July 17th, 2017
89 comments
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Character Options Renews Doctor Who Licence
from www.downthetubes.net
Toy firm Character Options, who have held the master toy licence for Doctor Who since the show’s 2005 relaunch has renewed its deal with BBC Worldwide as UK master toy licensee for long-running SF TV series, following the announcement that Jodie Whittaker would take up the iconic role, as the first ever female Doctor.
“We are very happy that Character Options will continue to be the lead licensee for our Doctor Who merchandise,” commented Rikesh Desai, licensing director for merchandise and gaming, BBC Worldwide. “Their products excite and delight UK fans and we are looking forward to working closely with them over the tenure of new showrunner Chris Chibnall and the adventures of Jodie Whittaker as the new Doctor.”
Jon Diver, group managing director at Character added: “We are delighted to re-confirm the Master Toy License for Doctor Who with BBC Worldwide which has been one of Character Options’s key brands for over ten years. The global and loyal following for whom the ownership of toys is essential, complemented with the regeneration of the Thirteenth Doctor and Chris Chibnall being the new producer for series 11, we can be sure of an exciting few years ahead!”
The Character Group, which has offices in London, Manchester, Hong Kong and China and employs over 230 people, was founded in 1991 and designs, develops and distributes toys and games. In 2003, the Group made a decision to develop its own products to market along side those sourced from third party distributor partners. Today, over 75 per cent of all products marketed by the group are developed in-house and they’re sold in over 30 countries worldwide.
In the last 12 years, BBC Worldwide’s partnership with Character Options has seen over 10 million action figures and almost five million sonic screwdrivers sold worldwide.
The deal will see a development of new products featuring the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, and new items are expected to hit the shops later this year, with Thirteeth Doctor product becoming available in autumn 2018.
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Maria
October 1st, 2017 - 4:10amWish Character Options did a 5 inch Clara in one of her outfits not a repainted Oswin. Titan Vinyls and Funko at least made an effort.
The Outcast
October 1st, 2017 - 8:51amHey, atleast we’ve got Clara figures, unlike Jamie, Susan, Tegan, Romana 1 and 2, Nyssa and (atleast, at this point in time) Bill.
Dalek4ever
October 1st, 2017 - 9:30amHave to agree with Outcast here. Yeah a proper Clara figure would be nice but think about the many classic fans (including myself) wanting figures like Jamie, Susan, Tegan, both Romana’s, Nyssa, Silurian, Haemover etc (I probably spelt that last one wrong)
WouldYouLikeAJellyBaby?
October 1st, 2017 - 9:43amWe won’t see a new Clara figure as it’s been left too late, but we may see a Bill figure as Pearl Mackie has said she’s seen the prototype. Hopefully we “should” have an announcement from CO within the next couple of weeks.
100,000 BC
October 1st, 2017 - 11:33amIf they do Bill, Ben and Polly I will be very happy.
The Outcast
October 1st, 2017 - 11:49amAs will I. Companions for 1, 2 and 12 sounds like a good deal to me!
LastOfTheSonics
September 9th, 2017 - 9:17pm9th September… still no news on any new products. I get there’s 4 months left of the year still, but anyone else think we should’ve heard something by now?
WouldYouLikeAJellyBaby?
September 9th, 2017 - 11:06pmIt might be a while yet, we didn’t hear anything last year until early/mid October when UT announced the Tenth Doctor in Tuxedo. We know that CO are attending a trade event in early October so it’ll either be then or before.
Anonymous
July 22nd, 2017 - 5:33pmSo, could they do new figures for collectors
I think they should only do the characters that have appeared in supporting Roles in Two and Over episodes
My Thoughts would be
12 Figure (Black and Red Velvet Coat)
Bill
Nardole
Missy (New Version)
The Master (New Version)
Cyberman Set
Ice Warriors
This Would be very easy to make
A Few Variants and Two or Three New Molds
thetruth
July 19th, 2017 - 7:19pmCharacter don’t hardly release anything
the ergon
July 21st, 2017 - 2:32pmOf late I haven,t much confidence in them for a long while aside from a few old rehashes. Although it sounds promising if UT go back to the days of those exclusive 5 inch ranges as part of this relaunch of the show, even if its maybe just a few new characters to test the water so to speak.
thetruth
July 19th, 2017 - 7:17pmArgos never had anything in stock apart from 1 or 2 figures and 1 of everything else. Which is why they never sold. They don’t like stocking anything these days.
