Doctor Who is releasing an animated version of classic episodes featuring the villainous Toymaker, who was played by Michael Gough in a 1966 serial.
All but one of the original master recordings were lost until now, but BBC Studios has managed to intricately weave back together the tale using off-air audio from the missing three episodes, as confirmed on the Doctor Who website.
This thrilling project was announced on social platform X yesterday (December 7) in a post reading: "The first game between the Doctor and the Toymaker – now fully animated! #DoctorWho: THE CELESTIAL TOYMAKER, coming soon to DVD, Blu-ray and steelbook."
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'The Celestial Toymaker' sees William's Hartnell's First Doctor and companions Steven (Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane) separated when they come up against the Toymaker.
With the Doctor occupied with the Toymaker's demented Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are also forced to play childish but ultimately dangerous games, as they try to reunite with the Doctor and get back to the TARDIS and safety.
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![Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker (Limited Edition Steelbook [Blu-ray])](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1702045287-61Lo30YCZaL.jpg?crop=1xw:1xh;center,top&resize=980:* "Doctor Who: The Celestial Toymaker (Limited Edition Steelbook [Blu-ray])")
Blu-ray and DVD versions of the animated version of 'The Celestial Toymaker' are now available to pre-order via outlets including Amazon and Zavvi.
Conveniently, this classic villain has been revived and will be played by Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who's third and final 60th anniversary special airing on Saturday (December 9).
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When his casting was first made public, Harris recalled an irresistible message from Who showrunner Russell T Davies that convinced him to accept the role.
"I get a text from Russell T Davies saying, 'So I'm doing this thing and I've written a thing and there's a part in it that you might like. I think it's delicious. Is it OK if I send it to you?'" he said, before official confirmation that he is playing the Toymaker.
Harris continued: "And I say, 'Of course Russell, you're Russell T Davies. Of course.' And he sent it and I started reading it and from the very, very first scene I was like, 'Ah, this is delicious.'
"I'm trying to do less and I'm now committing to more, but I think with Russell, it would be a bad call to say no creatively to him."
Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, concluding with 'The Giggle' on December 9. The show airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere.
Classic episodes of Doctor Who are now made available via BBC iPlayer in the UK as well.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
