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December 17th, 2021 176 comments

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Doctor Who B&M 2022 Robot Set

Character Options is excited to announce its first new Doctor Who line for 2022, scheduled to land in B&M stores in mid January 2022.

A single remarkable new set will mark a year in which nine new lines have been delivered to B&M. Titled ROBOT, fans can look forward to a classic era figure set based on the debut 1974 episode featuring the ‘new’ Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker. The set comprises two figures: The Fourth Doctor in his original shabby red jacket, long stripy scarf and fedora and the K1 Robot. Created in 5.5” collector scale, each has multiple points of articulation and comes packaged in the familiar ‘heritage’ style Doctor Who collector packs with specially created insert artwork.

The back story and inspiration for the set:

In the episode, someone or something has broken into a secret research facility and stolen plans for an advanced disintegrator gun. The Brigadier immediately involves the newly regenerated Fourth Doctor, and it’s decided that they should protect the different facilities where parts for the gun are manufactured. It is all to no avail, as soon, all the components for the weapon have been stolen and not just by a common thief!… As The Doctor himself notes: “…According to my estimation of the resistance to pressure of vegetable fibre, it was stepped on by something that weighed a ¼ of a ton!’

The culprit is in fact a huge robot, which is well over seven feet tall, named after its creator and called The Kettlewell K1 Experimental Robot. Sarah is the first to discover the Robot’s existence and she feels great pity for it when it is asked to go directly against its programming and seems to be in pain. It soon turns out that there is a huge conspiracy and, at the centre, there is a group of scientific reformers who are thinking the unthinkable, and intend to hold the world to ransom with the disintegrator gun or, if their demands are not met, destroy everything and “start again!”.

The scientists, including Sarah as hostage plus the Robot, retreat to an underground bunker to realise their plan. U.N.I.T. attack the bunker and, in the confusion, the already conflicted Robot accidently kills its creator Kettlewell.

The death of its creator drives it insane and, as U.N.I.T. forces move in, the Robot attacks. This prompts the Brigadier to fire the disintegrator at the Robot which grows to an enormous size. The enormous Robot now seeks to protect Sarah and grabs her. The situation ends with The Doctor remembering having created a metal virus which is thrown onto the robot, destroying it.

Al Dewar, Creative Director of Character Options says of the set: “This one is very personal to me. This is one of my formative Doctor Who memories of the then brand new Fourth Doctor and the Robot. I absolutely love this story with Tom Baker in his original and, I still feel, most iconic outfit, and the Robot, which is a lovely piece of design and looks terrific onscreen.

“The figures may have been realised before, but the eagle-eyed will notice one or two subtle and some not-so-subtle changes. On the Robot figure I was keen to get the details right and add one or two little ‘tweaks’, so we now have a ‘slim’ version of the claw hand along with a complete deco makeover. The aim was first to get a more ‘shiny’ correct silver on the body and then adjust the original red colour on the body and clear lenses of the face to a more authentic purple tint.

On the Fourth Doctor figure we have managed to closer match the hue of the red of the jacket, which many thought was too dark on the first release, plus his head and hat have been reworked.
Whether new to the brand or an established collector, there is something new for everyone in this set. It is my belief that your action figure collection will never be complete without a K1 Robot and Doctor set! There, I’ve said it!!“

Fans will be able to collect this brand-new set in-store from Mid January 2022.


Categorised under: Doctor Who 5" scale figures, Toys

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176 comments

  • booboo

    February 7th, 2022 - 10:30am

    please lave comments in the stocks arrive post now https://merchandise.thedoctorwhosite.co.uk/bm-2022-4th-doctor-and-robot-set-stocks-arrive/

  • mick

    February 7th, 2022 - 7:45am

    These are in stock at Grimsby store around about 20

  • Andy

    February 6th, 2022 - 7:43pm

    Let’s hope the absolutely abysmal distribution, particularly down south, is sorted out. I know myself and others are getting sick to death of going store-to-store daily for weeks trying to get figures only to learn we can’t and then being left at the mercy of eBay scalpers. It was almost amusing a few years back doing it once or maybe twice a year; now it’s just become a tedious chore. Eventually people will just give up and stop buying these and that will be the final nail in the coffin for a line which has been all but given up on anyway.

