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November 21st, 2024 48 comments

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B&M 2024 Friend & Foes of The Doctor

Character Options’ Christmas Doctor Who new offering for B & M stores unveiled

The new sets will make the perfect gifts for fans of the legendary Time Lord

Just in time for the big day and due to be at B & M Stores throughout the UK, Character Options is proud to reveal two new Doctor Who figure sets. Each comes in the ubiquitous celebration packaging designed with the fan collector in mind.

The first set is a trio of 5.5” (14cm) scale figures entitled: Friends & Foes of the Doctor.

This set comprises Professor River Song as seen in the 2010 episode The Pandorica Opens, the Cyberman with Heavy Weapons as seen in the 2011 episode A Good Man Goes to War, and the Gold Clockwork Droid from the 2006 episode The Girl in the Fireplace.

The River Song figure comes decorated in her black ‘stealth’ outfit briefly seen in the part where she is breaking into Liz 10’s secret archive to locate a Vincent Van Gogh painting. She sports a revised head sculpt with ponytail which appeared in that scene, and completing the outfit is her utility belt and holster with detachable blaster accessory.

The Cyberman is presented in the standard livery of a silvered armour over darker silver joints and come with the somewhat incongruous ‘Reaper’ heavy blaster weapon seen in this episode while the ‘Gold’ Clockwork Droid is a variant never released before but has as usual the removable mask with hair, arm mounted utility weapon, and the internal clockwork parts as seen inside the transparent clear head.

The next new set is the 19th in the history of the eminently popular History of the Daleks series.

This new chapter for the series is a celebration of black and bronze and features Daleks from the 2005 episode featuring the Ninth Doctor called Parting of the Ways.

In the episode, Rose Tyler has been captured by the Daleks and the Doctor must do some fancy flying to find her. Emerging from the TARDIS, he taunts the Daleks to find out information and is staggered to find them worshipful of something or someone. The source of this enthral is revealed to be the self-proclaimed ‘Emperor of the Daleks’, a survivor of the Time War. This set includes a black and bronze Imperial Guard Dalek and a fully bronze Dalek – all part of the massive Dalek army that has been created by the Emperor over the centuries.

The two new Doctor Who sets will be available from B & M Stores from early December.


Categorised under: Doctor Who 5" scale figures, Toys

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48 comments

  • mick

    December 8th, 2024 - 1:31pm

    These have now arrived at the warehouse don’t know how long it will be before they start sending them out to stores

    Reply
  • Jay

    December 8th, 2024 - 12:40pm

    Are we getting a map for this release?

    Reply
  • Anthony Fagn

    November 27th, 2024 - 6:50am

    Total of 4 sets as each of the 2 sets has a variant version.

    Reply
  • Martino

    November 25th, 2024 - 12:06pm

    This is one of those rare releases which doesn’t quite ‘fit’ in my collection – there’s no theme uniting the three figures, and tbh I was hoping they might at least be from the same story. The Clockwork Droid variant is very nice, I might pick up a loose one later, but generally not much appeal. My B&M didn’t stock the Davros/Dalek releases, so I might not see them anyway.

    Reply
  • toptimelord

    November 24th, 2024 - 1:08pm

    I won’t be getting these. More varient figures we’ve already got when we should be buying new figures from the 60th specials or new season.

    Reply
    • Doctor Stu

      November 24th, 2024 - 6:24pm

      Zero interest in anything from the new season. A total flop. But the 60th would be good. A proper Donna, Meep and toymaker. But that’s about it. At least the River is somewhat new

  • demdike@Cult Labs

    November 23rd, 2024 - 5:06pm

    The more i look at the River figure the more her head seems too small for the body.

    Reply
    • HS

      November 24th, 2024 - 2:53pm

      Look at side images if the figure. It looks better and you can see her ponytail.

  • beef

    November 23rd, 2024 - 3:22pm

    Anyone else notice how the hemispheres on the NSDs are poorly aligned towards the front? The columns are slightly lower down.
    They never used to be like that, it’s quite annoying and really obvious to me

    Reply
    • The Destroyer of Worlds

      November 23rd, 2024 - 10:17pm

      From photos of it in hand, it looks much better colour wise.

    • beef

      November 24th, 2024 - 8:47am

      It’s not the colours that I have an issue with, it’s the weird alignment of the hemis. Although, I do wish the rings around the hemis were painted. Probably too finicky of a paint app, but then, the die-cast dalek figures from 2005/6 had them painted and as a result those remain the best looking new series dalek figures to date imo.

    • Charlie

      November 25th, 2024 - 9:00pm

      For some reason they have been this way on the NSDs since the Crucible Dalek release back in , though oddly on the Supreme Dalek / Davros / Ironside releases they have a more level set of front hemis! A mystery!

