Rich Blades, a 45-year-old collector from Sutton Coldfield, proudly identifies as a “kidult”-an adult who enjoys hobbies traditionally associated with children. As the creator and face of the YouTube channel Geek Explorers, which he has run for seven years, Rich blends his love of pop culture with toy collecting, sharing his passion with a community across the UK.
His collection features iconic characters such as Spider-Man, Optimus Prime, X-Men, and professional wrestlers, all displayed around his living room. Rich recalls the origins of his interest dating back to childhood memories of Timmy Mallett, the TV show Wacaday, and summer holiday mornings. “It started with Transformers and then moved into ThunderCats, but my interest shifted further when I got into comics,” he explains.
After investing in collecting toys through his mid-twenties, Rich paused the hobby to focus on his university studies, ultimately earning a degree in stop motion animation. Upon finishing, he resumed collecting, including displaying pieces he created himself.
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While acknowledging there can be a negative perception of adult toy collecting, Rich questions whether it is any more unusual than passionately supporting a football team. “Toy collecting is quite a niche interest, and I feel comfortable talking about it, but it’s not typically something I’d lead with when meeting new people. It’s socially acceptable, but you do approach it with caution,” he says.
He adds that many feel self-conscious about their hobby due to the association of toys with childhood, but emphasises that collecting isn’t something to be embarrassed about. “You’re not doing anything wrong or offensive. Yet, there’s still a stigma that as an adult, you shouldn’t be into toys,” he observes.
Rich prefers not to label himself strictly as a “kidult,” finding the term somewhat loaded, though he recognises it applies to his interests. He encourages others to pursue their passions and connect with like-minded collectors. “Thousands of people watch millionaire footballers play every week, which is widely accepted, yet toy fairs remain niche. Fans dress in shirts and kits-that’s cosplay-and can be completely immersed in the football culture,” he notes.
Regarding collecting habits, Rich typically spends between £10 and £20 on toys, rarely exceeding £50. Through his travels to toy conventions, he has observed that the majority of attendees tend to be adult men, and speculates that women may have a different relationship with collecting. “I think women often grow out of it, whereas men tend to hold onto their toys. While female collectors do exist, there’s sometimes stigma online about female toy collectors, which is unfair since they’re all toys-you can’t be pretentious about them,” he remarks.
Rich values the sense of community found at toy conventions, where collectors of similar ages gather and share their enthusiasm openly, free from shame or judgement. His channel, Geek Explorers, continues to celebrate this passion and invites others to explore the world of collecting.