  • Birdy98

    February 4th, 2022 - 7:14pm

    Looks like there’s going to be some very rushed waves again this year seeing as this one is already two months behind schedule and we’re no closer to the announcement of the new three figure packs…

    • Al

      February 5th, 2022 - 9:45am

      Two months? Was due mid January? Rumour has it will be out Monday so only make it month late.

    • The ergon

      February 5th, 2022 - 12:56pm

      There will most likely be leaks again before any official announcement. Its the way of things these days.

    • Birdy98

      February 5th, 2022 - 2:06pm

      If the original leaks are anything to go by, it was originally penned for mid December but no announcement came. It then was pushed back until late January following the delays last year, we’re now in February and still no sign.

    • Al

      February 5th, 2022 - 4:16pm

      Let’s hope they are out Monday. Boo boo says they’ve been sent out a while back.

    • booboo

      February 5th, 2022 - 4:22pm

      I think some are now on their way to stores

    • Al

      February 5th, 2022 - 5:33pm

      North or south? Both?

    • Emma

      February 5th, 2022 - 7:12pm

      The set is available to order by stores now. They have them at the warehouse as I’ve seen it in the ordering system in a store. I would ask stores to order it. My store has and I will let you guys know if it arrives.

    • Mark Stevenson

      February 6th, 2022 - 9:49am

      Should be inshore tomorrow then

    • Al

      February 6th, 2022 - 10:05am

      My store says they need product code to request item for warehouse. Guess I’ll just have to sit tight I hope they turn up this week

    • Mark Stevenson

      February 6th, 2022 - 4:57pm

      Went to bnm in wellingbough Bedfordshire still no k1 robots yet

    • Mark Stevenson

      February 7th, 2022 - 7:04am

      Hope there out today going to look later

    • Al

      February 7th, 2022 - 7:40am

      I’m up north, so will have a look today

    • Mark Stevenson

      February 7th, 2022 - 8:23am

      Going to have a look later to see there be in

  • AL

    February 3rd, 2022 - 9:48am

    Do we know price? £19.99 as per? Hoping they hit the shelves this weekend?

    • mark stevenson

      February 4th, 2022 - 8:57am

      NOT BE THIS WEEKEND

    • Al

      February 4th, 2022 - 8:59am

      Why not? I thought a lot of stock had been delivered just waiting to be put on shelf? Fair distribution?

    • mark stevenson

      February 4th, 2022 - 11:27am

      ask boo boo

    • Al

      February 4th, 2022 - 11:49am

      Boo boo thought this weekend. Also 7th February i see. So very soon I guess, wonder if north and south get the set at the same time.

  • mark stevenson

    February 1st, 2022 - 8:42am

    1st of feb still no sign looks like a map again

    • booboo

      February 1st, 2022 - 8:44am

      it won’t be long, stock arrived a while ago but looks like they are going for wider distribution this time

    • mark stevenson

      February 1st, 2022 - 1:17pm

      when will they be at the bedford stores you know boo boo

    • booboo

      February 1st, 2022 - 1:28pm

      I’m guessing this weekend possibly

  • mark stevenson

    January 25th, 2022 - 10:06pm

    this must out this weekend

    • TimelordTim

      January 25th, 2022 - 10:31pm

      Maybe, but I wouldn’t count on, or even hope for, it. Given the delays in previous waves it may be a bit longer before this arrives. We’ll just have to wait and see, this site is great and will make it clear when the stock hits the shelves.

