March 11th, 2025
224 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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Pjd94
March 24th, 2025 - 9:12pmHow about a TOATL 6th Doctor (long hair and red cravat) with 1:1 scale sonic lance…
Or a 12th Doctor with guitar accessory and a real pair of Ray Bans…
The DR.
March 25th, 2025 - 10:41amI can’t Ever remember Colin with long Hair, as it was Curly, like Tom Bakers?
Douglas.
March 25th, 2025 - 12:04pmIn TOATL he did indeed have rather long curly hair……almost a 70s look….
Letting his hair down….?
So did Peri….
I would love to have a sonic lance….
FH
March 25th, 2025 - 6:18pmHe definitely had long hair, The DR, that’s why we’ve never gotten that version of his outfit, because his hair was so significantly different it’d require a new headsculpt.
Tom Williams
March 25th, 2025 - 6:59pmSeason 23 ? I remember all the time as it is the art on the blu ray limited edition boxset lol
The DR.
March 25th, 2025 - 10:03pmHello Everyone, I should have made my point a little clearer, as reading it back myself it is a little Vague.
What I was meaning was people with really Curly hair never seem to have really long hair. If they try to grow it long it just seems to grow up and out rather than long at the Back. (Abit like Afros).
Think of The Jackson Five from when Michael was young and you might get what I mean?
Radburn
March 23rd, 2025 - 10:23pmWell if they do a 2nd. Doctor with life jacket & blue woolly hat with a pen sonic it’s an immediate purchase for me!
Drew
March 24th, 2025 - 10:32amThink the next release will be the Season 18 4th Doctor with new head sculpt wearing his hat from the LH
Rob
March 24th, 2025 - 2:51pmI thought the Go Figure book was due out last year?
Douglas.
March 24th, 2025 - 3:23pmOh wow…oh goodness…..most definitely……
But (probably misquoting Hannibal) never in a thousand years, probably….
worse luck….
Pipkin
March 25th, 2025 - 1:46pmMore exclusive accessories would make these more an imperative for me and i never would have bought a sonic had they not been packaged in with figures but i was rather impressed with the updated version.
daz
March 25th, 2025 - 4:22pmIn reply to Rob.
Go Figure was delayed as they kept finding more prototypes and information to be included.
The main book has just been completed after proof reading. So should be released soon.
booboo
March 25th, 2025 - 4:40pmnow includes right up to the 3rd doctor/sonic vortex set
JRT!
March 25th, 2025 - 5:18pmIs there any info on this Go Figure book? A link where to buy? Sounds like summat I would like and sure I missed out on this,so my bad if there’s been summat about it on this site already. And sounds really up to date as well.
daz
March 22nd, 2025 - 12:30pmGood to see they’ve included this figure in the Go Figure book so it is fully up to date before it goes to print.
Radburn
March 21st, 2025 - 7:52pmI was just happy to see it on this site & that it was still available to buy when I purchased my copy. I’m hoping to catch the other releases when they show up here. Many thanks to Booboo!
ste
March 21st, 2025 - 5:00pmgiven that the plastic has 3 different slots shapes does that mean there are 3 different versions of the maggot, i’m glad i collect the figures and not the accessories it would get mighty expensive to get all 3 version in box, i bought another 2 as they are still available and i’m using them to customise so i’ll see which arrive
Young J
March 20th, 2025 - 8:22amI have received my order this morning at 8:09 am by royal mail and it is the best set of 2025 so far
mick
March 20th, 2025 - 11:05amNice one
Douglas.
March 20th, 2025 - 2:00pmThe only set so far……so therefore the best…..
jimmyjimjames
March 20th, 2025 - 12:31amGot mine today – ordered Sunday!
Bought 2 – got different maggots!
As much as I like the set – it should have been £30 max!
Dalekoddjob
March 21st, 2025 - 11:37amSeriously? Where can you get a figure or sonic for 15 quid???
The DR.
March 21st, 2025 - 1:42pmYeah, I was just Thinking the Same. The only way to get this Set for 30 Quid is to get the Figure for around £15 and then the Sonic for Another £15. In 2025, It’s never Going to happen.
