characters in Doctor Who that I’ve found myself unable to relate to over the years. Whether that’s because of poor writing, illogical decisions they’ve made, or ways they’ve treated others on the show, there are a handful of reasons why some Doctor Who characters just don’t last the test of time.

Thankfully, Doctor Who always manages to overcome this ongoing issue thanks to the incredible actors who’ve played the Doctor. Each incarnation of this iconic sci-fi character has been endlessly fun to watch, and they’re usually able to offset any frustrating companions or guest stars.

10 Sylvia Noble

Played By Jacqueline King

Although it’s part of Sylvia’s character that she’s supposed to be bossy and domineering, that doesn’t make her scenes with Donna any easier to watch. The character is constantly getting in her daughter’s way and (perhaps understandably) disapproves of her adventures with the Doctor.

However, when it’s these adventures that the audiences want so desperately to see, it’s frustrating that characters like Sylvia stand in the way of that. Not to mention, she’s constantly rude to Donna for her lack of progression in her job - whereas her grandfather Wilf is much more accepting of Donna’s journey.

9 Adam Mitchell

Played By Bruno Langley

Adam Mitchell is one of Doctor Who’s least popular characters, so it’s not surprising that he was seemingly forgotten by the show after his departure in season 1. The character was an unofficial companion of Christopher Ecclestone’s Ninth Doctor, making his debut appearance in “Dalek.” While this is one of Doctor Who’s best episodes, Adam’s presence in the story is the biggest problem with an otherwise flawless screenplay. His character is given very little to do, and his constant disobedience quickly gets under the audience’s skin. He’s supposed to contrast Rose’s comion and likability, but it soon backfires.

8 Lady Christina De Souza

Played By Michelle Ryan

While Lady Christina was never intended to be an unlikable character, her arrogance and excessive ego quickly turned fans against her. The biggest problem with this figure was the way she’s written; she’s supposed to have unspoken chemistry with The Doctor and rival his confidence throughout the story, but Tennant and Ryan were ultimately unable to create the dynamic needed for that egotism to pay off. In the end, many of her lines fell flat and it’s hard to understand why she’s so boastful and self-centered in a situation that really doesn’t warrant it.

7 John Riddell

Played By Rupert Graves

Another character who only appeared in a single episode, John Riddell was an English game hunter who finds himself about the titular vessel in season 7’s “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship”. While Rupert Graves delivers an excellent performance and bounces off Matt Smith’s unique energy brilliantly, the character doesn’t bring anything to the story that couldn’t have been explored using the existing figures. His attitude towards the dinosaurs leaves a poor taste in the mouth, and Chris Chibnall’s screenplay simply takes it for granted that viewers will care about him simply because of his existing friendship with the Doctor.

6 Angie & Artie Maitland

Played By Eve De Leon Allen & Kassius Carey Johnson

The Cybermen have appeared in many Doctor Who stories, but “Nightmare in Silver” is certainly one of the most unique. The episode follows the Doctor and Clara as they travel to an intergalactic “world of wonders”, but things quickly turn dark when it’s revealed that the Cybermen are being used for the carnival’s profit. It’s an excellent story, but the episode is ultimately ruined by the inclusion of two new characters: Angie and Artie. These two frustrating school children are only included to make things in the story go wrong, triggering the events that lead to the Cybermen’s arrival.

5 Ambrose Northover

Played By Nia Roberts

“The Hungry Earth” is one of Doctor Who’s more thoughtful and philosophical episodes, raising the important question of how two intelligent species could possibly share one planet. The conflict between the humans and Silurians in this story raises some important questions about warfare and global conflicts, with some very rich dialogue and metaphorical storytelling that makes it one of season 5’s biggest highlights. However, the character of Ambrose is such an underwhelming one, constantly making the wrong decisions simply because the script needs a way for these tensions to escalate.

4 The Abzorbaloff

Played By Peter Kay

“Love and Monsters” is one of the few Doctor-Lite episodes of Doctor Who - that’s to say, an episode in which the Doctor barely appears. Perhaps coincidentally, it’s also one of the most hated stories of the show’s rebooted era, and Peter Kay’s comical villain is a huge reason why. In an adventure that’s otherwise fairly interesting and deals with some genuinely dark ideas, The Abzorbaloff feels like it’s been pulled straight from a children’s show. There’s nothing frightening about the villain, and Kay’s over-the-top performance does nothing to paint over the episode’s many flaws.

3 Craig Owens

Played By James Corden

Craig Owens only appears in two Doctor Who episodes, but he left a lasting impression on fans - and it wasn’t a good one. While James Cordon does an impressive job of making the character feel developed and authentic, the main problem is that his stories simply aren’t interesting in the wider scope of the show. Both “The Lodger” and “Closing Time” are two of the weakest episodes of Matt Smith’s era, accurately described by audiences as “filler” in otherwise strong seasons. The show assumes that audiences care about Craig much more than most actually do, which renders his stories underwhelming.

2 Nardole

Played By Matt Lucas

The character of Nardole is a polarizing figure among Doctor Who fans, but I’m unconvinced by the show’s constant attempts to make him seem like a necessary part of the Doctor’s story. Matt Lucas’ sense of humor is very loud and bold, and to his benefit, he’s given some of the show’s funniest lines, but there are also plenty of examples of the jokes landing flat. He rarely added anything to the stories throughout season 10, despite being forced into every single adventure; his friendship with Bill was a highlight, but it should only have been used in moderation.

1 Ryan Sinclair

Played By Tosin Cole

My frustration with Ryan Sinclair is nothing to do with Tosin Cole’s performance - the actor is one of the strongest aspects of Doctor Who’s later seasons, but the character just isn’t given enough to do for a main companion. He barely develops from his first appearance in “The Woman Who Fell To Earth” to his underwhelming goodbye in “Revolution of the Daleks”, which has always been a key feature of Doctor Who’s best companions. They’re supposed to be changed by their adventures with the Doctor, and Ryan barely is.

It often felt like Doctor Who was unsure how to write Ryan’s character, and the show’s solution was often to forget about him altogether.

The character was also overshadowed by the other companions in the TARDIS, which was a major flaw of seasons 11 and 12. Having three ing characters at the same time was a huge mistake, particularly since Ryan and Yaz were often pushed to the side in favor of the more popular Graham. It often felt like Doctor Who was unsure how to write Ryan’s character, and the show’s solution was often to forget about him altogether.