    • booboo

      January 26th, 2022 - 9:00am

      you could be right…

    • Steve

      January 26th, 2022 - 9:02am

      7th Feb being reported by the guy who buys loads of cases to sell on

    • booboo

      January 26th, 2022 - 9:05am

      Then they will have been siting around for a while by then

    • Gez

      January 26th, 2022 - 12:30pm

      Robot was the first episode I ever watched as a child. Trying my best not to feel old

    • AC

      January 27th, 2022 - 11:45pm

      Reasonably good authority has it that B&M want them spread around their distribution network before any stock is triggered for release to the stores. Whether this has anything to do with the poor distribution of the previous wave I’m not sure, I suspect it’s partly the reason.
      Should be imminent, quantities suggested at circa 7K units too.

    • booboo

      January 28th, 2022 - 12:05pm

      sounds about right, next weekend i think now

    • the ergon

      January 28th, 2022 - 6:32am

      As long as its not 1K units for K-1.

  • shaun

    January 25th, 2022 - 7:53pm

    its not getting put on the shelves until the 7th of feb

  • the ergon

    January 23rd, 2022 - 7:04pm

    I,ve just been rewatching this in anticipation for the imminent set.

    • Coleman

      January 28th, 2022 - 10:06pm

      Ah ah, did you notice the Action Man tank, ergon?

    • The ergon

      January 28th, 2022 - 10:51pm

      To be honest the tank never really bothered me. The shaky doll in giant k1s hand however…

  • Ian

    January 23rd, 2022 - 2:24pm

    23rd Jan Still no K1 Robot sets out . When are we likely to see them in B&M??

    • booboo

      January 23rd, 2022 - 3:15pm

      soon

    • mark stevenson

      January 23rd, 2022 - 9:38pm

      give us another map

    • Nathan

      January 24th, 2022 - 6:43am

      Wave hasn’t hit the shelf and people already wanting the next wave out calm down

    • HS

      January 24th, 2022 - 10:45am

      Jeez, is it your first time here guys? Patience.

    • Robert W

      January 25th, 2022 - 9:05pm

      Some people have no manners

  • mark stevenson

    January 22nd, 2022 - 3:22pm

    been to b n m today in both shops no k1 sets yet out yet

    • X

      January 24th, 2022 - 10:46am

      Duh dude, they haven’t hit the shelves yet xd

  • Birdy98

    January 22nd, 2022 - 11:11am

    Any rumours as to the other sets we’re getting this year? Seems strange nothing has been leaked as they have previously…

    • grizzlelee

      January 23rd, 2022 - 9:49pm

      I am hoping for a Trial of a Timelord set.

      Set One: The Valeyard, Vervoid and King Yrcanos
      Set Two: Sabalom Glitz, Mel and Mindwarp Peri (with swappable head- hair and bald)

  • mark stevenson

    January 19th, 2022 - 10:00pm

    this out yet boo

    • MJG

      January 20th, 2022 - 12:36pm

      I’m going to look today

    • DBC

      January 20th, 2022 - 2:44pm

      My local B&M said they receive all new stock on Sundays/ Tuesdays, so I’ll be checking beginning of next week.

    • MJG

      January 20th, 2022 - 5:48pm

      Ah OK. I went in today and all they had was the Earthshock double pack . Quite a lot of those and the mini Daleks pack and those really bad 10th and 11th Doctor statues .

    • mark

      January 21st, 2022 - 1:15pm

      weres that dbc im from bedford

    • Keith Millward

      January 23rd, 2022 - 7:44pm

      The 10th & 11th Doctor Dynamix sets are awesome

  • Ol

    January 17th, 2022 - 8:45am

    Will a post be made saying when the k1 Robot sets come out on here?

    • booboo

      January 17th, 2022 - 8:57am

      yes

  • mark stevenson

    January 12th, 2022 - 10:36pm

    hi all this should be in bnm stores next week then

    • The ergon

      January 13th, 2022 - 12:25pm

      I was rather hoping it would to go live tomorrow but more likely next week or back end of the month.

    • JLBWHO

      January 14th, 2022 - 12:36am

      Do you know what day? Hoping to get there before they sell out. Also do the B&M online store sell this?

