Character Options has revealed a new series of exclusive Doctor Who toys for local B&M Stores in the UK.

The collection was unveiled on Character Options’ own YouTube channel via an unboxing-style video presented by the firm’s Creative Director Al Dewar. In the video viewers were treated to a detailed review of the range which consists of three figures sets featuring Daleks and the TARDIS.

The Seventh Doctor Collector Figure Set – is a three articulated figure set Including The Doctor wearing his cream jacket, jumper and ubiquitous plaid trousers. His duo of villains includes the Cyberman and Cyberleader each with Cybergun accessories.

The Two Doctors Collector Figure set – is from the episode entitled the Two Doctors and includes Second Doctor as Androgum as played by Patrick Troughton, the companion and American college student Perpugilliam (Peri) Brown and the villain of the episode, the Sontaran, Group Marshal Stike.

The Sontarans Collector Figure Set – also features this fearful enemy and includes Lieutenant Harry Sullivan - one of the companions of the Fourth Doctor, plus two Sontarans - Field Major Styre, and Commander Lynx. Accessories include Sontaran helmets and blasters.

The TARDIS is a much loved piece in every Doctor Who collection and this latest launch includes two sets to collect that feature this essential Time Travelling Machine with opening doors

The Fifth Doctor and TARDIS from Caves of Androzani –Produced in 5.5 inch scale and has the Fifth Doctor played by Peter Davison and the somewhat travel weary police box TARDIS that has returned from the Caves of Androzani as in the 6th episode in Season 21 where the Doctor willingly undergoes a regeneration to save his companion!

The Fourth Doctor and TARDIS from Shada Collector Figure Set – is as seen in the final, long delayed, episode of Series 17. Shada is the secret Time Lord’s Prison and it is with much trepidation that the Doctor, as played by Tom Baker, must make a visit.

Three Doctor and Dalek sets have also been created inspired by popular Big Finish audio episodes including:

The Eighth Doctor and Dalek Interrogator Prime Action Figure Set – shows the fully articulated Doctor dressed in jeans and double breasted jacket and the Dalek Interrogator he faces when captured in the episode.

The War Doctor and Dalek Scientist Action Figure Set – has the Doctor as played by John Hurt in the War Doctor Audio episodes, the Dalek included is a scientist and works independently of High Command.

The Seventh Doctor and Axis Strike Squad Dalek Action Figure Set – features the Time Lord as played by Sylvester McCoy in the Gallifrey VI Series. He must help regain Gallifrey and defeat the bronzed Daleks that have taken over the AXIS.

Al Dewar, commented The collection will be available in B&M stores from Late August

A new Doctor Who Short Trips has just been released by Big Finish

Doctor Who: Short Trips – Battle Scars, by Selim Ulug, takes us back in history as the Ninth Doctor makes a voyage on the Titanic.

Writer Selim Ulug, a previous winner of the Paul Spragg Memorial Short Trips Opportunity, told us more about this tale for the Ninth Doctor (set before he met Rose)Narrated by Nicholas Briggs, Doctor Who – Short Trips: Battle Scars is available now at just £2.99 on download (only) from Big Finish.

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Coming next in the Short Trips range, #HarrySullivan gets trending!

This Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane and, of course, Harry Sullivan story is narrated by Louise Jameson.

Cosmic Masque issue VIII is now available from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society website.

Cosmic Masque is the e-magazine about fandom, published by DWAS

In this edition, 60 pages of fiction, reviews, interviews and articles including some of the more recent Big Finish releases, Titan Comics, accounts of visits to Comic-Con and signings and an interview with Dee Sadler (Greatest Show in the Galaxy).

The e-magazines is free for everyone to download and in two formats - single page to a view, or two page spreads.

It can be found on the Society Website.

A limited run print copy of Cosmic Masque VIII will be produced in 2019 in support of one of the DWAS chosen charities

Comments and contributions are welcome at cm@dwasonline.co.uk

Previous unseen images from some of the stories directed by Christopher Barry can be seen in the latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine.

Images from The Daleks, The Rescue, The Romans, The Savages, The Power of the Daleks, The Dæmons, The Mutants, Robot, The Brain of Morbius and The Creature from the Pit are included in the magazine, released today.

