Liverpool (UK) comic con X Files panel - Sunday 3rd May 2026
I’m sure the panel will be uploaded to YouTube at some point, but I thought I’d put a few of my own thoughts up here as well plus some not-very good photos!
The panel featured Annabeth Gish, Brian Thompson, Nicholas Lea and Gillian Anderson. Steven Williams was also due to attend but had covid so unfortunately had to cancel.
Great to see such a large audience, especially as it was a paid panel and towards the end of the second afternoon. Quite an age range – including a few very young kids asking questions. Lot of repetition in those - favourite season/episodes/memory on set. Not particularly well moderated. Would've liked a bit more engagement (they had an xf quiz on the Saturday that was far livelier).
Annabeth seemed exactly like Reyes. Into mysticism and astrology. Claimed she’s not clever enough for astronomy. Talked about the missing NASA/UFO scientists and quantum chemistry. Loved The Fall. Favourite xf episodes 4D and Audrey Pauley. Remembers laughing a lot with Gillian on set, especially after long days of shooting. Said Carter had told her that the plan had been for the series to continue with Reyes & Doggett while Mulder & Scully did more movies. Not sure if this was to be after s8 or 9. Gillian hadn’t heard that before. When asked about Reyes’ ending in the revival, Annabeth said she wished she hadn’t got shot in the head and that she’d never put a cigarette in the f**king CSM’s mouth (big audience cheer!). Said everyone in the Coogler reboot has been sworn to secrecy but it will be very cool. 🤞
Brian would’ve liked to know more about his backstory – where was the Bounty Hunter from - and that he saw himself as the good guy, cleansing the earth of illegal aliens. Considers the Bounty Hunter to still be alive. Talked about some podcasts that the audience hadn’t seemed to have heard of and something about an underlying universal consciousness that I didn't get. He couldn’t always understand that audience’s questions because of the variety of accents – and none of the questioners were even Scouse! 😂 (a famously hard to a understand accent for those not in the UK!) When asked who or what he’s a fan of, he said he’s a fan of his girlfriend but that there should be another name for someone you’ve been with for 27 years (just like M&S!). Favourite xf episode the one where he and Gillian spent a night in a car on a bridge – must’ve meant Herrenvolk. Gillian didn’t remember that and asked if they talked at all.
Nicolas was the most engaged of the panel. Like Brian with the Bounty Hunter, he doesn’t consider Krycek to be a baddie – that baddies never do think they're bad – and that he tried to put some moral ambiguity into his actions. Grateful for the opportunities being in xf has given him, including sky diving and visiting the White House (not at the same time he pointed out!). Like Annabeth/Reyes, Nicholas also wished he hadn’t got shot in the head. Talked about being beaten up a lot and that Carter would never let him get a real punch in. When Mulder hit him with payphone in Piper Maru it really connected. Favourite eps Tunguska & Terma. Also mentioned Home and how creepy it was – gave a sanitised summary. Talked about GenderBender and how it was his idea for the car windows to be steamed up (with a kettle in between takes). Very complementary about the con organisers and how great it was to be there.
Gillian looked exhausted. She didn’t seem particularly engaged at times and had some eye problems – she was wearing an eye patch earlier in the day. Shame as I imagine an earlier panel or one where they’d had a break from photos/autographs beforehand might’ve been more lively. She’d clearly had a very busy weekend with sold out autograph and photo sessions. While the others looked very recognisable, Gillian looked so vastly different from Scully – long blond hair, glasses and of course a British accent. Strange to think that actually she’s just a normal person and not Scully (of course I know that but always felt so in awe when I’ve seen her before and never been able to go to a signing for fear it would spoil Scully if I ever spoke to Gillian. But Scully is eternal and untouchable (apart from by Mulder!😉). Favourite eps Bad Blood (naturally) although she admitted she hasn’t seen it in ages (is it really her favourite or just her stock answer now?) Also liked Memento Mori for the character development. Talked about The Fall and how hard it was memorising pages of dialogue. How the amount of input you have into a character largely depends on the director and that she’s had some roles where her input was welcomed and others where she just played it exactly as written. When asked about the revival ending - she joked she wished she'd been shot in the forehead ('No I don't') but that there are so many big and little things she'd have changed that's its too long a conversation and was so long ago now so ‘why bother?’ – bringing it back for the revival or thinking about it now?🥴
I was too scared/fangirling to ask a question but if I had I’d have loved to ask:
XF is almost 35 years old but is clearly still very popular and is enticing a new generation of fans who weren’t even born during the original run. When the world today is so different to the early ‘90’s, why do think the show retains its popularity?
Is there an unexplained phenomenon that the show didn’t cover that you’d have liked to have seen investigated?
Is there an xf character – a one off or recurring - who your character didn’t get to act with that you’d have liked to? (e.g. Reyes and the Bounty Hunter never crossed paths)
Given the widespread dissatisfaction with the ultimate ending, how do you wish the series had ended for your character?
How do you think your xf character would behave if they ever went to a comic con? 😀
