Doctor Who returns Christmas 2026

Following months of speculation, the BBC and Disney+ have parted ways after two seasons of Doctor Who.

Lindsay Salt, Director of Drama at the BBC, said: “We’d like to thank Disney+ for being terrific global partners and collaborators over the past two seasons, and for the upcoming The War Between the Land and the Sea. The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026. We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”

Before next year’s special, fans of the beloved series still have much to enjoy with The War Between the Land and the Sea heading to BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year, as well as a brand-new animation series for CBeebies, which is in development.

The Doctor Who Christmas special will be produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies

Hey You Guys! On Friday, the LEGO Group, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, announced the long-awaited LEGO Ideas The Goonies set for November.

Ke Huy Quan, the Oscar-winning actor who played Data, comments: “Revisiting Data after all these years - but this time in LEGO form - has been such a joyful experience. The Goonies was all about heart, adventure, and friendship, and this set captures that spirit in fantastic detail. From the booby traps to the treasure room, it’s like stepping back into the tunnels with the gang - only now, I get to share that magic with a whole new generation of fans.”

Additionally, shoppers who purchase the LEGO Ideas The Goonies set (21363) between 1st to 7th November will receive LEGO Ideas The Goonies: The Walshes’ Attic (40773) as a Gift with Purchase, available while supplies last.

LEGO Ideas The Goonies is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas The Goonies to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Stranger Things finale coming to cinemas

Netflix has announced that the Stranger Things series finale will be shown in select cinemas in America and Canada.

“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela, and everyone at Netflix for making it happen,” series creators Matt and Ross Duffer tell Tudum. “Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”

Originally, the 2-hour finale, entitled "The Right Side Up," was only going to be streamed on Netflix, but fans (myself included) took to social media to express their enthusiasm for finale fan screenings.

Read the official synopsis:

"The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time."

Stranger Things 5 releases with the first four episodes on 26th November, followed by three episodes on Christmas, and the finale episode on New Year’s Eve. It has not yet been confirmed whether the finale will be released in any UK cinemas.

Are you looking forward to the final season of Stranger Things on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

Fallout Day

It's Fallout Day.

23rd October 2077 marks the most significant event in Fallout’s alternate history – the day of the Great War that destroyed the world of old and from its ashes birthed the franchise’s take on the post-apocalypse.

Bethesda has announced Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition. The update will be released on 10th November and is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.



Fallout season two premieres on Prime Video on 17th December, and Ella Purnell, who plays Lucy MacLean, a sheltered Vault Dweller, teased the following to Empire magazine: “At times, it’s like [they] are on this buddy road trip. And then other times, they’re so much at arms. They’re trying to influence each other and see who’s going to rub off on whom. Is the Ghoul going to become good? Is Lucy going to become bad? Or are they going to be somewhere in the middle?”

The dynamic between Lucy and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) was the beating heart of season one, and I can't wait to follow their road trip to New Vegas this holiday season.

Fallout is streaming exclusively on Prime Video (affiliate link).

How are you celebrating Fallout Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Adam Driver on The Hunt for Ben Solo

After his debut in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, played by Adam Driver, quickly became a fan-favourite as he grappled with the light and the dark side of the Force before sacrificing himself to save Rey (Daisy Ridley) in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Driver recently spoke to AP about his idea for a standalone Star Wars movie. "I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I always said: With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him."

Whilst Lucasfilm loved the idea developed by Oscar-winning director Stephen Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt, the project fell apart after they took it to Disney, who had forgotten that no one's ever really gone in Star Wars.

"We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver told AP. "It was called ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ and it was really cool. But it is no more, so I can finally talk about it."

Soderbergh, in a statement, said: “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”

What do you think? Was it a missed opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.

The Force Awakens trailer 10 years on

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Lucasfilm remains relatively quiet on the matter, instead choosing to focus on Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter. The latter movie is not due in cinemas until 2027 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of George Lucas' space opera franchise.

Yesterday marked 10 years since the official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released during Monday Night Football. At the time, I wrote how it evoked all the nostalgia for the original trilogy.



Much has changed in the past decade with the House of Mouse pivoting to Star Wars spin-off series on Disney+, but I'll never forget the anticipation and booking tickets at midnight to see the first instalment in the sequel trilogy on the day of release in December 2015.

Forbes revealed that with costs of $638.9 million (£452 million), Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Disney’s most expensive Star Wars movie and one of the most expensive films in Hollywood history. Remarkably, it is also one of the most profitable.