Also in this issue:

• Director Michael E Briant, actress Kay Patrick and writer Marc Platt recall working with Christopher Barry.
• Jon Pertwee reflects on life after Doctor Who in the second part of an interview conducted at his first-ever convention appearance in 1977.
• David Bradley answers questions from the TARDIS tin.
• The Fact of Fiction explores the Eleventh Doctor story The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon.
• Reviews of the Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 10 Blu-rays and Eric Saward’s Resurrection of the Daleks novelisation.
• Part Two of Power of the Mobox, a new comic strip adventure featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and her friends.
• The Blogs of Doom, audio reviews, previews, news, prize-winning competitions and much more

DWM 541 is on sale from today, Thursday 25 July, priced £5.99.

Candy Jar Books have announced a brand new two-book novel, based on the Intrusion Countermeasures Group that first featured on television in 1988's Remembrance of The Daleks. The first part is due to be published in 2020:


Birds of Passage and the follow up book Birds of Prey will form one story told over two novels, described as a series of thrillers akin to recent best-sellers by Vince Flynn, Steve Cavanagh and James Swallow, aimed at a more mature readership than the family-friendly Lethbridge-Stewart range.

Author J Frank Andreas says:

Range Editor Andy Frankham-Allen explains how Birds of Passage came to pass:
Andrew Cartmel says:

Birds of Passage is due out in 2020, with Birds of Prey following in 20221. Both can now be pre-ordered from the Candy Jar website, either individually or both together, with a limited discount available now.

Today marks 20 years since Big Finish released their first Doctor Who audio adventure, The Sirens of Time.

To celebrate, the company is marking the occasion with some discount offers on a selection of highlights from the past two decades. 

The very first Doctor Who release ever, starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, The Sirens of Time, is available at just £1 on download. 

Doctor Who - Jubilee is available at £2 on download. This Big Finish adventure was the original story that became 'Dalek' on TV. Although the televised episode in 2005 (starring Christopher Eccleston) ended up being very different in many important ways, this is the core of the idea that Russell T. Davies wanted writer Rob Shearman to develop.

Spanning whole galaxies and centuries, Dalek Empire is an epic story of war, love, deceit, betrayal and sacrifice, featuring truly memorable characters brought to life by an all-star cast. You can get the whole of Series 1 at just £3 on download! (Each episode is also available at 75p each. 

The Fifth Doctor meets some of his earliest companions, in The Secret History, at just £4 on CD and download. 

Gallifrey, one of the most popular ranges in The Worlds of Doctor Who, is the West Wing meets science fiction. In this story a very different Romana (played by Juliet Landau), must save the universe… Gallifrey: Intervention Earth is available at £5. 

Five years ago, Big Finish started lovingly exploring the beginnings of Doctor Who in The Early Adventures. The first of these, Domain of the Voord, is on offer at £6 on CD or download. 

Paying homage to the fans who kept Doctor Who alive after its cancellation in 1989, Big Finish released adaptations of several of the Virgin New Adventures, called the Novel Adaptations. The first of these, which was also the debut of popular Big Finish character Professor Bernice Summerfield, is on special offer at £7 on CD or download. 

There are a whole host of Short Trips in the TARDIS. Series 1-4 are available at £8. 

Jago & Litefoot was one of the most beloved Doctor Who spinoffs on audio. You can get the whole of series one, starring Christopher Benjamin and the late Trevor Baxter, at £9 on CD or download. 

Big Finish was incredibly lucky to work with the late, great Sir John Hurt, expanding his hidden incarnation of the Doctor, the War Doctor. Steeped in violence, born into war, you can get the first series of The War Doctor, entitled Only the Monstrous, at £10 on CD or download. 

More adventures with classic companions! The Companion Chronicles - The Second Doctor Volume 1 is available at £11 on CD or download. 

Celebrating 50 years of Doctor Who back in 2013, The Destiny of the Doctor collection maps an adventure through 11 incarnations, and is available at £12 on CD or download, saving you over 50%.

Big Finish was delighted when David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor, stepped back in the TARDIS for more adventures back in 2016. The first volume of his adventures is available at just £13!

The Third Doctor’s era, originally starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, has been reverentially resurrected with Tim Treloar taking on the mantle of the great man, and Katy Manning back as Jo Grant. You can hear series one now at just £14 on CD or download. 

After his portrayal of William Hartnell in the television movie, An Adventure in Space and Time, Big Finish was delighted to bring David Bradley back as the First Doctor. The first series of his adventures are available at £15 on CD or download. 

