Top 10 Guest Stars in Doctor Who

More than 30 years since he steered the TARDIS himself, Tom Baker returned to the show for “The Day of the Doctor”, a one-off episode to mark Who’s 50th anniversary. As a cryptic curator at the National Gallery, where a most significant artwork is housed, his cameo closes an almighty adventure where worlds were almost destroyed. Baker’s not the only incarnation of the Doctor to appear as another character. But, as he leaves Matt Smith with riddles for the future, this scene aches with nostalgia. What’s not to love?

Taking on a unique role as the TARDIS personified, Suranne Jones plays Idris in “The Doctor’s Wife”. When the Doctor, Amy and Rory are tricked onto a far-flung asteroid, a devious and bodiless entity (with Michael Sheen’s voice) tries to hijack the blue box, transferring its brain and personality into Idris. As such, Idris and the Doctor get along handsomely, working together to wrestle back the time machine and save the Doctor’s companions. And Jones brings the TARDIS to life with well-spoken style and well-timed sass. Nice pet name, too.

Best known as Arya Stark in “Game of Thrones”, Maisie Williams entered the ‘Whoniverse’ in 2015 as the immortal Ashildr. A recurring character throughout series nine, she debuts in “The Girl Who Died” for the episode’s eponymous role. But despite the near-death experience, The Twelfth Doctor pulls some strings and manipulates some tech to bring her back. The consequences are massive though, not least for Clara. Still, seeing as Ashildr can’t die, it’s a good bet she’ll show up in the series again as friend, foe or something in between.

To the planet Messaline next, where the Doctor’s forced into a progenation machine and ends up with a fully-formed daughter. Georgia Moffett plays Jenny, a talented and dedicated soldier primed for battle with the Hath, a humanoid race with creepy fish-like features. But this actress has familial links off-screen as well as on it. In real life, she’s Peter Davison’s daughter, AKA the celery-wearing Fifth Doctor. And after meeting while filming for this episode, Moffett and David Tennant started dating, and they married in 2011.

His comic partner Matt Lucas may have landed a recurring role as Nardole alongside Peter Capaldi, but David Walliams has his own spot in Who history as Gibbis in “The God Complex”. A cowardly creature who’d rather watch others die than show the slightest bit of bravery, he encounters the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory in a trippy hotel built around its residents’ greatest fears. A rare occasion when a guest star steps out as an alien race, this is Walliams at his weirdest. And that’s really saying something.

When “Doctor Who” returned in 2005, “The Weakest Link” was one of the most popular game shows on TV. So, for the series one finale, the writers imagined a futuristic version of the quiz, with an even more formidable host. Anne Robinson voiced the Anne Droid, as Rose found herself faced with immediate disintegration if ever she got a question wrong. With an ominous catchphrase to rival even the Daleks, Anne’s bitchy comments are even more brutal and the show’s sudden death round has never been this literal.

Playing Craig Owens, James Corden and Matt Smith’s Doctor go way back. First crossing paths in series five’s “The Lodger”, The Doctor takes the titular role, staying at Craig’s, investigating damp and proving he’s a very handy footballer. The pair meet again in the penultimate episode to series six, with Cybermen on the march. Aliens and androids aside, Corden brings the bromance in a big way. He and Smith are the oddest of odd couples, despite the occasional tiff. Then again, is there a finer flatmate than this guy?

Arguably the highest profile guest star in the show’s history, Kylie appeared in the 2007 Christmas Special, an episode which smashed previous viewing figures. “Voyage of the Damned” sees the Doctor take an intergalactic cruise on a Titanic-inspired spaceship, and Minogue serves as his one-off companion. But their seemingly angelic hosts prove very inhospitable. While some critics took aim at Kylie’s acting, and the story garnered complaints for its religious imagery, it’s one of the most iconic adventures in the modern series. But would Kylie survive until the end?

The Cornetto Trilogy is out in force for some of the Doctor’s greatest stories, with Nick Frost famously playing Santa Claus in 2014. But we’ve gone for Simon Pegg as today’s runner-up, with the “Shaun of the Dead” star playing an eerie Editor in series one. He’s essentially a servant to an evil alien in the studio ceiling, but Pegg plays the manipulative media-type to perfection. And don’t forget that Todd from Corrie was in this episode too. Floor 500 on Satellite 5 was full of unexpected surprises.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Felicity Jones

Timothy Dalton

Andrew Garfield

Our winner was on but the cusp of a glittering Hollywood career when she starred in “Doctor Who”, and in one of the show’s most significant instalments too! Carey Mulligan was Sally Sparrow in “Blink”, a ‘Doctor-lite’ episode which also introduced the creepy Weeping Angels. Sally pairs with Larry, played by Finlay Roberston, to tackle the terrifying statues and get to the bottom of the disappearance of her friend. A real eye-opener, Mulligan’s performance won rave reviews and the episode is regularly voted one of the best in the series.