Toys r us have tons of Missy left so I guess no one wanted her.
Anonymous
July 19th, 2017 - 1:51pmI think this might mean a return to spamming out lots of 5″ figures at an affordable + or – £10 price range 🙂 I really hope they listen to the fans because we ALL want the red coat doctor xD
Anonymous
July 19th, 2017 - 5:35pmI think most fans would rather new figures then another doctor variant.
Anonymous
August 29th, 2017 - 5:56pmYeah we’ve had enough of Doctor variants. Would be nice to get a new companion or monster for a change. The last figure we got a BRAND NEW monster in 5 Inch was the Peg Doll Soldier in 2011.
WouldYouLikeAJellyBaby?
August 29th, 2017 - 6:27pmI’m hoping CO push the boat out next year in terms of merchandise. Hopefully with a new Doctor and showrunner they’ll put out a decent wave with a Thirteenth Doctor, new companion and a new monster or two. They’ve missed their chance to make a redesigned Cyberman, Ice Warrior and Zygon so they probably won’t bother with any of them, then again they made a Tenth Doctor in Tuxedo figure 11 years after we asked for one.
Anonymous
December 26th, 2017 - 10:41pmDid we ask for that one?
booboo
December 27th, 2017 - 8:28ammany collectors did at the time very much so
ChristopherAdventures
July 19th, 2017 - 12:35pmMy brother made a video on his thoughts about this! Please watch it 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6MJ2v9fLig
DWFAN1
July 19th, 2017 - 5:56pmNice I agree, Awesome channel subscribed!
When The Doctor Was Me
July 19th, 2017 - 9:39amI’m kinda hopeful for a wave of figures now.
12th Doctor (Red coat, New Sonic)
Bill (Smile Costume)
Nardole (No Coat)
Emoji-bot
Ice Queen
Monk
Maybe a couple of episode packs like back in Tennant years.
WEAT Set – Mondasian Cyberman, Cybus Cyberman, 2013 Cyberman
TDF Set – 12th Doctor (injured), The Master, Missy
The Outcast
July 19th, 2017 - 11:19amI’d love this. New villains and twists on old villains. In total, only about 5 totally new figures (most of which can have variant potential, e.g Truth monk) most of the others are either repaints (Cybus Cyberman) or slight remoulds (e.g Missy).
The only one I would change is the Ice Queen, to the New Who Ice Warrior, because army building.
Anonymous
August 29th, 2017 - 6:19pmOh please, not an Emojobot. That episode was rubbish. I’d rather have an Ice Warrior.
Mr. J
July 18th, 2017 - 10:12pmDoes this mean a new wave of figures?! Would love a decent wave of figures from series 10!!! Such opportunity and potential there!!! I think they would sell like hot cakes !!! Please please please!!!
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 10:22pmI expect bill and a couple more 12th Doctor variants, anything else will be a bonus at this stage
if we suddenly get a mass of new figures one has to ask what an earth has been going on the last few years
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 11:24pmand as far a the 13th Doctor goes lets hope we get far more (accurate) variants than we have with the past female figures
Anonymous
July 19th, 2017 - 12:52amwhich female figures didn’t have an accurate look about them?
Anonymous
July 19th, 2017 - 7:41amClara they just repainted an oswin figures dress blue
The Outcast
July 19th, 2017 - 7:43amAmy doesn’t really look like Amy. Same with River and Rory.
Anonymous
July 17th, 2017 - 11:26pmYes because it makes sense to renew a license and do nothing with it.
EndlessTimelord
July 17th, 2017 - 11:27pm“The deal will see a development of new products featuring the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, and new items are expected to hit the shops later this year, with Thirteenth Doctor product becoming available in autumn 2018.” hopefully that means new figures on the way
Anonymous
August 29th, 2017 - 6:20pmRealistically, it means another mug.
booboo
August 29th, 2017 - 6:38pmwell thankfully Characters licence doesn’t cover mugs, only toys
Michael
July 17th, 2017 - 10:24pmWhilst a female Doctor will be a shot in the arm for the series I can’t see it being great for the figure line. I don’t think boys will be buying a girl figure in droves. Girls (13) and old men (12) don’t sell like a dashing young hero.
Hopefully, the line will keep going for us collectors.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:38pmi share your concerns here, especially as the core collectors market is not enough to keep the line going
Pottery Barn
July 18th, 2017 - 8:12ami think there gonna go mad for it like in the tennant days with a massive relaunch of who, we have a new doctor, new show runner, new dwm editor and i think there gonna swamp the market with merchandise.
