Big Chief Studios

Big Chief Studios was founded in the UK in 2011 by Mark Andrews and Tony Leetham, with the stated aim of becoming the country's leading collectibles company. Its first major licence was Doctor Who from BBC Worldwide, and that line became the heart of the business: sixth scale Doctors across the show's eras with actor likenesses, from the Fourth Doctor to the War Doctor and beyond, with Rose Tyler, Clara Oswald, the Master and the Daleks around them.

Sherlock followed under licence from Hartswood Films: Sherlock Holmes in Benedict Cumberbatch's likeness, Martin Freeman's Watson and Andrew Scott's Moriarty. The Signature Edition Sherlock came with a 221B Baker Street diorama and an autograph plaque hand-signed by Cumberbatch, a format Big Chief used across its range.

The James Bond licence took about two years to negotiate and was announced in 2016, with EON approving every likeness. The first wave brought Sean Connery's Bond with Goldfinger and Oddjob, and Live and Let Die followed with Roger Moore, Solitaire and Baron Samedi. Peaky Blinders came next, licensed through Endemol Shine: Tommy Shelby in Cillian Murphy's likeness, then Arthur Shelby. Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Flash Gordon rounded out a thoroughly British catalogue.

In August 2023 the company went into creditors' voluntary liquidation, with its managing director citing pandemic production delays and falling sales, and customers with deposits were directed to the liquidators. Not every announced figure reached its buyers, so when a Big Chief listing turns up, check that the figure in question actually shipped.