Learn to code with the Thirteenth Doctor!

19 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

BBC Learning and Tynker have collaborated to create the HiFive Inventor a Next-Generation Education Technology Mini-Computer, helping kids to learn to code with the voice of the Thirteenth Doctor, Jodie Whittaker!

The HiFive Inventor is a visually stunning Internet of Things-enabled hand-shaped mini-computer designed to teach kids how to control robots or interface with IoT systems to investigate the world around them.

Doctor Who Tynker - HiFive Inventor

The HiFive Inventor will engage kids with its friendly hand-shaped form factor. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies this reinforces the wireless data handoff between devices (or “HiFive”) that will power 21st-century technology applications of computing for smart cities, intelligent factories, and enhanced wearable technology.

Narrated by Jodie Whittaker, the Thirteenth Doctor, she takes students on intergalactic journeys and challenges like learning to code and pilot an alien spaceship, control a robot and program an exotic musical instrument. Like all Tynker courses, the BBC Doctor Who HiFive Inventor will teach kids essential skills as they are having fun. Younger students will begin their learning journey with the Tynker visual block coding and advanced students with Micropython.

Students will be able to read data from the on-board suite of sensors and program on-device decisions to display results using the fun and colorful LED-matrix display. The HiFive Inventor is powered by a robust SiFive processor and comes with an illuminated USB cable, battery pack, and edge connectors to allow for expandability to a range of additional sensors and devices.

Doctor Who Tynker - HiFive Inventor

The HiFive Inventor aims to impart building-block knowledge students can marry with their imagination and creativity to tackle global opportunities and challenges like environmental changes, health and wellness, and a host of other areas to positively impact lives. Enabled by the award-winning Tynker creative coding platform, the HiFive Inventor engages students to begin coding quickly in a self-paced and learner-driven environment.

The BBC HiFive Inventor will be available to order through BBC Shop, Amazon, Pimoroni, and other leading retailers on November 23. Learn more at www.HiFiveInventor.com

Your November fix of Doctor Who figurines

3 November 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who Hero Collector monthly figurines November 2020

The Figurine Collection – coming every month

The Master makes his (and her) way to the Hero Collector store this month in figurine form – six times over!

Every month Hero Collector release a whole array of Doctor Who figurines, collectibles, pins, t-shirts and more… enough to fill an entire TARDIS! Here’s a round-up of what’s coming this month.

You can get all of these figurines from Hero Collector’s Doctor Who shop here.

The Master (Sacha Dhawan)

Doctor Who Hero Collector figurines November 2020

The Master returned to Doctor Who in Series 12, in a manic new incarnation portrayed by Sacha Dhawan. Masquerading as the spymaster ‘O’, the Doctor’s nemesis soon revealed his true colours, showcasing the return of his classic (and lethal) shrinking device!

Order Figurine #187 The Master here

The Skithra Queen

Doctor Who Hero Collector November figurines 2020

A species of scorpion-like aliens, the Skithra were scavengers who stole technology from other species, kidnapping engineers to repair it when necessary. They met their match when their queen decided to abduct Nikola Tesla, forcing the Doctor and her companions to intervene!

Order Figurine #186 The Skithra Queen here

Masters of the Universe…

Doctor Who Hero Collector monthly figurines November 2020

Just like the Doctor, the Master has had many faces throughout the years. This box set – the first of two – collects the Master’s most infamous incarnations from the classic Doctor Who series.

Order The Master Box Set #1 here

A collection of Time Lords!

The latest Time Lords Box Set collects two Gallifreyan Time Lords. Missy – short for ‘Mistress’ – was the name adopted by the Master’s female incarnation, portrayed by Michelle Gomez in series 8-10. She’s joined in this box set by Rassilon – one of the ancient founders of Time Lord civilization, who ruled Gallifrey from the shadows and was responsible for many of the Great Time War’s atrocities.

Order Time Lords Box Sets #5 here

The Angels take over… your wardrobe

This month Brian Williamson, illustrator on various Doctor Who comics, offers up a slick noir-style take on the Eleventh Doctor’s final adventure with Amy and Rory in The Angels Take Manhattan. This design features the Doctor, Amy Pond, and the terrifying Angel of Liberty…

This artwork is available as a framed print and T-shirt

You can get all of these figurines from Hero Collector’s Doctor Who shop.

Coming soon, the Twelfth Doctor and Davros, plus Ace and Dalek action figures!

30 October 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Character Options has announced their next batch of Doctor Who products, with two new sets going on sale in November 2020.

The Witch’s Familiar Set

This action figure set is inspired by the Twelfth Doctor story The Witch’s Familiar, first broadcast in September 2015.

