Star Wars superfan sells £1MILLION haul confessing it's become too big

A Star Wars superfan is flogging his 'cherished' memorabilia collection after confessing that his £1 million haul has become too 'enormous'.

Luke Kaye from Swindon, whose name is now Luke Skywalker, has one of the biggest Star Wars collections in the world. 

The 56-year-old once held the Guinness World Record for the UK's largest Star Wars memorabilia set for his vast set of toys.

The father-of-five has been amassing the collection, which is now large enough to fill a warehouse, since the age of 13. 

But his 'lifetime' passion has extended into real life as he became friends with Carrie Fisher who even stayed at his family home and mentioned him in her book. 

The mega-fan also became friendly with the likes of Mark Hamil and Peter Mayhew - who played Chewbacca. 

Further meetings with her in Milton Keynes, London and America followed.

'Every penny' Luke has earned has been funnelled back into the huge collection dedicated to the franchise.  

'A lot of these items have been in museums up and down the country, and there are some really unusual and rare pieces in there,' he said.

'It needs to be framed up and put up on walls and cherished by others too. My collection is so important to me but it is so enormous now.

'I could never just sell a few bits and bobs - I want to preserve the collection as a whole so people can enjoy it.'

He recalled that he first became obsessed with the franchise on holiday with his parents as a child.

'I cannot go anywhere - clothes shops, books shops, wherever - without hunting for something Star Wars-related,' he added. 

'Because my name is Luke, I thought I was Luke Skywalker when I saw the films for the first time

'I thought he was a hero - that film just took everybody by storm.

'The goodies, the baddies, monsters, furry creatures - it had a bit of everything!'

Carrie Fisher, who is best known for her portrayal of Princess Leia, met Luke nine times before her death in 2016. 

The actress and fan first encountered one another in the early 2000s when the actress held a private signing at a London hotel.  

He explained: 'The first time I met the real Luke Skywalker I just said my name is Luke - and he said, don't tell me you're Luke from London!

'He knew of me and then introduced me to Carrie as the crazy fan guy from London - because at the time they thought of England as London.

'Carrie would give me some personal items and she even mentions me in her book the Princess Diaries. She was an absolutely amazing woman.'

The first set Luke's collection is being auctioned on Friday with one Jedi lightsaber set to fetch at least £7,000.

Another auction of over 16,000 items will be held in January of next year, with experts saying its 'impossible' to value as they can't predict what Star Wars fanatics might pay.

The first 230 lots will be auctioned by Wessex Auction Rooms in Wiltshire with the sale likely to attract interest from fans around the globe.

Some of the highlights of the auction include a Jedi lightsaber made by the 'Saber Master' Norman Harrison.

The unique item was made as a back-up prop and later gifted to Luke by Norman as well as being signed: 'To Luke Skywalker from Norman Harrison. Have fun'.

Luke is also selling 50 collectable 'Master Replicas' items including lightsabers, blasters, and helmets - which are expected to bag well over £7000.

There are also original Star Wars toys, and full-sized replica models amongst the the vast array of collectables being sold.

The astounding loot also includes personalised number plates S7AR W that come complete with the V778 retention documents - worth an estimated £10,000.

Auctioneer and BBC Bargain Hunt expert Tim Weeks, who will be handling the sale on December 6, has called it 'the most unique and outstanding collection' he's sold.

He said: 'It's been no surprise that as soon as we published the catalogue online we have been receiving emails and calls from buyers and fans around the world.

'This might be the one chance that someone has to purchase some of these items in their lifetime, so I am expecting some fierce bidding.

'It is no doubt one of of the biggest collections in the world and hard to value as nothing really like it has ever gone to market before.

'It only takes a millionaire Star Wars collector, and there are many of them, to see something they want and go for it.

'The sheer size and quality of it is incredible. I have been doing this a long time and have never seen anything like it.

A spokesperson for the auction house said: 'The collection is comprised of items relating to the Star Wars franchise of the vendor Luke Kaye, who changed his name by deed pole to Luke Skywalker.

'He is is known as one of the biggest fans and collectors in the world - he became personal friends with many of the cast members and Carrie Fisher once stayed at his family home while she was in the country.'

Luke owned a costume shop which he first set up 35 years ago in his hometown of Swindon.

As he was suppling costumes to films he then decided to start organising conventions.

He said he became a lot of the casts' manager - and would book them and take them to signings across the UK.

He said: 'I would pick them up from airports and take them to signings. I even took Dave Prowse to HMV signing in Bristol.

Luke has travelled with one of his favourite items which is currently up for auction - the ex-wing helmet - to get it signed. 

16,000 of more of Luke's costumes will also be going up for auction in January including Star Wars, Star Trek to Wizard of Oz.

The auction house has public viewing available on December 4 and 5 as well as on the auction day - December 6 from 9am.

Bidders are welcome to attend in-person, via telephone, or via the live online auction feed.