October 14th, 2025
87 comments
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The Master and Tardis Vortex Edition Figure Set
Available to order from www.character-online.com
‘A new Body at last!’
Character Options unveils its latest Doctor Who exclusive – The Master & TARDIS Set
Character Options and BBC Studios are excited to reveal that its latest exclusive Doctor Who set has materialised.
The Master & TARDIS set is a Doctor Who ‘Vortex Edition’ release that’s kept fans and collectors waiting 44 years! This set will be available to purchase today, 14th October 2025, solely through www.character-online.com.
The Master & TARDIS Set
This higher-specification “Vortex Edition” release comes with a scaled 5.5-inch figure of the iconic ‘Anthony Ainley’ Master, presented in his original black velvet outfit. This figure release comes with two interchangeable head pieces, one with a more neutral pose and a second featuring the Ainley Master’s notorious sneer!
He comes complete with his ‘Doric Column’ TARDIS accessory, as it was seen in Tom Baker’s final story ‘Logopolis’, as well as ‘Castrovalva’, before being changed for ‘Time Flight’. Also included within the exclusive pack are two versions of the Master’s weapon of choice, the Tissue Compression Eliminator (TCE) in closed and open modes, plus a Time Lord funeral casket, and Matrix Internment Orb, as used by the Seventh Doctor to carry the Master’s remains back to Gallifrey in the 1996 TV Movie.
Anthony Ainley
Anthony Ainley was a British character actor who played the role of the Master and enjoyed its tremendous appeal and scope. He enjoyed the pure joy of playing the Master and his elaborate schemes and disguises, as well as his uncanny ability to escape from many seemingly impossible situations. Ainley’s incarnation of the Master brought flamboyancy and malevolence to the role including a maniacal laugh that was so recognisable it went on to be featured in the contemporary series, post 2005.
The Master
At the end of his final regeneration, and using the power of the Source Manipulator on the Planet Traken, the Master then stole the body of Consul Tremas and regenerated himself. This version of the Master would go on to face seven incarnations of the Doctor. His first encounter was with the Fourth Doctor on Traken, he then had several confrontations with the Fifth and Sixth Doctors before eventually encountering the First, Second, and Third on Gallifrey. Along the way he also had an alliance with another renegade Time Lord, the Rani.
Despite cheating death many times, the Master was captured and executed by the Daleks. But even in death the Master had a plan. The recovery of his remains by the Seventh Doctor would prove deadly, as he cheated death once again, using the form of the Deathworm Morphant, setting in motion a series of events that ultimately led to the Seventh Doctor’s own regeneration into the Eighth.
“It’s been a very long time coming!”
Al Dewar, Creative Director at Character Options, stated: “This figure, or lack of, has been talked about and desired by so many fans for years. I have stated before that if we were to do it, it had to be done properly! It will, I hope, be a big but very welcome surprise to fans and collectors alike. The reason we’ve held off for so long is that Anthony Ainley’s contribution to Doctor Who cannot be understated. With the exception perhaps of the Brigadier, I can think of no other character that has had the so much of an impact on the show. So, I’m particularly pleased we could finally bring ‘a new Master… at last!’ to the figure range.”
This new set 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!
Categorised under: Doctor Who 5" scale figures, Toys
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Coleman
October 16th, 2025 - 6:54pmI had an Email at 10.40 This Morning saying my Set was Despatched. Shouldnt be long Now Hopefully.
Jamie
October 16th, 2025 - 12:52pmWow actually received a dispatch email this time.
Andrew
October 16th, 2025 - 10:13amMine has despatched from character this morning.
Paul Footman
October 15th, 2025 - 9:02pmBrilliant figure set! The leak only fuelled my desire for it. I have the original master with the 5th, that was a nice set. This one is very cool,
Summer Harlequin
October 15th, 2025 - 5:20pmI really would love to buy this, but the figure looks chunky doesn’t look right. The head scope is amazing. I’m a bit sad because the original one is a lot better looking. I’m a bit sad about this one.
Tom Williams
October 15th, 2025 - 5:33pmMy opinion this looks better then the last one considering the body that was used by ain’t great on knowledge with characters more looked like the John Simmons body that was used but with ainsleys head this is more a better way how they included a spare one and the other accessories on top considering this is cheap now especially how much it is listed on eBay with the 5th doctors one
Jamie
October 15th, 2025 - 2:02pmVery nice set. Got my order in yesterday. Shame some of the excitement was taken away by the leaks. In an interview yesterday Al said he expected it to sell out on the first day. Its still in stock at the moment but I imagine stocks must be getting low. I just hope the leaks didn’t hurt sales.
FH
October 15th, 2025 - 4:26pmAt this point it’s as though Al is trying to make himself look bad. I don’t mean that to be insulting, but sold out on the first day? Who’s he kidding? He doesn’t help himself does he. The ‘80% Sold Out After 3 Days’ 14th Doctor set is still available 4 months later, as is the ‘very limited stock’ Third Doctor one. In fact, not a single Vortex Edition set has ever sold out, literally every single one is still available. I love what Character Options are doing with Doctor Who, so I don’t want it to seem like I’m dissing them, but Al seems like he’s been reading from the ‘Russell T Davies How To Hype Up Your Product’ Playbook. I’d love to be proved wrong of course, as it’d mean they’re doing really well, but I just find it annoying when people make delusional claims that contrast the evidence.
booboo
October 15th, 2025 - 5:08pmI’m surprised if there are only 4000 that it hasn’t sold out, or very close to it to be honest.
Jamie
October 15th, 2025 - 5:30pmI fear the leaks damaged this one. The must buy mentality goes away when its already old news.
And I’m sure the 80% Sold Out After 3 Days’ 14th Doctor and Meep set is true. Normally they do sell the lions share in the first day or two and then the rest trickle out over a longer time. The amount of stock left is probably limited, but it would be nice to see some of these sets sell out soon.
Jamie
October 15th, 2025 - 10:42pmFH you are speaking facts don’t think there’s as much hype for Doctor Who anymore 2005-2009 was the peak
John
October 16th, 2025 - 10:13amFH, I’d like to se ethe proof to back your claims. Its quite common for products to sell 60 to 80% on release then trickle. For example you can still find Rapido Titfield Thunderbolt models, Hornby Rocket models, all of which sold almost all. I bought a Jungles of Mechanus quite a while after first release. Manufacturer’s build this in – the profit point will be quite low in the run so they can afford stragglers.
It’s also good a few are around for collectors new to the products.
FH
October 16th, 2025 - 11:44am@John the proof is literally just look at the character options website. Every ‘Vortex Edition’ is still available. I know the 60-80% thing, that’s just logical, which is why im pointing out that Al Dewar is setting himself up for failure by saying things like ‘I think this master set is going to sell out on one day’. Of course it’s not! (And didn’t). I suppose the argument is he’s just trying to hype up the project and get people to buy out of fomo but, imo it just makes the line look bad by expressing extremely high expectations which almost instantly aren’t met.