      Thanks

    • Coleman

      January 14th, 2022 - 1:21pm

      I’m only guessing JLBWHO, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it isn’t weeks still before we see these in shops.
      All of these sets recently have been delayed significantly compared to the original release dates.

    • JLBWHO

      January 15th, 2022 - 8:09am

      Finally had the chance to get to B&M (really out of my way and I don’t drive).
      They didn’t have the robot set but managed to grab the sensorites set which was reduced to £12.99.

      Happy I found one of the sets haha

    • John Hogg

      January 15th, 2022 - 11:59pm

      came in to the warehouse on 7th so shouldn’t be to long now usually a Thursday they start showing up in stores funnily though only one seller on ebay has them at pre order and ebay is usually good inclination when due out

    • Rob

      January 16th, 2022 - 8:37am

      I dont see how ebay preorders are a good indicator for anything as it’s just sellers taking early advantage of buyers for a product. Any of us can do this if we have a store manager that will reserve stock for us.

    • booboo

      January 16th, 2022 - 8:43am

      last I heard they had not arrived yet

    • HS

      January 19th, 2022 - 10:43am

      Indeed, eBay is NOT an indication that something has been released, its just people wanting to get money sooner…and god forbid them ending up not getting the product xD

  • Birdy98

    January 12th, 2022 - 12:39am

    I’d be interested to see what the interest would be (speaking completely hypothetically of course) if character tooled up a brand new wave of classic figures and released them exclusively online (or perhaps got other stores to buy into them).

    I’m sure if they were a character online exclusive and were a wave of incredibly well tooled figures, people wouldn’t mind paying a fair price for them…

    For me though they would have to be figures of a standard that character rolled out in the early days with detail that went into the likes of Dr. Constantine… you could clearly tell who the actor was playing the character.

    Obviously very grateful for B&M’s continual releases but seems such a shame that the market isn’t there anymore for a wider spectrum 🙁

    • Coleman

      January 12th, 2022 - 4:10pm

      Hello Birdy98. To Answer your question, if Character Options did tool an all new range of Classic Dr Who figures, I should imagine with them being 5.5 inch in Scale they would probably be a similar price to the Star Wars 6 inch Black series line at around £25 per figure.
      I’m not sure alot of Dr Who fans would buy into this.
      I think why the B&M range is so popular at the moment is because it is a “Budget” line where you get THREE figures for less than you would pay for just one figure with new tooling.
      Not sure what Booboo would say with is wealth of knowledge on this matter?

    • Bundy

      January 15th, 2022 - 9:34am

      I do wonder if the B&M range (which we are all eternally grateful for) has in some way restricted possibilities for future figures (beyond the occaisional on-line exclusive). As you say, folk are used to getting 3 figures for £20 so it would feel a huge jump to go down to 1 for £25. Had B&M never happened people may have gone for it, but now I’m not so sure….

    • the ergon

      January 15th, 2022 - 11:02am

      Doctor Who doesn,t have the mass world wide appeal that say Star Wars has, and even they struggle to sell action figures they put out at £25+ that contain many accessories. Other than the Budget line with 2-3 figures or previous release this is the only way these can be achieved. Character are quite shrewd and innovative the way they reuse existing figures to create something new human or humanoid but the bigger more cumbersone items that dont already exist would be more difficult without new retooling unless like for example they use Rotocast as in the case of the Gelguard. I,d like to see them attempt a snowman or something like this way if possible.

    • John Hogg

      January 15th, 2022 - 11:57pm

      they won’t make new figures it costs over £30k to tool a machine but they should at least re release sets that they still have moulds for

  • Chris

    January 4th, 2022 - 8:31am

    As a US collector, I wish my biggest problem was I have to drive around to find the figures. The thrill of the hunt has always been one of the main reason I collect toys. I hate paying ebay/Amazon prices also but I joined the party late so I’ve been overpaying for years. And now with no US distributor I have to pay the ridiculous international shipping charges ta boot with no chance of finding it in a US store. I’m just grateful the line keeps going. Most other toy lines would have been put down by now. And the last 2-3 years have arguably been the best since it’s heyday. So keep doing what you got to do character options. I’ll patiently wait for my Barbara and Susan figures. Just keep the line going somehow. And Thanks Booboo for your info, no way I could collect the entire line without this merchandise guide. I still keep stumbling on variants throughout this site. May the line never reach it’s inevitable end!

