The Doctor Who Annual has topped the Christmas chart for children's books, toppling the traditional number one The Beano into second place.

The Doctor Who Annual, which has held the top spot for a total of eight weeks now, has broken the million-pound barrier by so far selling 271,000 copies.

According to Saturday's Guardian, "This is the first time the Beano annual has been beaten since accurate electronic sales figures began to be collected in 1998, and indeed, the book trade believes, the first time since soon after it was initially published in the 1940s."

The article goes on to say that "the boost from Doctor Who's two prime time Christmas Day specials in a row is envied by all other publishers of annuals".

New research carried out by the financial services company Liverpool Victoria reveals that UK parents will spend £262 on average on each of their children, a grand total of £1.8bn for all the children across the UK.

Easier Finanace detail some of the other statistical findings, including the gifts that children are hoping to receive most of all this yuletide. Top of the list for boys is the Dr Who Cyberman Mask - 21% of all UK boys want this for Christmas.

And it is not just in children's toys that Doctor Who is dominating. The Doctor Who Annual is still topping the Children's Bestselling Books Chart for the fifth week running.

Woolworths recently launched its new home-shopping catalogue The Big Red Book in time for the Christmas market (available instore now) and Doctor Who merchandise features prominently within its pages.

As well as radio-controlled Daleks and K-9, the sought-after Cyberman Voice Changer Helmet and popular TARDIS playset, the catalogue offers other Who goodies, including a Dalek Bottle Opener (with sound effects) and, exclusive to Woolworths, a 5-inch Doctor Who Figure Pack, which is featured as one of its "Top 10 Toys".

The Cyberman Voice Changer helmet is tipped to be one of the best selling toys this Christmas, according to theSunday Times. Only a Bratz doll is more popular, and other Doctor Who toys in the retailer Christmas Top 20 include the radio-controlled K9 and Dalek.

It has been good news for the manufacturers Character Options, whose shares jumped more than 12p, after it said annual profits would be “significantly” above market forecasts.

The Doctor Who Annual is also predicted to be the best seller this year, beating The Beano Annual for the first time in its history.

Additional coverage about the toy sales can be found at icWales, Blackpool Today and the Yorkshire Post,; the Annual's success is also covered by The Herald.

(Additional material by Josiah Rowe.)

May 3, 2006 • Posted By Shaun Lyon
Film and TV artist Pete Wallbank has once again created a limited edition Doctor Who print, this time of the tenth Doctor, Rose and a Cyberman, exclusively available through the Galaxy 4 store in the UK. "A3 in actual size and printed upon high quality heavy weight german etching paper. Individually signed, numbered and inspected for quality by Pete Wallbank himself. Each print will be accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity and is supplied within a plastic cover for presentation and protection. The run of only 100 copies is printed via the digital giclee method - to maintain the highest of standards with each print being produced as a one off. The finished item is virtually indistinguishable from its original!" Galaxy 4 two years ago stocked a similar print of Christopher Eccleston by the artist, who has also designed jacket covers for the Target novelisations of the original series. (Thanks to Andy at Galaxy 4)

Some notes on general TV series merchandise this week:

The first batch of novels featuring the Tenth Doctor is published by BBC Books this Thursday, but the three novels have been appearing in the shop over the past week.

The Doctor Who Celebration Cake, previously available only at Sainsbury, is now in most UK supermarkets.

The 10th Doctor/remote controlled K9 (5" action figure range) from Character Options has also started to appear on the high streets.

The BBC Shop homepage is currently dominated by a flash animation directing customers to "Monster savings" at the Doctor Who store - this features a 'New Earth' publicity shot and the TARDIS interior.

Amazon UK is listing a new CD for release from BBC Audio in October:Doctor Who: Monsters on Earth will be published on 2 October with a retail price of £40.

Amazon.com appears to have advance information on BBC Books' second batch of Tenth Doctor novels, listing The Nightmare of Black Island by Stephen Cole (September), The Art of Destruction by Stephen Cole (October) andThe Last Museum by Jacqueline Rayner (November). At this point, these titles, authors and release dates are likely to be at best provisional.

In addition to other recent merchandise release reports, Amazon.co.ukhas another audiobook listed for May release,"The Dalek Conquests". The content of this CD release is currently unknown.