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 8:42amI really hope so, because nothing much has been working for a while, the high street is virtually void of anything Doctor Who right now.
as merchandise is my thing I will be very interested to see how this plays out
Will a female in the lead role get people buying figures again “on mass”
Michael
July 18th, 2017 - 12:29pmBoys buy action figures. Boys don’t buy girl action figures. I’m generalising obviously but that’s been generally true for a long time.
Perhaps the new Star Wars has changed that? I don’t know.
The appeal of a thoughtful hero ‘action’ figure is limited anyway.
Time will tell….
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 12:41pmCharacter must be convinced
The headline almost made it sound they had only renewed the leisence because of the announcement
Anonymous
July 18th, 2017 - 1:36pmI think Jodie Whittaker’s casting is the entire reason for Character renewing the licence. The most care they’ve put into anything figure related in recent memory were the variants of Missy in that stylish packaging. I doubt they had much intention on doing Series 10 figures beyond another Capaldi variant and Bill before they received this announcement. I hope this means we’ll also see 5″/5.5″ figures of a Zygon, Ice Warrior, and Cyberman from the Smith/Capaldi era.
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 1:55pmif we are now going to get all the figures we want now there is a women in the roll, then they should have cast one 3 years ago!
Ieuan
July 19th, 2017 - 2:43amIn argument to that “boys do not buy girl action figures”, Girl action figures, such as the Star Wars Black Series Wave (Jyn, Rey) are some of the most popular figures in the line and often sell better than the male action figures. Again, with Doctor Who, you would never see any stray Amy figures left lying on the pegs back in 2010 when Series 5 was released. I remember being given Amy as a present for doing well in my school report, and I was just overjoyed that I finally had a female companion in my collection (she was the only one at the time). I can’t imagine a Bill figure not being a big hit with fans (Just as Missy was a big hit) and therefore I think female figures (such as the 13th Doctor) will sell extremely well and have a better chance of being sold then yet again another 12th Doctor Variant…
booboo
July 19th, 2017 - 7:54amI think we all hope the line does well, but if that is the case (and I dont think Missy did well to be honest) its rather odd that over the years we only got for the most part one or 2 variants of each companion (and not even an accurate Clara to this day) as opposed to 10+ of each Doctor.
If female figures are good sellers now we should get at least 5 Bills (she had some wonderful costumes)
However it could just be that because she is “The Doctor” and lead character we get 10+ figures of here but nothing else much will change.
Ryan
July 17th, 2017 - 10:15pmStill only plans for New Who, no Classic Who then?! There are SO many wonderful characters we would like to see pre-2005, particularly companions e.g. Sarah Jane Smith, Professor Litefoot & Henry Gordon-Jago (especially after the incredibly sad new of the passing of Trevor Baxter RIP), Susan, Harry… pretty much every companion, the list is endless! Don’t want to see anymore repackaged figures, we want NEW ones!
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:22pmthey said in a recent DWM that there would be no classics in the foreseeable future
That isn’t because they dont want to make them, its because retailers are not interested enough in them
Ryan
July 17th, 2017 - 10:23pmOh, that’s a real shame! I thought it would’ve been something like that… The retailers may not be interested, but I’d say the fans most definitely are! Since when do they speak for us?
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:35pmthere are not enough fans
classic wave 2 did not sell so retailers like Argos didn’t want any more
UT/FP took over and after a good start demand dwindled, especially in the states
end of the classics, for now
Bruno B
July 18th, 2017 - 9:18amRetailers are the ones paying for the figures, so if they don’t want to buy toys, we don’t get them.
Antonio Zambonini
July 18th, 2017 - 6:20pmThats destroyed my fan life now rip classic figures alot of them would of been amazing but now its gone i guess its end of the line for me
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 6:40pmwell never say never
i’m sure in the future you will be able to 3D print a very accurate and coloured version of virtually anything
Someone
July 17th, 2017 - 10:05pmim mainly hoping for a 5 inch bill
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 10:10pmshe was openly telling people one was coming at a recent convention and we know she has seen a finished prototype
DoctorSong2016
July 17th, 2017 - 10:14pmI suppose she could have been taking about a Titan or Pop though
DoctorHawk
July 17th, 2017 - 9:06pmI’m hoping more wider retail stores like The Entertainer or Smyths will consider picking up the newer toys.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 9:12pmboth have not had Doctor Who stuff for sometime, nor has Argos except for the sonic, its these retailers you have to get back on board really, as well as the supermarkets
LastOfTheSonics
July 17th, 2017 - 8:33pmIs it possible we might see or hear something at SDCC in a few days time?