The Flying Shark
March 21st, 2025 - 1:55pmThe figure is no more complex than the ones in B&M for £7 and the Fourteenth Doctor sonic is £18
The Outcast
March 25th, 2025 - 7:02amThe retail sonic isn’t chrome plated, and the B&M figures have less expensive deco and less accessories. If you look at how much the other chrome Sonics cost, they’re about 30 quid, the figure is probably about 15 with the new head, more detailed deco and extra accessories. Also worth mentioning there’s only 4000 units, which is about half the number of units that B&M sets get, which means each unit produced is going to be more expensive. So the price makes sense.
pb
March 19th, 2025 - 3:39pmGot the set today. If I had one complaint about the Sonic, which I presume is just how all classic sonics are (I’ve never owned one before) it’s that the other sound effects are really hard to access if you’re trying to do it properly. I’d have preferred if they just had a panel, or a system whereby you twist the sonic to set it to play the sound effect you want when you pull it down. That would be way more accurate and fun. As it is, it has accurate sound effects for the first time, which is amazing, but they’re a bugger access one-handed.
Drew
March 19th, 2025 - 9:09pmYAY I GOT THE ATTACKING MAGGOT NOT THE SLEEPING MAGGOT 🙂
Clay
March 19th, 2025 - 2:08pmMine arrived today and I have *thoughts*. For what it is, I think it’s gorgeous – the head sculpt is great, the deco is well done, it’s easily my favourite third Doctor so far. I don’t think the price was bad either – the figure is on a par with £20 offerings in other lines, and I’d happily pay £30 for that sonic at retail, so £45 for both feels pretty good.
But as a Vortex Edition figure, it’s kind of a disappointment. The whole selling point of the VEs was improved articulation and paint apps, and while the apps are great, the 15-year-old body sculpt isn’t. And when you factor in that this head was sculpted for an unreleased set, there’s nothing in this box that was actually newly-produced for this release. If the other Doctors get VEs that are essentially just repaints, it feels like a bit of a let-down; if they get improved artic, then this release will stick out horribly, so it’s a bit of a no-win situation. It also would have been lovely if, nice as this deco is, the costume matched the head – in particular the Spearhead black outfit would have gone great with this month’s Season 7 Blu-ray release (especially with a second, hatted head).
I really like the sonic though – it’s so shiny, and has different sound effects to my old version (which I think is the v2, the emitter ring is roughly the same colour as this new one rather than the bright red v1).
On balance, I’m going to focus on how nice the actual product is, and try not to think about the missed opportunities it represents – I definitely don’t regret picking it up.
Also – “this is the first of 5 sets planned this year” is really vague. Does this mean five VE sets, possibly in this ‘Doctor + sonic’ format? Five online exclusives? Or just five Doctor Who sets in total across the year, including any B&M releases?
Young J
March 19th, 2025 - 4:06pmI didn’t receive my order from character options which was ment to be delivered to me today but royal mail this morning between 9:38 am -1138 am and the postman driver thought my road and street this morning with out stopping to delivered my parcel and the tracking number is said that it should be delivered today Wednesday 19th march 2025
beef
March 19th, 2025 - 10:34pmwhy do people reply to posts with personal anecdotes that have absolutely nothing to do with the original comment lol
Uncle Davros
March 21st, 2025 - 5:03pmI concur entirely. As lovely as the figure is, it’s still the same old Pertwee sculpt. It would’ve been fantastic to have a figure with ball jointed arms and maybe even a swappable head on a peg (the new head sculpt and previous head sculpt).
Also, is it just me or is the head sculpt just a little too small for the body?
Clay
April 4th, 2025 - 10:45pmThe head does seem a little small – I’m not sure if it’s out of proportion, or if the bulky cape makes it look that way – or if it’s because the previous one always looked a bit too big to me.
Young J
March 19th, 2025 - 11:48amMy order said it was going to be delivered today between 9:38 to 11:38 and I haven’t received the item from royal mail this morning he went right through my road with out stopping to delivered my parcel
William
March 19th, 2025 - 6:39pmUnfortunately that is a common story at the moment, my best guess is would be that Royal Mail delivering it won’t be your local mail office but rather the bigger general mail office so they won’t know the area .
