Best Doctor Who Villains: the Daleks and Jon Pertwee
(Image credit: BBC)
For six decades, the iconic blue box of Doctor Who has graced our screens, becoming a cornerstone of British television and a global phenomenon. Across over 870 episodes, fifteen incarnations of the Doctor, countless companions, and that ever-present TARDIS, one thing remains constant: the villains. While we celebrate the heroes, today we delve into the darker side of the Whoniverse. Every Doctor needs formidable adversaries, and Doctor Who has delivered a rogues’ gallery of truly unforgettable baddies.
From the dawn of time to the far reaches of space, the Doctor has faced a dizzying array of monsters and wrongdoers. This list is our tribute to the most memorable, terrifying, and downright evil Doctor Who Baddies. Consider this your essential guide to the top eleven villainous forces that have challenged the Time Lord across space and time. It’s not exhaustive – the Doctor’s enemy list is legendary for its length – but these are our top picks for the most iconic baddies in the Whoniverse.
If exploring the darker corners of Doctor Who isn’t your only interest, you might also enjoy our rankings of the Doctor Who Doctors, ranked and the Doctor Who companions, ranked. And for those looking to the future, we’ve even speculated on who should be the next Doctor Who after Jodie Whittaker’s tenure.
11. The Autons
Best Doctor Who Villains: the Autons
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Spearhead from Space” (Season 7, Episode 1)
- First Broadcast: January 3, 1970
Stepping onto the scene in vibrant color, the Autons were the first villains to challenge Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor in 1970’s “Spearhead from Space.” These seemingly innocuous life-size plastic dummies are puppets controlled by the malevolent Nestene Consciousness. Their chillingly mundane disguise as shop window mannequins was revisited in the 2005 episode “Rose,” where Rose Tyler encountered their deadly nature firsthand.
While the concept of killer plastic might sound slightly absurd, especially moments like Mickey’s unfortunate encounter with a sentient trash can, the Autons are genuinely unsettling when they unleash their true potential. Their blank stares and sudden, violent movements are surprisingly effective. Interestingly, not all Autons are evil; the Eleventh Doctor’s companion, Rory Williams, famously spent nearly two millennia as an Auton clone, valiantly guarding the Pandorica. This duality adds a layer of complexity to these Doctor Who baddies, making them more than just mindless monsters.
10. The Ood
Ood
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “The Impossible Planet” (Season 2, Episode 8)
- First Broadcast: June 3, 2006
The Ood stand out as some of the more inherently peaceful Doctor Who baddies on this list. Instantly recognizable by their distinctive squid-like features and gentle demeanor, the Ood are a telepathic species. They communicate through external orbs, connected to them via tentacle-like appendages, which serve as both vocal organs and a link to their collective consciousness.
Despite their natural inclination towards tranquility, the Ood are tragically susceptible to manipulation. A stronger telepathic force can easily override their peaceful nature, turning them into unwilling agents of violence. This vulnerability makes them compelling villains, as they are victims themselves, twisted into aggression. The Ood’s memorable design and frequent appearances since their 2006 debut have cemented their place as recognizable figures, particularly for newer generations of Doctor Who fans, rightfully earning them a spot amongst the top Doctor Who baddies.
9. The Empty Child
Best Doctor Who Villains: the Empty Child
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “The Empty Child” (Season 1, Episode 9)
- First Broadcast: May 21, 2005
Perhaps the most poignant entry on this list, the Empty Child is a chilling figure who barely qualifies as a villain in the traditional sense. Unlike many Doctor Who baddies driven by conquest or destruction, this gas-mask-wearing child has a far more innocent, yet profoundly disturbing, motivation: finding his “mummy.”
Set against the backdrop of the London Blitz, the Doctor and Rose discover that the wartime terrors are compounded by something far stranger. Gas mask-clad figures stalk the halls of a local hospital, and a lone child wanders the bomb-stricken streets, transforming others into the walking undead – all while uttering the haunting phrase, “Are you my mummy?” in a voice that chills to the bone.
This episode is significant for introducing pivotal figures to the Doctor Who universe, including the charismatic Captain Jack Harkness and future showrunner Steven Moffat. The Empty Child’s horror lies not in malice, but in its tragic innocence twisted into something deeply unsettling, making it a uniquely memorable Doctor Who baddie.
