March 11th, 2025
79 comments
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Doctor Who The Third Doctor and Sonic Screwdriver Vortex Edition
Available to order from www.character-online.com
This is the first of 5 sets planned for the year.
As usual with Exclusives, it’s a small team back at Character and demand is always huge so postage can take up to a week despite what it says on the website. So, bear with them on this.
Also, this set is an even lower run than usual, so do act quick if you want to get your hands on one. It includes features that there are no plans to replicate too. So, it truly is unique!
Character Options reveals the first Doctor Who exclusive of 2025 – The Third Doctor & sonic screwdriver set Character Options and BBC Studios are proud to announce the first of five planned exclusive Doctor Who sets for 2025, with the release of the latest Doctor Who ‘Vortex Edition’ toy, The Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) & sonic screwdriver. The set will go on sale today, 11th March 2025 solely through www.character-online.com.
The set comprises of a brand-new Third Doctor figure with an electroplated electronic sonic screwdriver. This higher specification ‘Vortex Edition’ Third Doctor figure comes with some of his iconic accessories.
The figure now features an entirely new head sculpt based on his early appearances circa 1971. The figure is decorated in the costume specifically seen in the 1971 story ‘The Daemons’. It makes use of the new higher specification decoration techniques on the head as well as a greater degree of detailing on the jacket and paisley cravat. The removable cloak accessory features a metallicized satin purple lining and joins other accessories, the Crystal of Kronos (from ‘The Time Monster’) and a giant maggot (‘The Green Death’).
Also included in the set is a full-size electroplated Third Doctor electronic sonic screwdriver. This style, with bright electro plating, has never been released before, and features a different sound chip, updated neck decals and revised colours on the emitter head.
The story of ‘The Dæmons’:
“In the peaceful village of Devil’s End something very strange is happening. A professor is preparing to open a nearby burial mound and a local white witch has foreseen death and disaster. Meanwhile, the new vicar looks suspiciously like the Master and he is using black magic to conjure up an ancient Dæmon. Can the Doctor, Jo and UNIT stop their old enemy before he succeeds?”
This stunning new set that commemorates the classic story is on sale now through www.character-online.co.uk and costs £44.99. Each online exclusive release has unique features not to be seen on retail versions and with a limited amount available, this set is certainly one not to be missed!
Ends.
Categorised under: Doctor Who 5" scale figures, Toys
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kaz
March 11th, 2025 - 3:20pmEasy pass for me, can’t justify the price for 2 rereleases when I don’t collect the sonics, meanwhile 15 and Ruby were 2 100% new figures and cheaper
Matt Y
March 11th, 2025 - 3:18pmThe more I think about this figure the more cheesed off I get. I don’t mind a variant and with Pertwee there are lots to have with his different costumes and the head sculpt is great.
However…that head sculpt is surely for Season 7 Pertwee with the shorter haircut.
The accessories that have no connection to the story the figure is from.
The inclusion of a sonic that I don’t want
But it’s the price! £45 for one vortex figure! 15th and Ruby – £40. But £45 for one mainly reused figure (only a new head sculpt – which I know is the probably the most expensive part to produce), with reused accessories seems to be a joke/rip off.
This has not been thought through well or if it has the idea, for me, fails.
After years of searching for figures that may or may not come into B&M, the CO releases were at least a balance for that hassle. Now what we have is B&M style set but for exclusive prices.
We are told how pleased CO are that we collectors continue to support the line and then they offer us this. Poor show CO.
Stewart
March 11th, 2025 - 3:07pmOrdered – no idea what the heck to do with the sonic though 🙂
6sek
March 11th, 2025 - 2:16pmEven though I have ordered this the price is ridiculous because it’s just a new head sculpt this could have easily been a b&m release
Jamie
March 11th, 2025 - 2:00pmThis is a surprise! Not as exciting as some of the other CO exclusives but still very nice. The new headsculpt and paintjob is very nice. And very glad I can finally get that giant maggot. And looking at the box it seems it will be random which version of the maggot we get!
Doctorbendisco
March 11th, 2025 - 1:57pmOrdered can’t wait
Peter bullwinkle
March 11th, 2025 - 1:44pmThank you ordered very happy. And back to work.
The Destroyer of Worlds
March 11th, 2025 - 1:11pmThe price completely kills any interest I have in this. It costs more than the 15/Ruby two pack, the Ruins of Skaro set AND the Fugitive TARDIS set.
