12 of David Tennant’s most villainous TV roles, ranked in order – from Rivals to The Bill

David Tennant is fantastic at playing captivating villains, whether it’s as Tony Baddingham in the Disney+ series Rivals or a vengeful Time Lord in the classic BBC show Doctor Who.

Although David Tennant has played villains in films like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Thursday Murder Club, he’s even more well-known for his extensive work on television.

Now that we’ve covered all of that, let’s consider where the scheming Tony stacks up among this actor’s most villainous TV characters. We’ll take a detailed look and see how your favorite bad guy ranks on our list.

12. Crowley – Good Omens

David Tennant stars as the demon Crowley in the Prime Video fantasy series. He shares a close connection with the angel Aziraphale, played by Michael Sheen. Despite being natural enemies, the two work together to save the world.

Okay, so everyone calls Crowley the bad guy, but honestly, he’s way more of a rebel hero. And seriously, the ending? Huge spoilers here, but he and his buddy actually sacrificed themselves to give humanity free will. It totally flips the script on him being a villain, you know?

11. Time Lord Victorious and Meta-Crisis Doctor – Doctor Who

Time Lord Victorious is a darker take on the Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant. Driven by a prophecy foretelling his demise, he loses his sense of right and wrong and begins to abuse his power, ultimately seeking redemption.

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Okay, so this Doctor, who’s basically a crisis-solver, shows up and just destroys the Daleks! It’s awesome, but the real Doctor gets worried – he thinks this version is way too powerful and unstable. So, in a really surprising move, he doesn’t destroy him, he sends him to live with Rose Tyler! Can you believe it? It’s a total twist and I’m so curious to see what happens next!

But we all know this is a case of hero banishing anti-hero, rather than a battle against a villain.

10. Harry Watling – Inside Man

Okay, so I just finished watching Inside Man, and wow, it’s a ride! David Tennant plays this guy, Harry, and he gets tangled up in some seriously shady stuff. Basically, he’ll do anything to protect his son, and it quickly spirals out of control. We’re talking assault, holding people captive, and he almost crosses the line into murder. It’s a really intense thriller, and it shows just how far a parent will go.

Despite everything happening around him, Harry insists he’s a good family man who was just trying to survive. He’s not a villain at heart, and the story did a great job of showing how he fell apart.

9. Will Burton – The Escape Artist

David Wolstencroft wrote the BBC series The Escape Artist, which featured a surprising twist: the defense lawyer, Will, was revealed to be the culprit. He represented himself in court and skillfully manipulated the legal system after killing Liam, a serial killer who had murdered his wife.

People loved the surprising turn of events, and David Tennant gave an incredible performance as a character who cleverly exploits both prejudices and his own skills.

8. Steven Clemens – The Bill

In this exciting appearance on the long-running ITV police show, the actor portrays a dangerous kidnapper who targets a teenage girl. He then engages in psychological manipulation during his interrogation with DI Deakin.

This 1995 episode showcases the actor’s early ability to play truly disturbing characters, as he brilliantly embodies the role of the psychopathic Steven.

7. Brendan Block – Secret Smile

This two-part ITV drama, originally aired in 2005 and based on the Nicci French novel, explores a chilling story of obsession. The series features an actor playing Brendan Block, a seemingly charming man who quickly turns out to be a dangerous stalker.

Kate Ashfield delivers a compelling performance as Miranda, who ultimately overcomes the manipulative and abusive Brendan. However, his actions have lasting consequences, and the actor brilliantly portrays the unsettling contrast between Brendan’s initial charm and his underlying harmful nature.

6. Aiden Hoynes – The Politician’s Husband

This three-part drama, written by Paula Milne and directed by Simon Cellan Jones, originally appeared on BBC in 2013. David Tennant stars as Aiden Hoynes, a high-ranking government official who attacks his wife, driven by jealousy over her professional success.

Honestly, it’s almost anticlimactic that the biggest ‘punishment’ he gets is seeing her become Prime Minister instead of him. But even though he doesn’t really face any serious consequences, it doesn’t make what he did any less awful. It still really bothers me how terrible he was.

5. Tony Baddingham – Rivals

Tony, a powerful TV executive, is a manipulative and unfaithful man determined to succeed at any cost. This witty and engaging period drama is inspired by the novels of Jilly Cooper.

Lord B is completely lacking in morals – he’s unfaithful, makes ruthless decisions about relationships, and resorts to violence. Despite being a compelling character, this isn’t David Tennant’s most menacing performance.

4. Edgar Fallon – Criminal: UK

This gripping, self-contained episode of the popular Netflix series takes place entirely within an interrogation room, focusing on Edgar and the accusations against him for his stepdaughter’s murder.

Despite saying very little – mostly just “no comment” – David Tennant is captivating to watch. As the detectives unravel the mystery, the experienced actor gives a convincing and chilling performance as a truly unpleasant villain.

3. Tom Kendrick – Deadwater Fell

David Tennant gave one of his most chilling and manipulative performances in this four-part Channel 4 drama from 2020.

Tom Kendrick isn’t the kind, heartbroken doctor he appears to be. In reality, he was responsible for the tragedy that took the lives of his wife, Kate, and their three daughters. He discovered she was planning to leave him, and that’s why he caused the accident.

2. Kilgrave – Jessica Jones

Kilgrave, a cruel and controlling man, gains the power to control others’ minds. He uses this power to force Jessica Jones (played by Krysten Ritter) to do his bidding. After she breaks free, Kilgrave becomes fixated on her and vows to eliminate her.

Even though he was only a major character in the first season of the show, Kilgrave is often ranked among the greatest villains in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe – and that’s saying something, considering villains like Thanos!

1. Dennis Nilsen – Des

This unsettling true-crime story focuses on Dennis Nilsen, a seemingly ordinary man who calmly details how he murdered several vulnerable men throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s.

David Tennant received widespread praise for his compelling performance in the ITV drama Des, and the show itself was a critical success. Many consider his role in Des to be one of his most impactful and memorable to date.

2026-05-23 14:21