It's the most wonderful time of the year, but for Doctor Whofans that goes double. Every year since 2005, the franchise produces a special holiday episode that airs Christmas day, making Christmas theholiday on the Whovian calendar.
As interest in the special builds throughout the season, more than a few pieces of Doctor Whomerchandise slide onto Christmas lists, and the BBC certainly helps things along: The official BBC Shop typically gets an influx of official Who products just in time for the holiday shopping nerds — er, crowds.
BBC Worldwide gave us a look at this season's new offerings, including some of the best Who-themed ornaments we've ever seen. We took our favorites from their suggestions and added some hidden gems from various corners of the universe. This year's Christmas episode is also the one Jodie Whittaker — the first woman to play the Doctor — will make her debut, and no true fan's list would be complete without something celebrating Doctor No. 13.
Let's begin, shall we?
Doctor Who Christmas ornaments
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable The BBC has really outdone itself with a multitude of detailed Doctor Whoornaments, including a standard blue TARDIS ($15.98), Peter Capaldi's Doctor with his sonic screwdriver ($12), and a Dalek ($7.98). The absolute best, though, is the Glass Gingerbread TARDIS ($15.98), bestowing the perfect combo of fan revelry and holiday cheer. It's so cool it'll even make us overlook the odd choice of Dalek design -- it's from Death to the Daleks, a story from 1974 that actually featured Daleks brandishing machine guns. At least it's shiny.
Time Lord fleece sweatshirt
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable This looks like something Rose might wear: A sweatshirt done in the colors of the British flag, with the words "Time Lord" printed on the sleeve and embroidered on the Union Jack patch on the breast. Oi, that's cool. And warm. ($51.98)
13th Doctor Rainbow shirt
Credit: RedBubble The BBC revealed Jodie Whittaker’s 13th Doctor costume weeks ago, which is more than enough time for the internet to start offering riffs off of it, including this shirt that sports the same rainbow logo hers does. A must for fans who want to stay one step ahead of the crowd. ($25)
Adipose (AKA fat blobs) light set
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable There's perhaps never been a Doctor Whomonster as cute as the Adipose — tiny little blobs with smiling faces that resemble muppets, only without the fur. Now you can adorn your Christmas tree with 10 of these little guys on a string of lights. Sadly the BBC didn't make the string with a plug at the far end, so you'll need an extra outlet by your tree, but it'll be worth it to complement the Weeping Angels lights you got a couple of years ago. ($23.98)
Dr. Who icon print backpack
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable You gotta love the patchwork artwork on this one: With pictures of Cybermen, Daleks, bowties, K-9, and more, the iconography will please Who fans new and old. And by sticking to just three colors — dark blue, not-quite-as-dark blue, and white — it manages to keep from overwhelming you. ($26.17)
Broadchurch Series 1
Credit: A,mazon/BBC Excited for the first female Doctor? You should be, mostly because of Jodie Whittaker’s breathtaking performance in the BBC whodunit Broadchurch, created by incoming Doctor Whoshowrunner Chris Chibnall. If you haven’t seen what the fuss is about, season 1 is essential viewing – and not just for Whofans. ($27.99)
Weeping angel tree topper
Credit: Amazon/BBC Putting a Weeping Angel atop a Christmas tree might be slightly sacrilegious, but it’s so damn clever, we’re fairly sure God will give it a pass. Just be sure to stay put directly in front of your tree and stare continuously at it, lest the angel whisk you away to another time period in less time than it takes to… well, blink. We recommend complementing it with an Elf on the Shelf to keep watch when you can’t. ($26.90)
TARDIS knit socks
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable Often novelty socks are thin, cheap pieces of fabric that tear on the second use. Not the case with these TARDIS socks, which will keep your toes nice and toasty on those long winter nights in the outer solar system. One size fits pretty much all bipeds. ($12.78)
TARDIS fairy lights
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable These aren't the first TARDIS Christmas lights ever made, but they just might be the classiest. The Doctor's iconic blue time machine looks slightly eeire with the LED illuminating the slightly opaque solid plastic decorations. They're a little on the small side (so probably not great for outdoors), but the best part is they're battery operated, so you don't have to worry about outlets. This one's cool all year round. ($11.98)
Tenth series Blu-ray
Credit: Lili Sams/Mashable This is an easy one, a box to tick off for true fans who know that, even though the entire series is currently available on Amazon Prime and Netflix, time is relative. To guarantee you’ll be able to watch the show anytime you want, wherever you are, this four-disc set is a must, and it’s great they’ve finally got the packaging right – looking at the box, you’d think it has only one disc, not four. I guess it’s bigger on the inside. ($71.98)
Cyberman nutcracker
Credit: Amazon/BBC Many raw nuts are incompatible with good digestion, so it’s logical that you should upgrade them by deleting the shells. This Cyberman nutcracker is up to the task, and it’s a fitting tribute to the bionic baddies who starred as the featured bad guys in last season’s finale. ($37.15)
12th Doctor sonic screwdriver (soon to be vintage)
Credit: Brittany Herbert/Mashable The most recent sonic screwdriver hasn’t been around nearly long enough, but it’s almost guaranteed to be on its way out, since Whittaker’s Doctor will likely get her own. Capaldi's sonic is still by far the best toy facsimile of the Doctor’s electronic get-out-of-jail-free card, with four different lighting effects with corresponding noise effects. Get it (or give it) before it becomes vintage! ($29.98)
Doctor Who Mr. Men Doctor Tenth: Christmas Surprise
Credit: ThinkGeek The Doctor Who Mr. Men books are cute, slightly odd, and very memorable stories that feature original adventures with the same characters from the series (just a little more two-dimensional). This one recreates the series staple of the Christmas special, with the ever-popular 10th Doctor as the main player. For the Doctor Whofan who has kids or is a kid at heart (isn’t that all of them?). ($8.99)
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