On Skaro the Twelfth Doctor confronts a dying Davros who is using living Daleks as life-support. Can the Doctor intercept Davros’ evil plan before it is too late?

The set comprises of the Twelfth Doctor and Davros figures and recognises the face-to-face moment when Davros and the Doctor lock horns.

The Coal Hill School Set

This action figure set is inspired by the Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks, first broadcast in October 1988.

The TARDIS arrives in London in 1963, where the Doctor and Ace discover that two rival factions of Daleks – one loyal to the Dalek Emperor and one to the Dalek Supreme – are seeking the Hand of Omega, a powerful Time Lord device that the first Doctor hid there during an earlier sojourn on Earth.

The Daleks are focusing their search around Coal Hill School – the school that the Doctor’s grand-daughter Susan attended – while a military unit led by Group Captain Gilmore is attempting to resist their incursions.

The figures in this set feature an Imperial Dalek and Ace as well as accessories like Ace’s backpack and an RPG launcher.

Al Dewar, Character Options’ Creative Director, said.

“This year has seen a cascade of new sets for collectors and fans and these latest two sets are favourites of mine because they represent unique moments in Doctor Who that many fans including myself remember… wonderful stuff!’

These action figures are available from B&M in the UK from late November 2020, and from The Official North America Doctor Who Store, Amazon and the BBC Shop in the US.

Coming soon: The Third Doctor and friends, the Melkur and Dalek figurines

23 October 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Figurine versions of some classic Doctor Who characters will be coming soon from Hero Collector. Read on for more!

The Third Doctor, Jo Grant, Brigadier & Benton

Doctor Who Eaglemoss October 2020 reveals

Exiled to Earth by his fellow Time Lords, the Third Doctor (played by Jon Pertwee) worked as a scientific advisor to the Unified Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT) to defend Earth from alien invasion. A dapper “secret agent” stranded in space and time, the Third Doctor had a love of cars and gadgets, and a deep mistrust of authority – for all that he wanted others to listen to him! His figurine is posed with both hands raised, ready to unleash his formidable Venusian Aikido!

The Third Doctor is joined here by outspoken lab assistant Jo Grant (Katy Manning), whose pluck and loyalty saw her through countless clashes with outlandish enemies – the first appearances of The Master among them. The box set also includes the ever-reliable Sergeant Benton (John Levene), and the aggressive and aristocratic Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), who seldom had the patience for a scientific solution, but learned to trust his Gallifreyan advisor in all matters extraterrestrial.

You can order The Third Doctor companion set from Hero Collector

The Official Figurine Collection Special #26 – The Melkur

An ominous statue found on the harmonious planet of Traken, the Melkur was said to be a source of great evil, kept sealed in a sacred grove. In truth, it was a camouflaged form for the Master’s TARDIS, which he used to manipulate the entire planet. His desperate search for immortality came to a climax when he claimed the body of Tremas – played by the iconic Anthony Ainley!

You can order The Melkur from Hero Collector

Time Lord Victorious – Dalek Sets

As war rages across time and space, the Daleks return to the cosmos – led by the genius of their battleworn Strategists, and enforced by the terrifying firepower of the Dalek Executioner! The accompanying magazine includes exclusive story content for Time Lord Victorious, an all-new multi-platform Doctor Who story! Hero Collector is joining countless licensors to deliver this epic Doctor Who crossover event.

You can order the Time Lord Victorious Daleks from Hero Collector here

You can order these Doctor Who figurines and much more from Hero Collector.

Two brand new Doctor Who games launching in Spring 2021

15 October 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Announced today are two brand-new video games launching in Spring 2021. These two games, made in partnership with Maze Theory and BBC Studios will expand the Doctor Who interactive universe.

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality:

Coming to consoles and PC, Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality reimagines, and builds upon, last year’s VR experience, Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, with a new and compelling first-person adventure.

With brand-new gameplay, new monsters and new worlds to explore, players will wield the Thirteenth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver on a quest to save the universe. Players will be guided by the Thirteenth Doctor, voiced by Jodie Whittaker, and joined by the Tenth Doctor, voiced by David Tennant.

The Edge of Reality features a console and PC adventure across Space and Time, built with current and next generation consoles in mind, it contains new worlds to explore, new puzzles, new challenges and new gameplay. With an original Doctor Who story, you will uncover a universe-spanning threat as you seek to save reality from a series of time-breaking glitches. Continue the story that began in The Edge of Time and partner with the Doctor to unearth a greater mystery.

In The Edge of Reality you’ll also come face-to-face with classic Doctor Who monsters including the Daleks and Weeping Angels, experience the metal-clad terror of the Cybermen and more foes yet to be revealed…

Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins:

Coming to iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch, The Lonely Assassins is being developed by award-winning Malaysian studio Kaigan Games, renowned for pushing the boundaries of storytelling within mobile.