Suggest contacting support or wait it out as they will try a couple of Times and then eventually it will be sent to the local mail office for delivery
Young y
March 18th, 2025 - 8:37amI have received a update from character options that my order is coming Wednesday buy royal mail
mick
March 18th, 2025 - 10:27amsame here
Daniel
March 18th, 2025 - 11:32pmSame to can’t wait
Tom Williams
March 17th, 2025 - 5:40pmMy options tonight is do i buy this one which is more tempting then anything or buy the last 6th doctor trail of time lords books :/
Daniel Seymour
March 18th, 2025 - 2:21pmFrom a purely economic point of view, buy this figure. The last Trial book will crop up more often for sale than this will when its sold out. I assume you mean ‘The Ultimate Foe’? I think its the most common of the Trial books out there.
Tom Williams
March 19th, 2025 - 7:19pmI did sadly mean all the 4 books sadly but brought season 2 books in the end tbh this figure i more say if its around by the end off the week then i bag one lol
Pb
March 17th, 2025 - 2:06pmGreat, still nothing. :/
mick
March 17th, 2025 - 2:33pmCustomer service have told me mine is getting sent out today but not had a dispatch email yet
Pb
March 17th, 2025 - 3:23pmI just got a dispatch email a few minutes ago, they’ve sent it out today.
Young j
March 17th, 2025 - 4:40pmI have been informed by character options customer service that I revised my tracking number by royal mail and it is dispatched
William
March 15th, 2025 - 6:34pmmine arrived ed this morning , great set .
wonder if we will see the young 2nd doctor head make a appearance sometime .
Pandoricus
March 15th, 2025 - 5:03pmSorry if this has already been said and/or collectors know this, but there are three variants – three possible maggots. If you look at the plastic holder the maggot is held in, you can see from the shapes inside the mold that it allows for two other possible maggots. No idea how easy it will be for completists to get all three types from Character. Maybe if you order three you get one of each or maybe it’s just random ones. Maybe worth messaging them to find out how it works and if they can help.
masterdoctorten
March 16th, 2025 - 2:56pmYou cannot order three.
The max per customer is 2.
Dalekoddjob
March 17th, 2025 - 8:17amI ordered two, one for me one for a friend and we got the same maggot.
Spacewarp
March 17th, 2025 - 2:55pm@masterdoctorten It’s 2 per order, not customer. You simply go back and make another order. I am aware of someone who has ordered 6 by this method.
mick
March 15th, 2025 - 2:52pmStill waiting on mine to be sent out.
pb
March 15th, 2025 - 3:07pmSame. No email or anything. Looks like we’ll have to wait for Monday at the earliest. 🙁
Drew
March 15th, 2025 - 3:38pmStill waiting for mine too
Mrbadwolf
March 15th, 2025 - 4:33pmMe too – I asked customer services for an estimated despatch date. They stated that due to a high volume of orders, they couldn’t provide a specific despatch date and are sending them out in the order they were placed. They did provide me with a tracking number which proves useless thus far. Hopefully Monday I’ll be on its way!
Mrbadwolf
March 16th, 2025 - 1:09pmAccording to customer service, due to high volumes they’re sending them out in the order that they were placed (around 17:00 on Tuesday for me). They sent me a tracking number but couldn’t provide an exact despatch date… hopefully tomorrow fingers crossed! The tracking currently shows nothing
Kone112
March 15th, 2025 - 2:38pmGot mine today , my maggot isn’t aroused. But it’s a great set , more please.
Frankie Howerd’s ghost
March 16th, 2025 - 7:22pmI don’t need to know its state, never mind your nickname for it…
Sime
March 28th, 2025 - 10:36amMine’s flaccid too. I think it’s cute. Bless it!
Snowman
March 15th, 2025 - 11:39amAfter having a Good look at my Set this Morning, Even though I don’t collect Sonics and was mainly after the Figure, I have to admit the ScrewDriver is lovely. The Electroplating as turned what was once like a small Childs Toy into looking like an Actual Prop.
GrantP
March 15th, 2025 - 10:29amJust when I was like no more this stunner comes along..take my money..take my money..oh you already have! First sonic screwdriver for me as well!
Jamie
March 14th, 2025 - 2:14pmArrved earlier. The new head sculpt is truly stunning in hand.
Richard
March 14th, 2025 - 1:57pmThe more accurate early Pertwee head is a nice touch but it’s also something that never bothered me. The figure I want to see revised most is Sylvester McCoy. I want a hatted 7th Doctor with a “serious” face, the smiling one always creeped me out.