    • Evan

      January 5th, 2022 - 12:33am

      I feel you. I’m from the us as well. So there is no b&m for me, I joined the party back in early 2021 so about a year ago I believe. I wish I could get this set without having to pay much for it. I really have been needing the k1 robot and a new 4th Doctor so this would have been a great opportunity to do so.

    • Coleman

      January 6th, 2022 - 2:46pm

      Yes, I totally understand your problems Chris. Aswell as Dr Who I also Collect StarWars merchandise and with me living in England I’m always having to buy off Ebay amongst other places at top prices for the many American exclusives out their. (Target, Walmart, Kmart, FAO Shwarz, JC penny etc, etc) that are not in the UK.

    • Rob

      January 16th, 2022 - 8:42am

      If you look at what happened with Doctor Who North America, they imported stacks of B&M releases and are stuck with them. Over 340 3rd Doctor sets! As a business you dont want lots of money tied up in stock that you cannot sell. Doctor Who is still niche in the action figure market.

    • Coleman

      January 19th, 2022 - 11:05am

      To be Honest Rob, I think in the not too distant future all Action figure Franchises will be niche. Even large Juggonauts such as Star Wars, Marvel and DC.

  • Slitheen71

    January 3rd, 2022 - 9:56am

    We do need the kids that still play with toys and we need to encourage them to want to buy the figures again to relive the adventures off the TV. We might then expand the range and get them into other stores physical or online again.
    The trailers are just for adults with the Dr monologuing and assistants running about and all the monsters being kept secret. I could see my 7 year old self just walking away like I’d just seen a trailer for antiques road show. The flux trailers should have just shown Sontarans, daleks, cybermen and angels for 2 mins. Kids don’t care there’s a new assistant. RTD was good at promoting the monsters to kids. The BBC should have worked with Character to have a flux range out for Christmas with the figures in the shop at the beginning of November. Tooling is expensive and the monsters were old monsters so use the cybermen from the RTD era, they were only seen briefly. Use RTD Sontarans but change the costume colour to classic colours.
    What a range for kids
    13th Dr
    Yaz
    Non electronic TARDIS with insert card
    Sontaran soldier
    Dalek
    Cyberman
    Weeping Angel
    All existing tooling with new paint apps
    Maybe adding a Calvanister or swarm figure with new tooling to round out the wave. 2 goodies and a host of baddies to army build for play value. All unwrapped Christmas day with the show concluding in Dec. and with a dalek special to watch new years day. The best chance for a figure revival we’ve had.

    • TheBrigadier@2013

      January 5th, 2022 - 6:25pm

      The problem is that such a decreasing number of people are watching the new episodes of the show, the market to tap into there is shrinking, and unlikely to generate the revenue needed to make it viable

    • MJS

      January 12th, 2022 - 8:05am

      Sad thing is, it’s not kids buying these anymore. It’s adults, keeping them in boxes.

    • booboo

      January 12th, 2022 - 10:52am

      sort of sums it up and its now very much a collectors market which has limits, if kids start to play Doctor Who in playground again and action figures become a thing once more then it might be different.

    • lister

      January 12th, 2022 - 8:59pm

      I’m one of the adults buying these…but I definitely don’t keep them in the boxes.

    • ROb

      January 16th, 2022 - 8:45am

      Those days are over I’m afraid, unless they invest in the new RTD series from the start. Who hit peak at the 50th and then started to decline from there. Plus lots of retail outlets stopped selling Who figures or the stores dissapeared from the high street.