The folks at Sci-Fi Collector have gotten in three new items at their London shop and the shop at the official Cardiff Doctor Who Exhibition, a series of Doctor Who rucksacks with imprints on them. They include a red Dalek, a blue Dalek in the Geocomtex facility ("Dalek") and the TARDIS in the void. They also have an image of a Doctor Who duvet cover for a child's bed, also now available. All four are seen in images below; click on each for a larger version.

Character Options have issued a press release on their new Doctor Who 2006 product line, which includes 5-inch action figures, 12-inch figures, radio controlled toys, playsets and games and a Cybermen novelty range. "Five-inch Action figures: See the characters come to life with the new range of 5" action figures. The Doctor is dressed in his new signature outfit with long overcoat and Sonic Screwdriver accessory, while Rose Tyler is teamed with canine hero, K9. Evil intergalactic warlord, the Sycorax Warrior comes complete with two imposing weapons. The Cassandra action figure shows Lady Cassandra O'Brien, the last human, stretched out on her moving frame. Blue-skinned Moxx of Balhoon is featured on his travelling base while Slitheen stands tall with full joint articulation and extendable claws. Twelve-inch Action figures: The twelve-inch action figure range features the new, more deadly breed of Cybermen, as well as the Doctor himself, suited exactly as seen on the screen. Every detail in his pinstripe suit, plimsolls and overcoat has been incorporated into the figure to reflect, down to the very last pinstripe, the Doctor's classic look. Radio controlled toys: The new 5" radio controlled Dalek is set to be just as popular as the 12" debut model launched last year. Like its predecessor, it features 360-degree travel, flashing lights and utters the words: “Seek, locate, exterminate!" The 5" Doctor Who action figure appears again in a double pack that comprises radio controlled K9 with authentic speech and sound effects. On command, K9 can turn a full 360 degrees, his eyes light up and he also has a button-activated gun.Cyberman novelty range: The Cyberman Voice Changer Helmet is a must for anyone daring to deceive the Cybermen as they carry out their mission to convert humanity to their own deadly kind. It will change your voice into true Cyberman speak, leaving your real identity undetected. For added protection, the Cyberman Room Guard will help you ward off intruders attempting to trespass on forbidden territory. Playsets and games: The TARDIS Electronic Playset features authentic light and sound effects and its console is a faithful reproduction of the one seen on screen. Its motorised ‘time column' rises and falls (with lights) when the TARDIS is in ‘flight' and it has ‘lift out' access panels in the floor to reveal the mechanisms and circuitry hidden in the floor. The LCD Game has a smart stylised Dalek case front and comes with an LCD game display, authentic sounds and two levels of play that allows players to hunt out and fire at the Doctor's most feared adversary. The new additions join the existing Doctor Who toy range which includes the Talking TARDIS Money Box and Sonic Screwdriver. The TARDIS Money Box, a replica of the Doctor's Time Capsule, has an opening front door which reveals the Doctor, Rose and a money slot. As each coin is delivered, the Money Box plays phrases including, “Did I mention it travels in time?" A replica of one of the Doctor's most essential tool, the Sonic Screwdriver is an invisible writing pen featuring button activated lights and sounds."

The Argos catalogue shop has brought out its new full-color brochure with the Character Options toys. Also included is an exclusive set of Character Options figures; called the "Regeneration Set", it features a Christopher Eccleston 5" figure (as per the battle pack) plus a David Tennant figure with the 10th Doctor dressed in the 9th Doctor's leather jacket.

The page that has the Doctor Who items mentioned above, including the newest items, is reproduced below, right; click on it for a larger version.

(Thanks to Shaun Lyon Hearn, Ian Wheeler/DWAS, Steven Scott/ScifiCollector, Rod Ulm)

Tenth Planet have sent us images of the new line of Character OptionsAction Figures, including two versions of the David Tennant Doctor, the Moxx of Balhoon, Cassandra, the Slitheen and the Sycorax Leader. Says their site, "This year Doctor Who gets a brand new line of Action Figures, below are Six of these soon to be released figures. Plus a list of other figures both 4" and 12" including playsets! These are officially released images by the BBC and Character Options. Wave One is scheduled for a February 2006 release." Click on each for a larger version.