Martin James, 61, lives in a one-bedroom flat in Caerphilly county with 32 life-sized film and character props, including the Terminator, Kung Fu Panda and Pennywise. He says he collects and modifies unusual items for enjoyment rather than profit, arguing that “life is too short to be boring”; his collection reflects a wider growth in adult collecting, often described as the “kidult” market.

James traded his motorbike for a Terminator figure nearly a decade ago and says he has turned down an offer of £10,000 for his Kung Fu Panda model. Collection-management entrepreneur Elliot Riley-Walsh said kidults accounted for a third of UK toy sales in 2025, with interest growing since the pandemic as adults revisit childhood hobbies; he also cited social media and celebrities as helping reduce stigma around collecting.