  • Birdy98

    December 30th, 2021 - 11:48pm

    I’m predicting one of the sets will be in some way relevant to the master as he seems to be slipping under the radar recently…

    Perhaps we will see a three figure set devoted to the master? If so my prediction would be;

    – Roger Delgado Master in grey suit
    – John Simm Master in Series 10 outfit
    – Missy

    I’ve read somewhere that they can’t produce anymore Anthony Ainley figures as there is a problem with his estate not wanting any further resemblance being used but if that’s not the case, an Ainley figure in his typical black outfit would replace Missy.

    Just my thoughts…

    • Rex Farrel

      December 31st, 2021 - 7:11am

      The lack of Ainley figures, beyond the Planet of Fire Kamelion, was always a little odd. His fee demands used to be quite high, so it’s always possible the estate are following along the same lines.

    • Martino

      December 31st, 2021 - 12:09pm

      I would love to see a tweaked re-release of the Axos creature with one of its ‘other’ heads, paired with the cloaked Five Doctors Third Doctor (repainted in dark colours)

    • Andy

      January 1st, 2022 - 3:04pm

      Rex,

      Ainley’s likeness rights are not an issue after his death and his estate is unmanaged owing to him having no heirs.

    • Birdy98

      January 2nd, 2022 - 10:38am

      Andy,

      Do you know why Ainley figures haven’t been a big thing?

      I’d have thought with him being the prominent master through most of the classic series we’d have seen more figures, especially considering how many different outfits there are for him.

    • Robert Watkins

      January 2nd, 2022 - 11:20pm

      He would need a new body, expensive for B&M. Depends how many releases they can get out of it.

    • Birdy98

      January 3rd, 2022 - 8:32pm

      Surely they could use the original Delgado master body and adapt the torso? Save a whole new body sculpt…

    • Rex Farrel

      January 3rd, 2022 - 10:09pm

      Hi Andy,
      How come Ainley’s likeness rights aren’t an issue? They are for most actors, because it’s why Eaglemoss couldn’t do the War Chief (unable to track the heirs of Edward Brayshaw). Ainley does have heirs though because he left a will – but I’m not macabre enough to buy a copy to find out who! (It’s from £1.50 at the Probate service if anyone is.)

    • Robert

      January 16th, 2022 - 4:51pm

      They are no issues with Ainley rights, it’s how to make the Ainley Master from other stories with existing tooling that’s an issue

  • Slitheen71

    December 26th, 2021 - 10:34pm

    Wow another year over and 10 sets put out, 22 figures and 2 fantastic TARDIS designs. It’s true i could have done without another 5th Dr but that a side another brilliant figure selection equal to Forbidden planet releases from Dr Who’s heyday. Distribution not brilliant but I think 2021 will be known as the year of bad distribution, from toys to food. Considering these sets were created in the year 2020, the year the world stopped i want to say the following.
    Thank you Character for releasing new and exciting characters instead of just phoning in re-releases for 1 year.
    Thank you to B&M for getting these on the shelves at all in a year when everything was difficult to distribute including food an petrol.
    Saving the biggest thank you for last, a big thank you to you booboo for keeping us informed on everything from the world of Dr Who.
    2022 and the Robot set to kick us all off, brilliant.
    Happy New year and good hunting.

    • Grant P

      December 27th, 2021 - 4:01pm

      Here here! Without this site I would be lost! And yes there may be distribution issues but hey if we can all help each other out on where to get be these then great! Long may the line continue and I’m sure next year we will get some new companion figures!

    • Birdy98

      January 2nd, 2022 - 10:42am

      Absolutely.

      I just hope that B&M takes the stance that Forbidden Planet did with their exclusives… every store stocked and ready to hit the shelves on a set release date so that scalpers don’t get the advantage and so that people don’t have to trek up and down the country looking for figures in stores.

      Other than the distribution issues, it’s great to see more and more figures coming through. I hope we see the classic Davros selection make their way into a few sets and maybe a 3rd and 7th doctor regenerated to complete the classic regeneration sets?