8. Torchwood
Best Doctor Who: villains: Torchwood
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Army of Ghosts” (Season 2, Episode 12)
- First Broadcast: July 1, 2006
It’s easy to forget that Torchwood, the organization that spawned a sprawling Doctor Who spin-off universe, initially debuted as one of the Doctor’s antagonists. Encountered by the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, and Rose Tyler, Torchwood, specifically Torchwood One in London, was compromised. Cybermen, seeking escape from the Void, had infiltrated the organization, using it for their nefarious purposes.
However, events escalated beyond even the Cybermen’s plans. A Dalek Void-ship, carrying the Cult of Skaro, unexpectedly arrived, crashing the party and turning the situation into all-out war. Torchwood One ultimately fell in the ensuing chaos, along with both Daleks and Cybermen. Yet, from the ashes, Torchwood Three in Cardiff, Wales, emerged as a steadfast ally, evolving under the leadership of Captain Jack Harkness. Torchwood’s initial antagonistic role highlights the complex and ever-shifting landscape of Doctor Who baddies, demonstrating that even human organizations can become threats in the face of alien incursions.
7. Slitheen
Slitheen
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Aliens of London” (Season 1, Episode 4)
- First Broadcast: April 16, 2005
While perhaps not the most terrifying Doctor Who baddie on this list, the Slitheen are undeniably among the most recognizable, particularly for younger viewers who joined the fanbase with the 2005 revival. These hulking, green-skinned aliens have made numerous appearances since their introduction, becoming recurring antagonists in the modern series.
Hailing from Raxacoricofallapatorius (Slitheen is actually their family name), these aliens are criminals and trained killers on their home world. Their modus operandi on Earth involves brutally murdering humans and utilizing compression technology to squeeze into the victims’ skins as disguises. Despite their efforts, a tell-tale sign remains: their peculiar sideways blinking eyelids.
The Slitheen’s blend of grotesque appearance and somewhat comical nature makes them memorable Doctor Who baddies. Their early appearances in the revived series helped establish the show’s balance of scares and humor for a new generation.
6. The Loch Ness Monster
Best Doctor Who Villains: Loch Nes Monster
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Terror of the Zygons” (Season 13, Episode 2)
- First Broadcast: August 30, 1975
An iconic creature of myth brought to life by alien ingenuity, the Loch Ness Monster in Doctor Who is far more than a prehistoric beast. Created by the Zygons, a race of shapeshifting aliens, “Nessie” is revealed to be the Skarasen, a colossal cyborg sea monster. This augmented creature was intended to be a key component of the Zygons’ plan to conquer Earth after their home planet was destroyed.
The Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, alongside beloved companions Sarah-Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan, bravely confronted the Zygon invasion and ultimately saved Earth from their aquatic weapon. The Loch Ness Monster episode exemplifies Doctor Who’s ability to blend real-world mysteries with science fiction, creating uniquely memorable Doctor Who baddies from familiar legends.
5. Sontarans
Best Doctor Who Villains: Sontarans
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “The Time Warrior” (Season 11, Episode 1)
- First Broadcast: December 15, 1973
Don’t let their potato-like appearance fool you; the Sontarans are a warrior race posing a threat far exceeding their stout stature. Round, brown, and undeniably resembling spuds, these clones are formidable soldiers. First encountered by the Third Doctor, Jon Pertwee, and Sarah-Jane Smith in 1973, the Sontarans have become enduring antagonists, even evolving to include Strax, a Sontaran who became an unlikely ally and companion.
As the Doctor astutely points out, they possess a rather thematic weakness: a port on the back of their armor, requiring them to always face enemies head-on. This tactical inflexibility, however, barely hinders their military prowess.
A fun piece of Doctor Who trivia: Kevin Lindsay, the actor who first played a Sontaran named Linx, pronounced the race as son-TAR-an on set. Despite director Alan Bromly’s correction to emphasize SON-taran, Lindsay humorously retorted, “Since I’m from the place, I should know.” Regardless of pronunciation, the Sontarans remain firmly established as classic Doctor Who baddies.
4. The Weeping Angels
The Weeping Angels
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Blink” (Season 3, Episode 10)
- First Broadcast: June 9, 2007
For many, especially younger viewers, the Weeping Angels are among the most genuinely terrifying Doctor Who baddies. These menacing, statue-like humanoids are capable of killing with a single touch, yet they possess a bizarre quantum-locked existence: they can only move when unobserved, even during blinks. This unsettling concept plays on the principles of quantum physics and the observer effect, akin to a deadly, mobile Schrodinger’s Cat thought experiment.