The Eighth Doctor sagas are some of Big Finish’s most popular stories, with the Eighth Doctor playing a much darker, brooding version than listeners knew from his TV outing... Dark Eyes, which won an award at the BBC Audio Drama Awards, is available now at £16 on CD or download. 

When Big Finish was granted the licence for New Series Doctor Who back in 2015, the very first series out of the gate was UNIT. The first volume, UNIT Extinction, featuring the return of the Autons, is available at £17 on CD or download. 

Tom Baker returned in 2012 to wear his long scarf again as the Fourth Doctor, and has dazzled listeners ever since. Philip Hinchliffe, one of the most renowned Doctor Who producers, joined Big Finish to curate a series of new adventures, with volume one available at £18 on CD or download. 

One of the great joys for Big Finish fans is the different interpretation of the Sixth Doctor, as played by Colin Baker. You can pick up his final foray (in this particular timeline), The Last Adventure, at £19 on CD or download. 

And, in 2013, to celebrate 50 years of Doctor Who on television, five Doctors met for The Light at the End. This limited edition box set is now available at just £20 on CD or download. 

Many of these adventures, and similar ones from the Worlds of Doctor Who at Big Finish, can be heard in our livestream event this weekend, on the Official Doctor Who YouTube Channel.

To take advantage of the offer visit the Big Finish Website and use access code SIRENS20 to gain access to these special offers. The discounts expire at 23:59 (UK time) on 22 July 2019.

All of these titles on special offer can also be bought in a super bundle at £200.

New portraits of all Thirteen Doctors, from the very first incarnation played by William Hartnell through to Jodie Whittaker, the current Doctor, have been commissioned to one artist for the very first time. Launched at San Diego Comic-Con, they celebrate each of the Thirteen regenerations of the world’s most famous Time Lord.

Illustrated by Jeremey Enecio, the unique designs are inspired by the elements of the different personalities of each Doctor, displaying each iconic costume and well-loved characteristics of each Time Lord in colourful and charismatic detail.

Big Finish Productions have released a new Torchwood Audio play marking ten years since the character of Ianto Jones was killed in the BBC Television series

Originally scheduled for release on 25 July, Torchwood: Serenity has been made available early as a surprise treat for fans of the show and to mark the tenth anniversary.

The story reunites John Barrowman and Gareth David-Lloyd in a new full-cast audio drama.

Tuesday 9th marked ten years to the day since Ianto Jones, one of the most beloved characters ever in the science fiction genre, died in episode four of Russell T Davies’s Torchwood: Children of Earth. Since then, Torchwood has been revived as an international co-production for television in Miracle Day (2011), and continues to thrive in multiple audio drama ranges courtesy of Big Finish.

Fans of Torchwood and Ianto Jones were absolutely dismayed when the character was killed off as a result of gas poisoning by alien menace, the 456. The following public outcry sparked huge online campaigns, a charity fundraiser in his name (which raised more than £10,000 for Children In Need), and even a Ianto shrine in Cardiff’s Mermaid Quay.

James Moran, who co-wrote the 2009 TV mini-series with Russell T Davies and Torchwood TV episode, Sleeper, has returned to pen this new story set before the events of Children of Earth.

And, at first sight, it looks like they’ll live ‘happily ever after’



Writer James Moran shared his thoughts on this very special release: Director Scott Handcock added: Torchwood: Serenity was released at midday on Tuesday 9th July, priced at £7.99 on download or £9.99 on CD.

Today we mark 100 years since the birth of Jon Pertwee.

One of the greatest stars of Doctor Who and one of programmes greatest ambassadors, Jon Pertwee is remembered with as much affection today as he was when he hung up his velvet jacket and shrugged off the character of the Third Doctor at the end of his tenure in 1974. The fact that over forty-five years later the character lives on, remembered in Comic strips and Audio Books, on Blu-ray releases and in fan fiction, is a great tribute to the man who brought the incarnation to life.

Jon Pertwee was born in Chelsea in London on the 7th July 1919, less than a year after the end of the first world war. His destiny was probably fixed from birth, being born into a family immersed in show business. His father was the screenwriter and actor Roland Pertwee. His mother Avice Scholt, left when Pertwee was very young.

