FROM the screaming crowds of ‘Beatlemania’ to the intrepid explorers of Pokemon Go, the faces of fandom are constantly changing.

Derived from the word ‘fanatic’, the modern stereotype screams instability and obsessive behaviour, evoking images of wide-eyed disciples defined by their love for artists, films or TV shows.

With the advent of the internet, fans have become increasingly demanding and resourceful bunch: complaining, creating collectives and influencing popular culture in the process.

From personal development and a sense of belonging, to artistic freedoms, being a ‘fan’ is a badge of honour for many people and in Gwent, it is no different.

Samantha Williams, 44, of Coed Eva, can often be seen whenever Aussie hunk Peter Andre comes to Wales, fundraising for the singer’s charity fund which supports Cancer Research UK.

Her interest in Peter Andre’s stemmed from his record ‘Mysterious Girl’ and appearances on Celebrity Get Me Out of Here but the fundraising has brought them closer together.

The Cwmbran mum-of-four supported the fund from “from day one” for personal reasons as her brother in law and cousin previously passed away from cancer.

As the Peter Andre fund’s Wales Community Champion, she has raised £3,810 for the fund this year alone.

“I consider myself a fan but I do the fundraising more than being a fan. I was chosen out of hundreds of people to be a community champion for Peter’s fund,” she said.

“I got to know him through the fundraising and he is very caring, considerate and family orientated [...] his family are so genuine and down to earth.”

From receiving personal shout outs during the singer’s sound checks to visiting Peter’s brother’s coffee shop East Grinstead, West Sussex, the Cwmbran mother is committed to the Andre cause.

“I don’t get special treatment. They’re like that with everybody,” she said.

She has also appeared on the Lorraine Kelly show ITV with the star, will be mentioned in Peter Andre’s new book, Peter Andre: Between Us and is also spending her fourth wedding anniversary with the Andre family.

“It’s funny because it will be the second anniversary we have spent with the Andre family after we fundraised for his brother Danny for our first anniversary in 2012,” she added.

Another self-confessed popstar fan is Alison Naull, 52, of Norwich, who travelled to Newport to see Paolo Nutini last month with members of a Facebook group who bonded over the love of the singer.

While the lure of musicians, fans will travel hundreds of miles to catch a glimpse of their heroes, Ms Naulls said that when it comes to fandom, “there is a fine line”.

“There can be a line between being a fan and being a little obsessed to the point of stalking. I have seen people who take it a step too far and beyond,” she said.

“It’s great when it is controlled and enjoyed with like minded people but you always get an element of ‘weird’ where people take it a little too far.

“My family would think I’m obsessed but I’m not.”

Despite this, after meeting Paolo for the first time Ms Naulls was on a “high for days” as her idol’s music has taken her through some “dark times”.

“The first time I met him was a special moment as I wasn’t surrounded by fans. I met him in the foyer of a hotel at the Great Scots Awards, in October last year," she added.

“A lot of people think when they meet someone they have admired for a long time it will render them speechless.

“But he is just a normal bloke like you and me. It really ticked the last box in my quest to tell him what his music meant to me.”

While music can whip even the most prudent person into a frenzy, film shares a similar power.

One person who can testify to this is superfan Alex Gold, 30, who spent over 76 hours – the equivalent of more than three days — watching Star Wars the Force Awakens at his local cinema.

The filmmaker and musician Mr Gold watched the new star wars film 34 times at Brynmawr’s Market Hall Cinema, making notes on the editing structure and script.

He also bought tickets to all 66 showings of the film at Brynmawr cinema and watched the film backwards on a vintage cinema chair behind the screen on the 34th viewing.

Unfortunately Guinness World Records “didn’t consider the record worth mentioning” but did offer the filmmaker other records to try, including “eating 30 fish fingers in a minute”.

Speaking about the concept of ‘fandom’, Mr Gold said: “The internet has brought a lot of people out of their shell and it is a socially progressive thing.

“People are not sitting in their houses watching Jeremy Kyle but they have they have ‘their thing’ and they love it.

“You have Pokémon Go now where all the ‘nerds’ are coming out and people are complaining. It’s hilarious.”

He added: “It’s worth smiling about because it is creative and helps you find new ideas. It’s about creating rather than criticising and bringing more diversity to the whole spectrum.”

He added: “I think a lot of the time it’s just disgruntled people that don’t understand.”

The Caerphilly-based Tommy Cooper Society shares this sentiment, as a group of self-described ‘admirers’ who are responsible for spreading memories of the seminal comedian through the town.

In 2003, a committed group established a society in Tommy’s name, with an ambition of erecting a statue of the comedian in his home town.

This feat was realised in 2008 when society patron and Hollywood actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins, unveiled the statue at The Twyn in Caerphilly town centre.

Society Chairman Tudor Jones, 82, said: “The word ‘fan’ was originally derived from the word ‘fanatic’ but I think as a society we would describe ourselves as admirers, rather than fans.

“Tommy was approachable and I couldn’t imagine people ripping his clothes off. We have a genuine admiration for his talent.

“We’re more interested in him as a performer than analysing the details of his private life.”

Tommy Cooper became a household hold name for his trademark silly jokes and magic tricks and collapsed and died of a heart attack on stage during a live broadcast, watched by millions, in 1984.

In recent years, the fez wearing society have continued his legacy by campaigning to place defibrillators in public places, including the Twyn Centre, Caerphilly Library and Caerphilly Castle.

The donation of the defibrillators is the core of “Tommy’s Ticker Campaign” — recognising that the same device could have saved the comedians life.

Mr Jones said: “I think ‘fan’ is one of these words that can be interpreted in lots of different way and there is a spectrum of fandom from mass hysteria with The Beatles to general admiration.

“I like to think that we’re somewhere in the middle.”

“We’re now talking about him 33 years after his death and we still have this society going and we have people who are not ‘fans’ but you mention ‘Just Like That’, Tommy Cooper or fezzes and they chuckle,” he added.

“What he has left us is that spirit. He has left us with a smile and we hope that rubs off on the people of Caerphilly.”