Walter Hardback
March 16th, 2025 - 7:30pmThat’s one of my main wants too, but hearing that this Pertwee head was already around from an abandoned B&M set makes me less optimistic. (Meaning it’ll be the 3D printed one from you-know-where and a battle to remove the old one without resorting to the toolkit.)
Warrior Doctor
March 14th, 2025 - 1:31pmMine is on the way – Great looking set! Would a series 10 Simm Master with metallic laser screwdriver be wishful thinking
The Living Shadow
March 14th, 2025 - 2:26pmWOW that would be brilliant!!
Mrbadwolf
March 14th, 2025 - 12:23pmMine says “complete” but no tracking number and “not yet shipped” I ordered it on Tuesday… anyone in the same boat?
Young J
March 14th, 2025 - 12:40pmI am in same boat as well no shipping date or tracking number
mick
March 14th, 2025 - 1:27pmSame here
The Living Shadow
March 14th, 2025 - 10:51amI feel like I’m the only one who wants just the Sonic Screwdriver haha, I’m going to have a fun week of searching eBay for the best deal haha…
I think the price for the set overall isn’t too bad but I’d like to know the other 4 sets before I buy any, I’m not sure I can fork out £200+ unless there was some major retooling (really hoping we get the Tenth Doctor with the ball joined shoulders), so I feel like I have to be a bit selective
Douglas
March 14th, 2025 - 11:15amI just want the sonic screwdriver……
Already have a Third Doctor (though not smiling), maggots, Kronos crystal….
Also very curious about the other sets…..
The Living Shadow
March 14th, 2025 - 1:35pmYay haha finally another! Yeah the new head is an improvement I think, but I’m perfectly fine with my Third Doctor on display. I’d rather use my budget for ones that arguably need a new improved variant before I replace my Pertwee. Perhaps a more accurate TV movie 7th Doctor, 11th Doctor from series 6 (I never feel like they nailed that one) or a 10th Doctor (or maybe this would be the perfect way to release a 14th Doctor in his waistcoat look with a better headsculpt)
Doctorbendisco
March 14th, 2025 - 10:44amMine has arrived the set is fantastic.
The Ergon
March 14th, 2025 - 10:29amMines just arrived. Ive got the rearing maggot in my pack.
The Ergon
March 14th, 2025 - 4:04pmSomeone on the facebook page has got the flat crawling maggot.
Martino
March 13th, 2025 - 6:31pmAh, just when my interest in the range was ebbing, this lovely figure is released. Price looks a tad steep at first glance, but actually if I forgo my morning Costa Coffee cafe latte for just 11 days, I can budget for it. Two week without a morning coffee – easy.
mick
March 13th, 2025 - 2:31pmMine says complete but I haven’t had a dispatch email for it
Judooning
March 13th, 2025 - 2:33pmNeither me Mick but its given me the tracking number on the details page on their site so I know it’s on its way
Snowman
March 13th, 2025 - 2:38pmI wouldn’t worry too much mick, in the Blurb above it says CO is a very Small Company (and despite what it says on the Site) with there Expected to be huge Demand for this Set it could take up to a Week before all the original Orders are despatched.
Are you the Mick that works at B&M that keeps us informed about their Dr Who Exclusives?
If so, Thankyou.
mick
March 13th, 2025 - 2:51pmYes I am.
DeliveryRus
March 14th, 2025 - 8:50am@snowman – you mean the biggest toy company in the UK. Which has lots of big licences to TV and movie characters in the UK.
Amypondfan
March 14th, 2025 - 11:05amDeliveryRus it doesn’t mean they have a lot of employees just lots of licences
Snowman
March 14th, 2025 - 11:31amYeah, DeliveryRus hss Amypond fan mentioned. Also I was just Quoting from the Blurb above were it says they are a Small Operation with just a Few people Working there.
It was probably Al Dewar who Wrote that Blurb so he should know who works at his Company?
booboo
March 14th, 2025 - 11:38amThe company is big but their mail order department is just a few people, the bulk of their business is done direct with retailers
TimelordTim
March 13th, 2025 - 10:30amJust got my shipping email, really looking forward to this.