    • Walter Hardback

      November 26th, 2024 - 12:37am

      They did a “more accurate” new Dalek mold, didn’t they, adjusting some of the proportions? Presumably this was when the hemispheres changed, although I’m not enough of an expert on the toys to know exactly when the new mold was introduced.

  • Neutrobyte

    November 22nd, 2024 - 7:02pm

    I’m going to bring it up because nobody else has: If the Cybermen are supposed to be from “A Good Man Goes To War”, then why did CO give the Cyber Leader the head from “Army Of Ghosts” and “Doomsday”? When Rory is speaking to him at the start of the episode, you can clearly see that the Cyber Leader has the later head introduced in “The Next Doctor” (with the black face-plate and visible brain). If CO can afford to remake the Assault Dalek’s flamer, then they can afford to give the “A Good Man Goes To War” Cyber Leader the correct head!

    Reply
    • Doctor Stu

      November 23rd, 2024 - 12:26pm

      The black handles are a variant I believe, the standard release in this set is accurate with the silver handles. Black handles are an easier rare variant to slip into the release than an entirely different head. They did it with the scarecrows, cracked angels in series 5 etc. but that’s when we actually had a show people adored with merchandise effort to match

  • Hewy

    November 22nd, 2024 - 12:18pm

    What I find interesting is that B&M want a fixed price to sell, obviously Daleks & Cybermen do well, but to any casual buyer, River Song and especially the Clock Work robot are ancient history. Why not a reissue or varients of the “fam” etc.. something a little more current & modern?

    Reply
    • Dalekoddjob

      November 22nd, 2024 - 12:52pm

      They have already done a shelf warming Fam set.

    • Walter Hardback

      November 22nd, 2024 - 2:51pm

      I ended up with one of those ‘fam’ sets as an effective freebie with something else – they basically forced me to have one if I wanted the good stuff on the cheap. I’m thinking I’m going to make a custom ‘Bradley Walsh on The Chase’ figure and give what’s left to someone I don’t like at Christmas.

    • Harry Oldman

      November 22nd, 2024 - 2:57pm

      The classic waves are all shelf warmers at my local stores. The amount of time lord sets in the clearance is astounding.

    • Doctor Stu

      November 23rd, 2024 - 12:28pm

      To be fair, the droid and riversong are the only reason I’m getting the set. I Want to see the yellow droid alongside the black, blue and purple. Would be a lot better if it was the red version with larger gown so there’s a different shape to the silhouette we’ve had four times now but it’s better than nothing

  • mick

    November 22nd, 2024 - 11:18am

    Due at central warehouse around 2nd december

    Reply
    • The DR.

      November 22nd, 2024 - 2:08pm

      Thanks Mick, Much Appreciated.

  • Lucinda

    November 22nd, 2024 - 9:21am

    Would like a dan lewis figure in the future

    Reply
  • Ian

    November 22nd, 2024 - 8:32am

    Looks like the attachment of the claw arm is the same from the first release. I’ll get the Daleks that’s all. Underwhelmed by these.

    Reply
  • Doctor Stu

    November 22nd, 2024 - 7:54am

    I’ll be getting the riversong but it’s a bit lazy to just paint her entire body black. It’s nothing like the outfit she actually wears. Could have used a Peri from the caves of androzani for the body, even the Sarah Jane white and brown jacket figure painted black. Just anything a little more accurate than a big old winter jacket painted black.

    Reply
    • Snowman

      November 22nd, 2024 - 1:58pm

      Don’t think RiverSongs body will be painted, would be much easier just to inject Black Plastic into the Mould, then jobs a good un.

    • Jamie

      November 22nd, 2024 - 3:04pm

      I just watched a review and River Song is fully painted. Matt and shiny black and the silver bits on her belt.

    • Snowman

      November 22nd, 2024 - 5:18pm

      What Colour plastic are they using Jamie?
      Seems abit odd using a random colour plastic for the body then having to paint them all Black?

  • The Ergon

    November 21st, 2024 - 6:15pm

    The variant friends and foe set i will pick up. Not so much the bronze daleks. All my favourite daleks were from the classic series.

    Reply
  • Button

    November 21st, 2024 - 6:07pm

    Now I wonder why the Cyberman does not have the properly moulded chest symbol from the ‘closing time’ Corroded Cyberman, if memory serves it was a separate piece that was glued onto the figure.

    Reply
    • Dalekoddjob

      November 22nd, 2024 - 8:18am

      Because its from a Good man goes to war probably!

  • Snowman

    November 21st, 2024 - 4:59pm

    Both Sets look Nice, I think the packaging from the last Couple of Years really sets them off. The Clockwork Droid looks Great, I think it’s one of my Favourite Villains from Nu Who.