The Lonely Assassins will see players uncover and decipher the mystery of a ‘found phone’, unravelling a sinister series of events taking place at Wester Drumlins, the iconic ‘uninhabited’ home featured in the legendary Doctor Who episode Blink.

Someone is missing, and a menacing new nemesis has emerged. Players will work with Petronella Osgood and other classic characters as they get steadily closer to the truth.

There is only one rule: don’t turn your back, don’t look away and don’t blink!

Fire up your consoles and get your mobiles ready! Vist the The Edge of Reality and The Lonely Assassins websites to register your interest before their launch in Spring 2021.

More Time Lord Victorious Dalek figurines revealed!

27 September 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Coming in late-October, more characters from Time Lord Victorious will be immortalised as Hero Collector figurines! Four new box-sets of characters are the perfect accompaniment for your Doctor Who collections.

Two sets can be revealed today – and there’s even more Daleks from the Dalek time squad to prepare you for Time Lord Victorious. Both include a brand-new Time Lord Victorious story!

Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious Dalek figurines

As war rages across time and space, the Daleks return to the cosmos – guided by the malevolent intellect of their Time Commander and scientific corps!

The second Time Lord Victorious figurine box set contains the Dalek Time Commander and his cunning Dalek Scientist.

Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious Dalek figurines

The second set also contains the original story Mission to the Known. You can get more information on this story here.

Plus, revealed today, the third set features the menacing, black-armoured Dalek Executioner, and the ingenious, battle-worn Dalek Strategist!

Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious Dalek figurines

These new Dalek designs were created specifically for Time Lord Victorious, and will feature in many Time Lord Victorious stories, including Daleks! the animated series, coming soon.

The third set also contains the original story Exit Strategy. You can get more information on this story here.

Each of the four Time Lord Victorious box sets will contain two hand-painted polyresin figurines at 1:21 scale (approximately 3.5 inches tall), and are accompanied by an in-depth magazine, packed with special details and an exclusive prose story which forms part of the Time Lord Victorious narrative.

And keep an eye out for the fourth and final box, which will include the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), clad in his ornate and war-torn Gallifreyan robes!

The figurines are available for pre-order now, from Forbidden Planet in the UK and from Entertainment Earth in the US. Or, all are available from Eaglemoss.

Six sets of Doctor Who action figures coming this autumn

27 September 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Character Options has announced their next batch of Doctor Who products, with six new sets going on sale in October 2020.

From the friends of the Thirteenth Doctor, the Fifth Doctor in The Visitation, the Fourth Doctor in fetching tartan, and even more Daleks, there’s something for every Doctor Who fan in these new sets.

Friends of the Thirteenth Doctor

Doctor Who Character Options October 2020 wave

Up first are three updated figures of the Thirteenth Doctor’s friends Yasmin (Yaz) Khan, Graham O’Brien and Ryan Sinclair. These most recent companions all feature a brand-new set of outfits inspired by their onscreen adventures.

Companions of the Third & Fourth Doctor

This set features new figures of Sarah Jane Smith and Romana 1 and 2. The outfits are Sarah Jane Smith from the Third Doctor adventure The Monster of Peladon, Romana 1 in her outfit from The Power of Kroll and Romana 2 in her red outfit from the The Horns of Nimon.

1975 UNIT Terror of the Zygons Set

Is this possibly the most anticipated variant of the Fourth Doctor’s outfit? The Doctor is decked out in his fetching tartan scarf and Tam ‘O’ Shanter hat from the story Terror of the Zygons. The set is completed by the addition of Sergeant John Benton, this time in camouflage uniform and an additional UNIT trooper.

Fifth Doctor and TARDIS Set

This set features detailing from the Fifth Doctor story The Visitation. It comprises a crisp moulding of the Fifth Doctor with his floppy hat, while the TARDIS comes in a pristine blue livery.

The Daleks’ Collector Set Number 3

This set comprises of a Twin Dalek Set and features the Daleks as seen fully in the First Doctor story The Chase. It features one of the ‘guest’ Daleks brought in from the Doctor Who and the Daleks film which appear in the Dalek Control room sequences of Episode 3 and one of the Standard silver drone Daleks.

The Daleks’ Collector Set Number 4

This set features two Daleks as seen in The Daleks’ Master Plan from 1966. It includes a Black Dalek with Grey shoulders, a silver neck bin and silver solar struts alongside one of the Silver Drones seen in the jungle sequences clearing foliage with a unique flame thrower device.

Al Dewar, Character Options’ Creative Director, said.