Anonymous
July 17th, 2017 - 8:34pmi highly doubt it
DoctorSong2016
July 17th, 2017 - 10:14pmIf a Bill figure is coming they’ll either have it or at least talk about it there.
The Outcast
July 18th, 2017 - 10:39amWe won’t have to wait long atleast.
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 10:49amWe dont know if UT has any input to the figures anymore or are even interested in Doctor Who, if not we wont hear a thing unless Pearle herself shows it
most manufacturers announce in advance what’s happening
Demdike@CultLabs
July 17th, 2017 - 7:55pmWhat did i say yesterday?
The merchandise explosion will begin after Christmas.
Mr Fish
July 17th, 2017 - 7:04pmGood news – there are plenty of characters from Capaldi’s era that could sell! Just hope they give us something.
EndlessTimelord
July 17th, 2017 - 6:57pmBooboo what do you think the chances are of getting a Wave of 5-6 figures from Series 10? This looks to be good news! 😀
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 7:03pmI really don’t know, i thought they had renewed the licence some months back to be honest
it just says new products with the 12th Doctor, could be anything.
Jordan Scott
July 17th, 2017 - 6:53pmI just want a decent line of Series 10 figures, like 5 figures or something as suggested in the poll. As long as they do that I’d be happy.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 6:57pmthink we will all be happy with that
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 7:10pmI certainly would!
DannyTheNerd
July 17th, 2017 - 8:05pmAs would I!
Edward
July 17th, 2017 - 6:41pmThe company needs to revert back to the better, more accurate 5″ action figures for series 11 onwards. The 3.75″ are rubbish; never bought them.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 6:42pmi assume that line i dead, unless they try it again of course
TigerMan1995
May 18th, 2018 - 10:06pmI thought they said the 3.75″ line was dead as it was selling at all as no one wanted them. I certainly don’t want them. I was disappointed back in 2013 when I got the Eleventh Doctor figure. I sat looking and went “WHYYY”
DannyTheNerd
July 17th, 2017 - 6:38pmGreat news!
LastOfTheSonics
July 17th, 2017 - 6:37pmBill and 12 repaint is all we’re likely to get to be honest.
Would absolutely adore it if we got a whole new wave of figures though. Still, no harm in dreaming.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 6:44pman accurate Clara would be nice, and I really don’t know why we have not had a Cyberman with so many variant possibilities
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 6:46pmAnd they would sell well
The Living Shadow
July 17th, 2017 - 6:56pmAnd they’re army-builders! I know I’d buy at least 3..!
The Outcast
July 18th, 2017 - 10:02amI would buy all the Cyberman variants.
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 10:10amhow many are there
With gun
without gun
wooden
Brigadier
Danny Pink Face
any more?
The Werewolf
July 18th, 2017 - 10:15amWith and without partially black handles.
booboo
July 18th, 2017 - 10:28amin The Dotor Falls, they should have had some gold ones, to show they had evolved beyond being effected by gold
also, if possible, when in Scotland, the Tardis should have changed to an Edinburgh style police box ( we know it can change police box styles)
all these missed opportunities
Dalekparadigm2
July 17th, 2017 - 6:27pmExcellent
Mechanoid Fan
July 17th, 2017 - 6:24pmHere’s hoping for Bill and Nardole – and of course our new Doctor!
Bicky
July 17th, 2017 - 5:31pmHardly exciting news…The days of loads of new and different new series and classic series figures are over!
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 6:31pmtime will tell, we are in unknown territory, and we don’t know if the CO/UT ties are severed, might get an idea this week from SDCC
Anonymous
July 17th, 2017 - 5:25pmThey wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. New figures and saving lots of money here I come
prototype dalek
July 17th, 2017 - 4:57pmSo far so good, really hope they make something with it then just a couple of B&M and TRU exclusives
Joey
July 17th, 2017 - 4:43pmSo do you think we’ll get some Series 10 figures by the end of the year??
Anonymous
July 17th, 2017 - 5:48pmMost likely seen as they said there will be new Twelfth Doctor products so most likely Bill and Nardole will be out.
booboo
July 17th, 2017 - 6:18pmwe could do, it all sounds very positive although toys r us were not expecting anything this year unless something has changed
I think we will get BIll, as for the future i hope they can work out a way of getting the figures to market quicker