    Reply
    • Doctor Stu

      November 24th, 2024 - 11:32am

      That’s not what he’s saying, the closing time cybermen had a better head sculpt and the chest piece moulded on. It looked a lot better. This is just a painted black ring like the original release of the closing time cyberman with the series 2 head. It’s probably the one figure in this set with the least effort put into it. It’s essentially a direct rerelease with black veins and silver paint

    • Snowman

      November 24th, 2024 - 12:32pm

      Eeeehhhh? I only said I liked the Sets (and the Packaging).

  • MattY

    November 21st, 2024 - 4:40pm

    Clockwork Droid variant and River Song are ok – not exciting but nice to add to the collection. The Dalek set is disappointing. Another bronze Dalek – why not an updated version of the Assault Dalek? And the black and gold Dalek….why? Was really hoping it would include the Imperial Guard Dalek with the black top and large gun that is seen on screen for substantial amount of time (not blink and you’ll miss it) that was only released as a 3.75” figure. Hey ho. It doesn’t bode well for the Doomsday set which can only be a bronze Dalek and Dalek sec. With the variety of Dalek designs much more limited in NuWho than the classic era, this could have been something more relevant to the story and different. The one plus of this is the money I will save. : )

    Reply
    • The Destroyer of Worlds

      November 21st, 2024 - 5:16pm

      The Assault Dalek is the variant of the Dalek set, it’s gonna have the claw arm from the original modified for the new ball joints. They just haven’t shown pictures annoyingly.

    • Doctor Stu

      November 24th, 2024 - 11:37am

      They won’t release Dalek Sec again, they did him last year. They covered doomsday and Dalek. So the next set will have to be daleks in Manhattan. Or if they want to cram in the cult of skaro, they can release Jast and the genesis arc and then Caan and damaged Thay from series 3. Then everyone will be covered, despite them releasing Dalek Sec with the completely incorrect ID tag

  • Jay

    November 21st, 2024 - 4:37pm

    I assume B&M already have the stock? I see no chance of them being ready this side of Christmas otherwise.

    Reply
    • Snowman

      November 21st, 2024 - 5:12pm

      Available from Early December, Since that’s only just over a week away, they must be in the UK already I guess.

  • Loobop p

    November 21st, 2024 - 4:27pm

    the names of these sets got leaked months ago they sounded alot more exciting than they actually are. A perfect for december release would have been robot santa and 2 pyjamas doctor variants or donna in wedding dress with jacket less doctor. Arn’t b and m sick of dalek repaints yet. At least one modern doctor figure would be better than all this.

    Reply
    • Jamie

      November 21st, 2024 - 4:50pm

      Over a decade of B&M sets and people still think we could get new figures like Robot Santa or Wedding Dress Donna?

    • Paul

      November 21st, 2024 - 5:34pm

      If my grandmother had wheels, she would’ve been a bike.

      It’s B&M, what you’re expecting is way too much for their budgets! Dalek sets DO sell, so of course B&M and Character aren’t going to stop producing them, especially if they’re improvements on the original figures from 2005.

    • Snowman

      November 21st, 2024 - 6:31pm

      B&M are selling Three figures for £22 when the going rate for one Figure is £20, has shown by the recent Ruby/15th Doctors Exclusive/Retail Figures.
      Honestly the B&M figures are only Dirt Cheap because there basically repacks that cost nothing Tooling Wise.
      B&M could make 3 packs with New Figures included that people keep asking for, but they will cost over £60. ( I have to ask Will anyone buy them)?

    • Snowman

      December 1st, 2024 - 4:38pm

      To be Honest I would pay £60 for a Triple Pack of New Dr Who Figures. ( I’ve been used to paying these prices for years with being a Star Wars fan). But since I’m just One Fan, would CO make these sort of sets just for me?

  • Tom Williams

    November 21st, 2024 - 4:05pm

    Defo love both sets especially parting of the ways it would be best with the recent 9th dr/10th doctor regenerated set but the clock work man is also stunning 🙂

    Reply
    • Tom Williams

      November 21st, 2024 - 4:08pm

      Ment too say the set I brought off eBay the original realise from 2005 lol

  • Jamie

    November 21st, 2024 - 3:50pm

    Its fun to get some modern series variants like this. I really like the River Song, and its nice to finally get a Cyberman with the underwiring painted darker. I believe the Cyberman also has a non leader variant.

    Reply
    • Doctor Stu

      November 22nd, 2024 - 7:53am

      I’ll be getting the riversong but it’s a bit lazy to just paint her entire body black. It’s nothing like the outfit she actually wears. Could have used a Peri from the caves of androzani for the body, even the Sarah Jane white and brown jacket figure painted black. Just anything a little more accurate than a big old winter jacket painted black.

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