  • Dalek Eye Stalk

    December 24th, 2021 - 3:38pm

    Where’s the K1 Robots mouth? At least on the collect and build version it was more prominent as seen on screen.

  • Philip Shaw

    December 23rd, 2021 - 12:35pm

    Great set, my only problem is with the Tom Baker face. The original smiling face was great but this one looks more like Stephen Fry!

  • Grant P

    December 23rd, 2021 - 8:45am

    What’s with all the winging? I for one as a collector don’t feel that my passion has been eroded! I am grateful like most others for any releases we get and that B&M sell these and this new set K1 Robot & Fourth Doctor looks amazing! We have had new figures this year, who would have thought a few years ago we would finally get an Ian figure, and suspect we will get new companions next year! long may they continue!

    • Philip Shaw

      December 23rd, 2021 - 9:22am

      You can’t fault the figures, it’s the distribution and getting hold of the items that people find annoying.

    • Nicholas Saunders

      December 24th, 2021 - 2:10pm

      Correct. It’s not the figures that I was criticising per se as I do appreciate any Dr Who figures being released, it is more the B&M end of things. As I said, I totally get the business model here, but MY passion – and I apologise for speaking for others – is being eroded by the hunt and almost always having to resort to scalpers.

      I also fully appreciate the ‘new figures in Ian, Zoord, Sensorite, Raston Robot, etc but I stand by my point that unless we get a wider range of figures or more inventive variants, I feel another Company will step in here and maybe start making their own line. I also feel that there are others out there like me who are bored – if that’s the right word – with variant figures. I’ve been reading a lot on how the Retro Transformers, He-Man and Star Wars ranges have underperformed – He Man especially – as they are basically repackaging old figures with minor tweaks and fans aren’t buying in big numbers. Look at how Mego’s Planet of Apes retro line totally bombed for same reason. I accept some collectors will collect, but ultimately feel new product is needed to sustain toy lines.

      And just picking up on another thing in my original comment. I am fully aware that BBC Drama and BBC Enterprises are separate, but there’s a few interviews I’ve read over the years and a couple of videos on YouTube about this, that do strongly suggest the production office do liaise with Enterprises about merchandising. And with RTD’s next era being a co-production with the BBC and his production company, I would be amazed if he’d not had a merchandise clause in their deal. Not only a fan, he’s an astute businessman and will know how much money – bottom line – his production company could make from merch, so will be all over this.

      And, yep, this is a ‘first world problem’ as one poster said, but this is a Dr Who merch site, so I was just saying how I felt on that subject and will save my views on bigger issues for more appropriate avenues.

    • booboo

      December 24th, 2021 - 2:54pm

      The whole thing most likely weighs on getting the big retailers back on board who will commit to buying, without that nothing will happen sadly and never will. I think sometimes people are taking far to a simplistic view of how the real world works in retail.

      As for B&M they pay for the sets and its up to them what they do with then, They are delivered direct and Character have no input on whats happens from there.

      The online exclusives work because they are unique but still use for the most part existing or prototyped parts.

      Brand new figures requiring totally new tooling are a completely different ball game and I’m sure would require a very heavy commitment from multiple large retailers.

      Doctor Who is a TV programme with essentially a core UK market now, not star wars, marvel, DC etc. Action figures are not the “in thing” they were 10 years ago, Character have done remarkably well to bring to market what they have and still do.

    • Robert Watkins

      December 26th, 2021 - 6:01pm

      B&M are discount retailer, not a toy and specialist like Forbidden Planet use to be. Highly unlikely you will get any company taking the toy license for 5” figures. The days of Doctor Who being massive again died just after the 50th.

    • Spacewarp

      December 31st, 2021 - 12:22pm

      To be honest I have noticed a couple more Doctor Who themed toys sneaking onto B&M’s shelves, like the “Invasion” and “Skaro” mini-Dalek sets, and a couple of 11th and 10th Doctor 8″ models (I think they’re about 8″, they’re not my bag so i didn’t buy them).

      So that could be an indicator that B&M are satisfied with the response to Doctor Who toys.

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