Loobop
March 11th, 2025 - 12:53pmcharacter usually teases these things we get our hopes up with something we really want then get disappointed at the reveal lol.i hope all doctors get these figures with unreleased outfits and sonic screwdriver releases. The sonics of any doctor below 14 is hard to get hold of nowadays and there are so many china fakes on ebay.
Vladnag
March 11th, 2025 - 12:52pmI was going to get this but then read the press release:
“Each online exclusive release has unique features not to be seen on retail versions and with a limited amount available”
I’m going to assume the unique features are the Sonic and the Maggot/time crystal accessories, so I’ll probably skip this version in the hopes I can get the actual figure for cheaper as a retail release
Jamie
March 11th, 2025 - 1:58pmAl Dewar just said on Gallifrey Base that the new headsculpt will not be getting a general retail release.
Steven Taylor
March 11th, 2025 - 2:44pmI doubt that, they wouldn’t make a new head sculpt for a one off release, they already paint old figures and call them new to save money
daz
March 11th, 2025 - 5:42pmI expect Liz Shaw with 3rd Doctor (and this head sculpt) will be a future exclusive to CO then.
Simon
March 11th, 2025 - 12:47pmJust ordered one. This will be my first ever 3rd Doctor to add to the collection. And with bonus sonic too. I really like the design for this figure. What a nice surprise for a Tuesday!
Pertwee’s Pyjamas
March 11th, 2025 - 12:37pmThat was a nice surprise! Ordered mine straightaway, and the website worked smoothly!
Coleman
March 11th, 2025 - 1:11pmYeah, Not so Great for Me, I ordered more or less Straight Away but as a Guest.
It Wouldn’t Accept my password, kept saying it was wrong, Then i used the “Forgot Password” Option, then it said my Email Address Doesn’t Exist, LOL (which I always use on this Site).
So Quickly Gave up and Ordered as a Guest to save all the Stress.
Vladnag
March 11th, 2025 - 12:23pmI wish they’d have updated the articulation in the shoulders if the Vortex collection is meant to be a definitive version of each Doctor, especially considering it’s £45 and I’m not really interested in the Sonic!
Seems like they’ve combined a random box of bits to justify the price without doing a whole lot to the figure outside of the new head sculpt! Still going to grab it but I’m not as excited as I’d hoped, especially with the last releases being 15/Ruby and the amazing Ruins of Skaro set
Nice to get my hands on a Maggot which is the only accessory I need, would rather have had all 3 and a few exclusives rather than the Sonic!
Amelia
March 11th, 2025 - 11:59amWhen do we think the other sets will be released?
The Outcast
March 11th, 2025 - 12:39pmI expect they’ll be coming in the back half of the year. If we’re really lucky, maybe we’ll see the next one in May/June.
Douglas
March 11th, 2025 - 11:49amMaybe in the pipeline a Second Doctor with sonic…..?
A Sixth Doctor with sonic lance…..??
An Eighth Doctor with his sonic….????
Well, i can dream…….and Who Nose…..???
The Ergon
March 11th, 2025 - 12:34pmIts new added accessories that would sell subsequant releases more if there arent new characters or monsters lined up in these packs.
Robert Sienicki
March 11th, 2025 - 1:27pmI hope one will be coatless 14th. Would love that one on my shelf.
I’m Batman
March 11th, 2025 - 11:48amDoes this sonic have a button or is it pull down to activate?
Mark Belsom
March 11th, 2025 - 12:44pmPull down to activate the sounds.
TimelordTim
March 11th, 2025 - 11:32amA very nice figure and an unexpected release, especially with the sonic.
This seems the best opportunity for them to have done Liz, as that hasn’t happened I expect we will never get one now. It’s a shame but there we go.
If this is the start of a range of Doctors + Sonics then I won’t be getting any of the rest. Too pricey when I’m not interested in the sonics in general.
However, this is a great sculpt, Pertwee is my favourite, and it’s my birthday this month and been looking for something to treat myself. So this may be purchased as a one-off.
Snowman
March 11th, 2025 - 11:11amOrdered, Looking Forward to it Arriving in a Few Days.
