After working on Doctor Who for a grand total of 15 years, it is our sad duty to report that last week's episode (12.6: Praxeus) was the final contribution from prosthetics and creature design team, Millennium FX.

Going right back to Christopher Eccleston's first episode in 2005 (1.1: Rose) Millennium FX were in charge of producing the Auton masks and arms we saw on-screen. They went on to produce countless creations for the show, including: The Ood, Davros, Clockwork Droids, Weeping Angels and Judoon (to name just a few), finally ending with the praxeus virus skin-effect from last weeks episode of the same name.

At the time of writing, it is unsure as to why the team are leaving but MFX Director, Neill Gorton confirmed the news on his Instagram page:

"So sixteen years ago the first episode of Doctor Who I worked on was the Autons - an alien intelligence that inhabits plastic and brings it to life to kill people. This is my last episode and its one about a space virus that infects people through plastic and kills them. Anyway, moving on."

We at DWO are genuinely sad to hear the news; we were actually invited to visit the MFX studios by Neill and his team way back in 2007, and were blown away by the sheer amount of hard work and detail that went into each of their creations. You can read our article from the visit, here.

We would like to wish Neill and the team at Millennium FX all the best for the future, and thank them for all their hard work on Doctor Who. 

+ Purchase a range of MFX Doctor Who masks at MFX Warehouse.
+ Follow @Millennium_FX on Twitter! 

[Sources: DWO, Instagram]

Forbidden Planet have teamed up with Character Options for another Exclusive Doctor Who Toy.

The Enemies Of The Third Doctor Set features Omega, an Auton and a Drashing (as seen in Classic Series 3rd Doctor adventures).

From the adventures of the Third Doctor, the Drashig figure stands approximately 220mm high and doubles as a hand puppet for little hands, children can animate the mouth in classic FX fashion!

This set also includes the imposing Omega figure which features a removable head and fabric robes, lastly the classic Auton figure has a swappable gun hand and Nestene Sphere accessory.

Contents:

-  Drashig figure.

-  Omega action figure (with Detachable head).

-  Auton action figure with Nestene Sphere accessory and swappable gun hand.

+  The Enemies Of The Third Doctor Set is released on 16th December 2011, priced £44.99.

+  Preorder this product from Forbidden Planet!

[Source: Forbidden Planet]

2|Entertain have sent DWO the cover and details for the 9th May Doctor Who DVD Box-set release of Mannequin Mania.

Spearhead from Space

The Doctor is exiled to Earth in the late 20th Century by his own people - the Time Lords. The newly regenerated Doctor finds himself in Oxley Woods alongside a shower of mysterious meteorites.

Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly-formed United Nations Intelligence Taskfoce led by Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. UNIT are soon called into action when people and meteorites start going missing but puzzling of all is the attempted kidnapping of a strange hospital patient - a man with two hearts, who insists that he knows the Brigadier... The new Doctor soon joins forces with his old friends, UNIT and the recently recruited Dr Liz Shaw, but time is running out.

Special Features:

•  Two Commentaries – One with actors Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney and another with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks.

•  Down to Earth – Cast and crew look back at the making of this story and how a strike at the BBC studios inadvertently created the only classic series story to be made entirely on film. With actor Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor (and inadvertent Auton actor) Robin Squire. Narrated by Carl Kennedy.

•  Regenerations - From Black and White to Colour – ‘Spearhead from Space’ marked not only the arrival of a new Doctor but also the transition from black and white to colour. This documentary looks at the challenges faced by programme makers during this period. With actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, producer Derrick Sherwin, script editor Terrance Dicks, directors Timothy Combe, Christopher Barry and Michael Ferguson, designer Roger Cheveley and graphic designer Bernard Lodge.

•  UNIT Recruitment Film (dur. 4’ 48”) – a spoof army recruitment film put together for BBC transmission during Doctor Who’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 1993.

•  Trailers – two trailers for the 1999 BBC2 transmission of the story and for ‘Doctor Who Night’from the same year.•  Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

•  Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

•  Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.

Terror of the Autons

Earth is in terrible danger. The Master has arrived with an evil scheme to destroy humanity and silence the Doctor forever by awakening the awesome power of the Nestene - a ruthlessly aggressive alien life form. With their control over all types of plastic, they form into faceless automatons, a willing army of destruction easily controlled by the evil Time Lord himself.

Aided by the Brigadier and his enthusiastic new assistant, Jo Grant, only the Doctor can combat their evil power, but this is easier said than done when every plastic doll, phone flex, or chair can be turned against him. First, however, he must defeat the Master.

Special Features:

•  Commentary - With actors Katy Manning and Nicolas Courtney, producer Barry Letts.

•  Life on Earth – In this documentary, cast and crew look back at the making of the story and the differences in the way Doctor Who was made in the seventies compared to now. With actors Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and new series producer Phil Collinson.

•  The Doctor’s Moriarty– with the introduction of the Master, the Doctor now had his very own Moriarty, who would be the dark figure behind every story in season eight, and many more beyond that. This featurette discusses the enduring appeal of the character. With actor Katy Manning, producer Barry Letts, script editors Terrance Dicks and Christopher H Bidmead and writers Robert Shearman and Joe Lidster.

•  Plastic Fantastic – how did the writers of Doctor Who and other programmes take something as everyday as plastic and turn it against us? With writers Francesca Gavin, Robert Shearman and new series designer Matthew Savage.

•  Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

•  Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.

•  Radio Times Listings and promotional material for Sugar Smacks and Nestle products in Adobe PDF format.

+  Mannequin Mania is released on 9th May 2011, priced £30.63.

+  Compare Prices for this product on CompareTheDalek.com.

[Source: 2|Entertain]

Character Options have announced a new wave of Doctor Who Action Figures.

The Pandorica Action Figure and MP3 Audio Collection consists of the following:

· The Eleventh Doctor includes CD 01 – Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion part 1

· Roman Auton includes CD 02 – Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion part 2

· Angel Bob includes CD 03 – Doctor Who and the Giant Robot part 1

· Cyberman Pandorica Guard includes CD 04 – Doctor Who and the Giant Robot part 2

· Amy Pond includes CD 05 – Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters part 1

· Silurian Warrior includes CD 06 – Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters part 2

Each 5-inch action figure includes a MP3 CD with audio book instalment and one piece of the Pandorica! Collect and build your own Pandorica CD cube case! There are three complete classic stories across 6 CDs. One supplied. For ages 5 years and over.

 The Pandorica Collection Action Figures are released Late December, priced £9.99 each.

 Order these Toys at Forbidden Planet, for just £8.99 each!

[Source: Character Options]