“We were determined to give the fans something exciting and again hopefully we have genuinely surprised them with the new additions that have been coupled with some of our previous released figures. The inclusion of a new Fourth Doctor, Sarah and Romana 1 will hopefully surprise everyone in what is an astounding number of new figures this year and hopefully we will continue to exceed the expectations of fans and collectors alike.”

These action figures are available from B&M in the UK from October 2020, and from The Official North America Doctor Who Store, Amazon and the BBC Shop in the US.

Character Options Announces Exclusive Dalek Twin Pack

26 August 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Character Options have announced an exclusive new Dalek set, featuring the Daleks from the 1965 First Doctor adventure, The Chase

Doctor Who

Way back in 1965, a six-part First Doctor story entitled The Chase became famous in the eyes of Doctor Who fans for being special in many ways. It featured some unique guest Daleks seen in Episode Three and Five. In creating this exclusive ‘Jungles of Mechanus’ set, the team at Character have followed up on their original Daleks release for The Chase with something unique to delight, fans and collectors and to pay homage to the unique Daleks seen onscreen.

Al Dewar, Character Options’ Head of Product Development, went on to explain why these Daleks are a special collectible for Doctor Who fans:

“Firstly it’s the final adventure for the last of the original TARDIS companions, Ian and Barbara, but it also features the first and last appearance of a race of robotic creatures the Mechanoids.

“Dalek aficionados will also know that it marks the appearance of some rather special guest Dalek props that were seen in Episodes 3 and 5. At the time of filming the BBC were short of Dalek props having only three left. New Daleks were commissioned, but to fill the gap, they hired three Dalek props from the ‘Doctor Who and The Daleks’ movie.”

The ‘Jungles of Mechanus’ Dalek set are two unaltered props glimpsed several times as part of the Dalek patrols pursuing the TARDIS crew through the Jungle. With their distinctively different light covers and skirt bases along with unique metallic colours, this set brings the fans and collectors a one-off unique TV Dalek Action Figure never produced before.

Doctor Who

The initial release will have just 5000 sets available marking its ultimate collectability.

The ‘Jungles of Mechanus Set’ is available for pre-order now from the Character Options website for a limited run.

Time Lord Victorious figurines revealed!

23 July 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Coming in late-October, various characters from Time Lord Victorious will be immortalised as Hero Collector figurines! These four new box-sets of characters are the perfect accompaniment for your Doctor Who collections.

Doctor Who - Time Lord Victorious figurines

Each of the four Time Lord Victorious box sets will contain two hand-painted polyresin figurines at 1:21 scale (approximately 3.5 inches tall).

Doctor Who - Time Lord Victorious figurines

The first three Hero Collector box sets will feature brand new Dalek designs created specifically for the series, such as the Dalek Time Commander and the new Dalek Emperor.

The fourth and final box, however, will include the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), clad in his ornate and war-torn Gallifreyan robes!

Each set from Hero Collector also comes with an in-depth companion magazine, highlighting the huge range of creative talent involved across the entire Time Lord Victorious adventure and packed with behind the scenes details about this untold story.

Doctor Who - Time Lord Victorious figurines

The figurines are available for pre-order now, from Forbidden Planet in the UK and from Entertainment Earth in the US. Or, all are available from Eaglemoss.

Twinkl releases educational Doctor Who materials

10 June 2020 admin Comments 0 Comment

Doctor Who Twinkl educational assets

The global educational publisher Twinkl and BBC Studios have created a ‘dalek-table’ range of free educational Doctor Who resources for children aged between seven and eleven years old.

Launched today in the UK, these are the first-ever resources based on Series 11 and 12 to be specifically mapped to the UK national curriculum.

BBC Studios and Twinkl have collaborated to create educational materials including activity sheets, interactive presentations and reading comprehensions, all inspired by the world of Doctor Who. The resources link the exciting escapades of the Thirteenth Doctor to units of study for school years three to six.

Covering core subjects including science, geography and history, the materials introduce children to figures such as Rosa Parks, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison and teach children about a wide range of topics such as the Indian Partition, artificial intelligence and animals and their ecosystems. The resources can be used separately or alongside episodes watched at home or in class.

Twinkl and BBC Studios hope that by harnessing children’s interest in Doctor Who, children will be inspired to learn more about related topics in core curriculum subjects.

Free to use and accessible to everyone, the resources can be downloaded through the Twinkl website and are a valuable teaching tool for teachers, parents and carers. The materials, which includes PowerPoints, reading comprehensions, word searches and a range of other activities, are all created and checked in-house by experienced teachers from Twinkl.

Head to Twinkl to find the Doctor Who educational materials.