The 10 best gifts for new and old 'Doctor Who' fans
Doctor Who fans are especially hard to shop for.
Like many franchises, Doctor Who has a plethora of official and unofficial material that directly relates to the show — Blu-rays, comics, books, audio adventures, and more — but in the case of Doctor Who, there's just so much of it. The show has had 55 years to build itself, which is wondrous, but as a gift-giver, you can pretty much toss all of that out since you never know what they already have.
However, Who also has an advantage: The show renews itself every few years, creating a ton more new merchandise in the process. And this past year has been a doozy, with Jodie Whittaker taking over as the Doctor, the first woman in the title role. That means a lot more interest, and plenty of new merchandise.
Still, you need to be selective. For this list, we did our best to provide a selection of Who-themed gifts that were least likely for a fan to already own, and if they did, there would be little to no complaints about receiving an extra.
Here are some great — and reliable — holiday gifts for Doctor Who fans new and old in 2018:
1. Doctor Who Barbie Doll: The Thirteenth Doctor
Whatever you may think of Barbie, there's no question she's a cultural institution for young girls, so it makes complete sense that the BBC would partner with Mattel to create an official Barbie version of the 13th Doctor, complete with Whittaker's signature bob. The coat, rainbow shirt, and sonic screwdriver are spot-on, too. The doll doesn't debut until Dec. 16, so it's a fairly safe bet the fan on your list doesn't have it yet.
Price: $49.99 at Mattel
2. Kurt Adler mini ornament set
A Doctor Who fan's Christmas tree isn't complete without various monsters from the show, and this set definitely has those, comprising a Dalek, Cyberman, Adipose, and Weeping Angel. The monster gallery is a few years old now, but the price is Secret Santa-friendly, and no Whovian ever complained about having too many Doctor Who-themed Christmas ornaments.
Price: $11.12 at Amazon
3. TARDIS holiday figure
Ornaments aren’t just for trees — spread your Doctor Who-themed Christmas spirit around the house with this cute mini TARDIS adorned with holiday decorations. The layer of snow and wreath on the door look so cookie-perfect your party guests will wonder if gingerbread comes in blue.
Price: $14.98 at BBC Shop
4. 13th Doctor sonic screwdriver
Jodie Whittaker already has many firsts under her belt, one of them being the playing first Doctor that builds her own sonic screwdriver onscreen. If that challenge sounds a little above your skill level, the BBC sells a very good replica, complete with authentic lights and sounds from the show. Constant state of crisis not included.
Price: $29.98 at BBC Shop
5. Mr. Men: Dr. Thirteenth
The popular Doctor Who Mr. Men books are great fun for kids and adults alike, and collectors will love extending the collection with the latest volume, which adds Whittaker’s Doctor to the mix. Though she’s neither a mister or a man, Doctor Thirteenth is definitely ready to be as excitable and fun as any of her predecessors.
Price: $5.99 at Amazon
6. ‘She is the Doctor’ coffee mug
Indeed she is! Even if you’re not a female superfan who could use a well-deserved latte after finishing your PhD, this mug will showcase your appreciation for the Whittaker’s status as the first female Doctor in the show’s history.
Price: $11.77 at Etsy
7. TARDIS console motion light
Lava lamps go in and out of style depending on the current taste of retro culture, but this TARDIS-ified take on the idea is definitely more timeless. If the funky lights from the central tube don’t start a conversation, the classic TARDIS console styling of the exterior will. The true fan won’t mind having one of these in every room.
Price: $57.99 at Amazon
8. Doctor Who socks
If there’s one thing you need to go adventuring with the Doctor, it’s plenty of clean socks. From running through alien forests to wading knee-deep through trouble on a daily basis, being part of the TARDIS crew can be hard on your footwear, so fans will definitely appreciate these cleverly designed Who-themed socks helping fill their drawers.
Price: $14.95 at Amazon
9. 13th Doctor Crystal TARDIS
A favorite decoration of the Capaldi era gets a makeover for Whittaker’s Doctor: Her ghostly figure subtly occupies this crystal reproduction of the TARDIS, but it really comes alive when you switch on the blue LED in the stand (complete with the updated logo), which turns a dark room into an alien world. We’re pretty sure it’s Metebelis 3.
Price: $99.98 at BBC Shop
10. Loungefly Doctor Who chibi duffle bag
There’s no shortage of cute interpretations of Doctor Who, but the chibi-style characters on this Loungefly bag are definitely one of the most adorbs. At 10 x 7 x 7.5 inches, it’s generously sized for a handbag, making it all the better to store sonic screwdrivers, psychic paper, and TARDIS keys that every adventurer needs. The detachable crossbody strap lets you drape it over your shoulder when you need hustle away from some Daleks.
Price: $64.98 at BBC Shop
Topics Doctor Who
Pete Pachal was Mashable’s Tech Editor and had been at the company from 2011 to 2019. He covered the technology industry, from self-driving cars to self-destructing smartphones.Pete has covered consumer technology in print and online for more than a decade. Originally from Edmonton, Canada, Pete first uploaded himself into technology journalism at Sound & Vision magazine in 1999. Pete also served as Technology Editor at Syfy, creating the channel's technology site, DVICE (now Blastr), out of some rusty HTML code and a decompiled coat hanger. He then moved on to PCMag, where he served as the site's News Director.Pete has been featured on Fox News, the Today Show, Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC and CBC.Pete holds degrees in journalism from the University of King's College in Halifax and engineering from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. His favorite Doctor Who monsters are the Cybermen.