What are your memories of watching the official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Eclipse still in development

4 years ago, Star Wars Eclipse was announced with fanfare from Lucasfilm Games, followed by controversy as developer Quantic Dream faced allegations of a toxic working environment.

Since then, there has been silence until now.

“For over 28 years, Quantic Dream has been pushing the boundaries of interactive storytelling,” founder David Cage said in a statement. “With award-winning titles like Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human, more than 25 million players worldwide have shared the journeys of Ethan Mars, Jodie Holmes, Kara, Markus and Connor with us.”

As a fan of Quantic Dream's previous PlayStation console exclusives Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, I was excited to play Star Wars Eclipse. Set during the High Republic era, Star Wars Eclipse is an intricately branching action-adventure game that can be experienced in many ways and puts the destinies of multiple playable characters in your hands.

“Of course, development of Star Wars Eclipse continues, and we are eager to share more with you in the future,” he said.

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Eclipse? Let me know in the comments below.

Drew Struzan, legendary poster artist, dies

On Tuesday, it was announced on Instagram that Drew Struzan, a legendary Hollywood artist famous for his collaborations with directors George Lucas (Star Wars) and Steven Spielberg (Jaws), has passed away at the age of 78.

"It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art. - Greg, IG manager"

For generations of film fans (myself included), Struzan's iconic movie posters from Indiana Jones to Star Wars were woven into the fabric of popular culture. In the eighties, when I walked into a local video rental store owned by family friends in a pre-streaming world, I would look for his art on the cover of VHS cases. John Carpenter's The Thing always stood out, years before I saw it on ITV.

“Drew was an artist of the highest order,” says Star Wars creator George Lucas. “His illustrations fully captured the excitement, tone and spirit of each of my films his artwork represented. His creativity, through a single illustrated image, opened up a world full of life in vivid color…even at a glance. I was lucky to have worked with him time and time again.”

I may be misremembering, but I'm sure his unused poster art for Star Wars: Revenge of the Jedi, before the final chapter in the original Star Wars trilogy was renamed at the last minute, was used on toy aisles to promote the latest merchandise. Certainly, it was somehow seared into my childhood memories.

“When one thinks of iconic movie poster artists, Drew Struzan is the first name that comes to mind,” says Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “Drew’s unforgettable artwork has touched so many hearts throughout the years, and I have been thankful to have worked with him on films such as E.T., Back to the Future, Hook, and the Indiana Jones series. His artwork is so imaginative, so beautiful, it elevated the movie-going experience for those films before audiences even stepped foot into a theater. Drew’s work is timeless, and will undoubtedly inspire both artists and film lovers for generations to come.”

As I write this, I'm poignantly listening to The Spielberg/Williams Collaboration on Apple Music, featuring album art by Struzan.

RIP Drew Struzan.

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV for F1

In a press release for F1: The Movie, Apple quietly announced that Apple TV+ is rebranding as Apple TV.

“It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world embrace F1: The Movie in theatres,” said producer Jerry Bruckheimer. “Now, we’re beyond excited to bring this exhilarating, cinematic ride to fans everywhere through Apple TV’s unparalleled global reach. Partnering with Apple and Formula 1 has been an incredible journey, and we’re proud that even more viewers, from every corner of the world, will get to experience the heart-pounding action and passion that defines F1.”

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity.

This holiday season, I'll be watching F1: The Movie on Apple TV on Apple TV... on Apple TV!

Will you be watching F1: The Movie on Apple TV? What do you think about the change from Apple TV+ to Apple TV? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien gets Monster High makeover for Halloween

H.R. Giger's iconic xenomorph design from the Alien franchise gets a Monster High makeover that slays this Halloween from Mattel Creations.

“This elegantly designed doll pays tribute to the iconic Xenomorph, blending sci-fi inspiration with high fashion. It features a sheer black dress with subtle exoskeleton-inspired embellishments and a headpiece that echoes the creature’s elongated skull. With refined detail and a unique aesthetic, this release offers a fresh take on a pop culture legend and is ideal for collectors and fans of science fiction. Packaged in premium collectable packaging and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, this Skullector delivers horror at its most stylish.”

The Monster High Skullector dolls usually sell out in minutes after going on sale. Following the success of Alien: Romulus and Alien: Earth, the latest crossover will be no exception when it goes on sale to the public on 17th October. Whilst I'm not a Monster High collector, as an Alien fan, this is a must-have for the spooky season.

Will you be adding Monster High Skullector Alien Doll to your collection? Which other iconic horror franchises would you like to see get the Monster High treatment? Let me know in the comments below.