a lot of skill to do stop motion animation and make it as perfect as it is. 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.”
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