Coleman
March 13th, 2025 - 11:20amYeah Tim, Mines been Posted already aswell, it says Your Order ***** as Been Shipped.
Also looking forward to it Coming.
Did you ever get the Similar Set with the 11th Doctor and his Sonic Screwdriver in a Character Options Two pack?
TimelordTim
March 13th, 2025 - 11:57amNo, this is my first screwdriver set.
The only sonic on its own I’ve ever got was the 12th, my brother surprised me with it as a gift.
Only other one I’d definitely get is if they did a Master laser screwdriver again. Any others will be a decide when I see them type thing.
Coleman
March 13th, 2025 - 12:04pmFirst and Foremost I’ve always been a Figure/Figurine/Bust Collector. I usually Don’t bother with Sonics, Consoles or the TARDIS themselves. The Only reason I ended up with the 11th Doctors Sonic was because I Wanted the Figure that came with it
I’m not Complaining about these Two packs though as the Figures are Great, Lovely Packaging etc so I’m happy.
TimelordTim
March 13th, 2025 - 12:16pmI’m the same, always been predominantly figures so this is a bit of a departure in that regard for me. But couldn’t resist my fav Doc and best looking sonic imo, so close to my birthday.
I wanted the Fugitive Doctor figure but refused to buy as didn’t want the TARDIS, so I reckon future sets like this will be a similar decision against for me. But I am intrigued given how happy I am with this set, so we’ll see.
Coleman
March 13th, 2025 - 1:41pmHappy Birthday Tim. I’ll look forward to finding out which Maggot I have, shouldn’t be long Now.
Judooning
March 13th, 2025 - 2:32pmGood thing with Character now is that they do tracked Royal mail, which gives the option to have it sent to local delivery offices rather than risking it being left outside/random neighbours etc. So don’t have to worry about being in for all these exclusives this year.
Coleman
March 13th, 2025 - 2:46pmYes, the Tracking Option is Great, I usually get a 4 Hour Window aswell, so I’ve an idea when the Parcels coming and I don’t have to wait in all day. There’s another Courier (that I can’t Remember at the Moment) that always Gives me just an Hour window (which is Fantastic) with their Tracking.
Tom Williams
March 13th, 2025 - 3:03pmLast time i ordered the 15/ruby with character I remember myself mine came by Monday the following week so its a guess they must arrive with this set then unless its like with season 7 and people get it by tomorrow lol
Coleman
March 13th, 2025 - 6:52pmI think it’s Either Evri or Yodel thats given me an hour window in the Past. When you think about it that’s Great, I can basically be out all day but just make sure I’m back home for the Hours Window so I don’t miss the parcel.
The Last Few years I’ve used The Royal Mail, Parcel Force, Amazon Prime, DPD, UPS, Yodel, DHL and Evri, so I’m not 100% Sure.
Coleman
March 14th, 2025 - 12:29pmTimelordTim, My set came this Morning I have the Rearing Up Maggot.
I Only had the Despatch Email Yesterday, So Fantastic Service.
Hope yours arrives soon, but I thought with you being in Scotland it’ll take just a little Longer to Arrive.
Tom Williams
March 14th, 2025 - 12:49pm@coleman i just ment with royal mail service for the set in general but it was a good guess people got them today i havent brought as mainly been focusing on original target books at moment lol
Coleman
March 14th, 2025 - 1:02pmHello Tom, I was just replying to the Judging about the Royal Mail and Tracking is a Great Option to have. I never really Bothered with the Target Novels, although maybe for the Last Three or Four Years I’ve been buying all the New Ones as there released. I Try and Get the Signed Ones if Possible. Forbidden Planet have been selling some with signed Bookplates that I get hold of if possible.
Coleman
March 14th, 2025 - 1:05pmThat should be Judooning. I 100% put Judooning then sent the Comment and up came up as Judging. LOL.
Tom Williams
March 14th, 2025 - 3:07pm@coleman my mistake lol and i have seen some on ebay recently including the rare hardbacks but my aim has been for the lost episode ones coming out on steel book one day like wheel in space etc
TimelordTim
March 15th, 2025 - 6:55pmMine arrived today. An excellent set, very happy with this one!
David
March 13th, 2025 - 9:20amJust got an email from Character saying that my order has been shipped.