Cully’s Pal
March 11th, 2025 - 11:04amNever mind the Doctors – again ! Theres a universe of classic monsters to produce out there. Its a nice enough figure and the new heads good… but Im not one who wants the same characters again and again unless its a major difference say Bill in his white web planet outfit or Pat in his moonbase space suit. Meanwhile there are Yeti’s, Silurians, Quarks , Zarbi etc etc etc.
Matt Y
March 11th, 2025 - 12:38pmExactly right. Where are the monsters!!!! This could have been a perfect time to have done a monster! The Maggot isn’t is on the list when there are so many wonderful monsters to choose from. And the inclusion of the sonic hasn’t gone well with me as I don’t collect the sonics. And now to get the new figure I have to spend more.
This could have been a start of newly sculpted heads for the doctors with a classic monster and preferably not one I would like to army build. Maybe Alpha Centuri or a Season 8 connected character such as a female Axon.
But two things not from that season seems a bit odd.
And it has been said in a previous comment that if this is a run of Doctors and Sonics I am not going to be impressed. I would rather pay £24.99/£29.99 for a new figure.
Great new head sculpt – but maybe Spearhead would have been a better for this set.
Surely CO would make more money if it sold the figure and the sonic separately?
This feels like a ‘quick let’s make a bit of money by reusing moulds we all ready have and chuck it together’ set. We have that from B&M we don’t need it from CO as well.
Please release some monsters! Or some companions. Please stop selling us the same thing over and over. Make the line exciting.
Junior53
March 11th, 2025 - 3:04pmYes new monster or new companions.
So many companions never had there figure yet. Susan, Jamie, Teegan, Mel, or even some secondary Kate Stewart, Nardol, Dan !
Haza14
March 11th, 2025 - 5:42pmIt’s easy to complain but I do agree with this sentiment. Why mix two collections and rely on people wanting both items. A better idea might have been to release “ultimate” Doctor Vortex figures for £25 each, or a two pack with a rerelease companion or monster. I’d say a Doctor and monster two pack for £45 would go down a treat. They could release electro plated sonics for £25 each individually for those that want them too. What they’ve gone with feels like a bit of an awkward middle ground that will please fans that want a figure AND the sonic, but is a bit tricky to justify for anyone else.
The figure does look good though. If they do a 12th Doctor one I might bite, as that’s a Doctor I never brought originally. But other than that, I think I will pass unless they really pull out all the stops with a figure.
Junior53
March 11th, 2025 - 11:01amIf they made a full range, I would be interested by a 2nd Doctor set as the sonic never been released.
Dengawill
March 11th, 2025 - 10:55amLooks great, unfortunate there’s a cost of living crisis
Steven Taylor
March 11th, 2025 - 10:53amLooks great but i’m not paying £44.99 for it, it’s only the figure I want and I have no doubt it will pop up in a three pack for £21.99 later down the line
Robert Sienicki
March 11th, 2025 - 10:50amHe looks great, shame it’s so pricey. Would love the figure, but I don’t care about the Sonic. And with this sonic it costs more that Ncuti and Millie two-pack.
Joseph Walsh
March 11th, 2025 - 10:43amDame definitely want this hope it’s still there on Friday when I get paid
The Ergon
March 11th, 2025 - 10:32amThats a lovely figure with a few repackaged accessories. Im just not interested in the sonic.
So will this be the start of a range which covers all the doctors by helping shift a few sonics ?
daz
March 11th, 2025 - 10:26amI guess we can now expect many more exclusive Doctors if this sells well.
£44.99
I only want the figure though for the new head sculpt.
Spacewarp
March 11th, 2025 - 11:57amI suspect there’ll be a lot of split packs on Ebay because those who only want the sonic will sell the figure, and vice versa (and looking at comments it seems about equal). However, they’ll likely be at least £30 plus postage, so you might as well buy a set anyway and sell the one you don’t want. That way the release is successful and CO will do more. The same thing happened with the 13/14 Regeneration set, except that was skewed because 14 was far more sought after, but it didn’t happen with the Warriors of the Deep set because all three figures were essentially the same.
David
March 11th, 2025 - 10:24amOrdered, but when is it meant to be released.
booboo
March 11th, 2025 - 10:38amits in stock now i think
John
March 11th, 2025 - 10:23amGot my order in nice and quick as can see this selling out fast.
mb
March 11th, 2025 - 10:21amWow! What a nice unexpected release 🙂
prototype dalek
March 11th, 2025 - 10:21amWell this is certainly different