A sci-fi fan went over to the dark side and dressed as a Star Wars baddie on the opening night of the latest instalment in the hit series when it previewed in a cinema far, far away – well, just a few miles down the road from his Hitchin home.

The Comet: Matt AdcockMatt Adcock (Image: Archant)

The force was strong when Matt Adcock from Lancaster Road took his wife and two sons along to last Wednesday’s midnight premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Stevenage Leisure Park’s Cineworld multiplex.

Matt’s long-suffering wife Gail was a trooper as she battled flu to watch the film with her family until 3am on Thursday morning.

The movie was met with cheers and applause by the sell-out crowd and Matt said: “Star Wars changed my life as a kid when I watched the original film.

“I named my now 18-year-old-son Luke after Luke Skywalker, and would’ve given him the middle name of Skywalker if my wife had let me.

“It was a chance of redemption for the franchise after the prequels – and it delivered. It was superb. It was fun to go as a Sith – the sworn enemy of the Jedi – even if my family completely disowned me through embarrassment. There was a party atmosphere in the cinema and it was a very enjoyable night.”

The film has been a box office hit across the country with Letchworth’s Broadway Cinema boss Jason Valentine saying: “In less than a week since Star Wars was released, we’ve sold out for 14 screenings and taken more than £54,000.

“It’s on course to be the biggest film in our cinema’s history.”

Matt, who is director of communications at the London School of Theology, also reviews new cinema releases and added: “It’s my film of the year.”

To read more on Matt’s film’s of the year visit www.darkmatt.blogspot.com.