A natural rebel, the young Pertwee railed against what he saw as pointless rules and was expelled from several well-known schools. Perhaps the most notorious expulsion was from RADA, the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His crime, refusing to play a Greek "wind" during one of the lessons, feeling it was a waste of both his time and his father's money.

Pertwee was the age to fall right into the middle of the Second World War, serving for six years in the Royal Navy. He had a narrow escape when transferred off the HMS Hood shortly before it was sunk by the German Navy in 1941. A spell in naval intelligence saw him working with future James Bond creator Ian Fleming.

Pertwee was a great mimic and used his experiences in the war to create numerous characters when he drifted into Radio after the war. By 1948 he was appearing at theatres billed as the Most Versatile Voice in Radio. He even developed his own catchphrases. He played the old Postman from Puffney Post Office declaring "It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you tears them up". Perhaps his most memorable character was the conniving Chief Petty Officer Pertwee in The Navy Lark.

Primarily known as a vocal artist, Pertwee had small roles in a number of films, including a couple of Carry Ons. In 1953, he played Charlie Sterling in Will Any Gentleman...? alongside future Doctor Who actor William Hartnell. A main role in television eluded him until he was offered the lead role of George Mannering in the new comedy Dad's Army. It was a role he turned down. Just as well as his biggest success was just around the corner.

In 1969 it was announced that Patrick Troughton was leaving Doctor Who and Pertwee asked his agent to apply for the role. To the agent's surprise, it was revealed that Pertwee was already on the shortlist and the producer, Derrick Sherwin's second choice for the role. The first choice was Ron Moody, who turned it down. The role belonged to Pertwee.

Having won the role that would define him Pertwee now had to decide how to play The Doctor. BBC Head of Drama Shaun Sutton advised him to play the role as himself. Trouble was he spent his life hiding behind invented characters and had no idea who the real Jon Pertwee was.

The character Pertwee eventually found gripped the imagination of the nation. When Troughton left the show it was was in danger of cancellation. Pertwee and team had one season to prove their worth and prove it they did.

A new Producer Barry Letts took over and with Terrance Dicks looking after the storylines one of the greatest creative teams on the series took form. 1971 saw Katy Manning taking on the role of the assistant Jo Grant and when Roger Delgado appeared as the Master, the team was complete. Three seasons of UNIT adventures unfolded. As success grew Pertwee became a great ambassador for the series, travelling the country making personal appearances and appearing on programmes such as Disney Time.

The death of Delgado in a road accident in Turkey slammed reality into the fictional world and when several members of the team decided their time on the series was up, Pertwee concurred. He did one more season, this time teamed up with new companion Elisabeth Sladen and in June 1974 his Doctor breathed his last. The era of Pertwee was over, the era of Baker had begun.

Jon Pertwee had completed five seasons as The Doctor, more than the two previous inhabitants of the role. He recorded 129 episodes of the series, which, if watched back to back, would take 53 hours 26 minutes to complete. It was a role he would always be linked to and a role he returned to when he appeared as the Third Doctor in the 20th Anniversary story as well as the later stage show.

Pertwee would go on to great success in another Children's role, that of the scarecrow Worzel Gummidge, based on the books written by Barbara Euphan Todd. He hosted the murder-mystery game show Whodunnit? and became a regular on such celebrity hangouts as Blankety Blank and Celebrity Squares.

Jon Pertwee was a great convention goer, revelling in the adulation he engendered. He became the first honorary president of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society. Perhaps it was fitting that he was attending a convention when he suffered a heart attack, dying in his sleep at the age of 76. His death came a week before the UK broadcast of the 1996 Doctor Who television film, which fittingly featured a dedication to the actor at its end. He was survived by his wife Ingeborg Rhoesa, and two children Sean and Dariel.

Jon Pertwee's death was a shock for fans around the world. The great man had gone, but his legacy lived on.

The British Museum have recently launched a series of podcasts featuring staff discussing projects and events taking place at the museum.

A regular feature in the podcast is an "Object Of The Month", focussing on an item of interest in the museum. For June's edition, Project Curator for the Money and Medals Network, Henry Flynn, discusses an exhibit on permanent display in the Money Gallery: one of the "£10 bank notes" that originally appeared in the 2006 Christmas Special, The Runaway Bride, and featured the image of David Tennant.

You can listen to the podcast below, and see the note on display at the musuem in London (free entry).