Droid builder and operator Lee Towersey, who has worked on numerous Disney Star Wars films and series, is the third guest announced for Look sir, droids! Echo Base Live, Europe’s premiere Star Wars collectors event, taking place in Redditch on October 10th, 2026.
Lee joins previously announced guests including droid performer Nathan Plant and actress, creature & suit performer Stephanie Silva.
Lee is an English droid builder and operator best known for bringing R2-D2 and other astromech droids to life across the Star Wars sequel trilogy and standalone films. He began his journey as a hobbyist member of the R2-D2 Builders Club.
After spending years perfecting film-accurate, fully functioning replica models in his spare time, his craftsmanship caught the attention of Lucasfilm leadership. At Star Wars Celebration Europe II in 2013, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy was impressed by the functional replicas built by Towersey and his fellow builder Oliver Steeples. Shortly after the convention, both hobbyists were hired full-time to work at Pinewood Studios as part of the creature effects team for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Due to intense project secrecy, they had to sign strict non-disclosure agreements and initially hide the nature of the new job from others.
Lee remains a permanent fixture in the UK-based Star Wars workshop, serving as a builder and puppeteer operator for multiple projects:
* The Force Awakens (2015) – Droid Builder
* Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – Droid Operator
* The Last Jedi (2017) – Droid Builder / Operator (modifying R2-D2 to accommodate actor Jimmy Vee)
* Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Droid Operator
* The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – R2-D2 Puppeteer and Operator (alongside Hassan Taj)
* Andor (2022) – Assisted with the performance of Cassian Andor’s companion droid, B2EMO
Lee will be join us all day, signing autographs and answering your questions.
Autographed Photo Price: £30
Lee will also be joining our Star Guest Dinner. Tickets available now!
(Autograph charges apply. All guests are subject to change due to circumstances beyond the control of the event promoter).
All updates are available via the Echo Base Facebook groups and here on Jedi News.