Mercifully, their method of “killing” is somewhat less gruesome than some other Doctor Who baddies. Instead of outright destruction, the Angels send victims back in time, allowing them to live out their lives in the past while being effectively removed from the present. The terrifying statues then feed on the potential energy of these displaced lives to sustain themselves.
First appearing in 2007’s acclaimed episode “Blink” and returning in subsequent episodes, the Weeping Angels have instilled a unique brand of fear in Doctor Who fans, proving that sometimes, the most effective monsters are those that exploit our most basic instincts and perceptions.
3. The Cybermen
Best Doctor Who Villains: the Cybermen
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “The Tenth Planet” (Season 4, Serial 2)
- First Broadcast: October 8, 1966
Debuting all the way back in 1966 during William Hartnell’s final serial as the First Doctor, the Cybermen are a testament to enduring villainy. While their initial design might have involved humble materials like tumble dryer tubing and repurposed helmets, they have evolved into formidable adversaries over decades. Driven by a chillingly logical imperative, the Cybermen seek to conquer the galaxy and “upgrade” all sentient life, converting beings into emotionless, cybernetic versions of themselves.
Marching relentlessly across universes, through the void, and across time itself, these classic Doctor Who baddies have undergone numerous iterations – from steam-powered behemoths to sleek, modern cyborgs. Yet, they remain perpetually undefeated, a constant threat looming over the Whoniverse. Their chilling pursuit of forced evolution and emotionless conformity makes them profoundly unsettling Doctor Who baddies.
2. The Daleks
Best Doctor Who Villains: the Daleks and Jon Pertwee
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “The Daleks” (Season 1, Serial 2)
- First Broadcast: December 21, 1963
Unquestionably, the Daleks are the quintessential Doctor Who baddies, a perennial menace to the Time Lord, and the only villains to have confronted every single incarnation of the Doctor. Their iconic, screeching voices and deadly plunger-like weapons are instantly recognizable, solidifying their status as one of science fiction’s most iconic alien races.
Introduced in 1963, writer Terry Nation conceived the Daleks as a deliberate allegory for Nazism: violent, merciless, and utterly devoid of compassion. While early, classic Daleks were famously hampered by stairs, modern iterations can levitate, obliterate, and, of course, exterminate with extreme prejudice. The Daleks’ relentless pursuit of galactic domination and their unwavering hatred for all non-Dalek life forms cement their place as top-tier Doctor Who baddies.
1. The Master
Best Doctor Who Villains: the Master
(Image credit: BBC)
- First Appearance: “Terror of the Autons” (Season 8, Serial 1)
- First Broadcast: January 2, 1971
More than just a villain, the Master is the Doctor’s twisted mirror image, an old friend and an enduring foe who has plagued the Time Lord across countless regenerations. Like the Doctor, the Master is a Time Lord, capable of regeneration and possessing similar intellect and cunning, but driven by a darker, more chaotic impulse. The Master has seemingly met his end numerous times, only to return, often in dramatically different incarnations, from Roger Delgado’s classic mustachioed mastermind to Michelle Gomez’s gleefully unhinged Missy.
The relationship between the Doctor and the Master is often compared to that of Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty – two sides of the same coin, locked in a perpetual dance of conflict and twisted respect. For all the terrifying alien hordes the Doctor faces, his ultimate adversary, the Doctor Who baddie who truly understands and challenges him, will always be his corrupted Time Lord counterpart. Even legendary actor Derek Jacobi lent his talents to the role, portraying Professor Yana, a human guise for the Master, delivering an electrifying performance that culminated in a shocking regeneration.
Thus, our ranking of the best Doctor Who baddies concludes with the Master, a villain whose complexity, personal connection to the Doctor, and sheer staying power make him the ultimate foe. Time and again, these formidable adversaries, in all their varied forms, have been vanquished by the Doctor’s sonic screwdriver, sharp wit, and the unwavering bravery of his human companions.
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Bobby Wells
Bobby is a Freelance Copywriter who has worked with Space.com, and its sister site, Top Ten Reviews. He’s been writing since his teens, and has worked for a number of media outlets, turning his talents to education, travel, fitness, retail, and more. Bobby loves to write fiction (Fantasy, Horror, and Cosmic Fiction), woodwork, and walk his Romanian rescue dog Garnet. You can often find him and Garnet walking across the Scottish wilds, or through the New Forest in the South of England.
