David Tennant TV Shows: List of Roles and New Series

There’s a particular kind of actor who can vanish into a role so completely that audiences forget they’re watching the same person who once played the Tenth Doctor. David Tennant is exactly that kind of performer — whether he’s commanding the TARDIS or investigating murders on the Dorset coast, he brings an intensity that stays with you long after the credits roll. This guide rounds up his most notable TV appearances, from beloved classics to upcoming projects across BBC, ITV, and beyond. You’ll find concrete details on premiere dates, episode counts, and the stories behind his most memorable roles.

Most Famous Role: Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who · Notable Recent Show: Good Omens as Crowley · Villain Role: Kilgrave in Jessica Jones · Key Drama: Inside Man on Netflix

The table below distils the core facts about David Tennant’s television career.

What programmes has David Tennant been in?

David Tennant’s television career spans multiple decades and genres, but it was his turn as the Tenth Doctor that cemented his status as a household name. From there, he’s moved between prestige drama, supernatural fantasy, and superhero villainy — always choosing roles that let him disappear into someone else entirely.

Doctor Who

Tennant first stepped into the TARDIS in 2005, taking over from Christopher Eccleston in a move that felt like the stars had aligned. He played the Tenth Doctor through 2010, appearing in four Christmas specials and three full seasons. His portrayal blended manic energy with genuine emotional depth, and it’s no surprise that many fans still consider him the definitive modern Doctor. He returned briefly as the Fourteenth Doctor in 2022–2023, giving the character a bittersweet farewell arc.

Good Omens

In Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantasy comedy, Tennant plays Crowley — the demon counterpart to Michael Sheen’s angel Aziraphale. The role lets him lean into dry wit and sardonic charm, and the chemistry with Sheen carries the show through its most absurd moments. Good Omens has run for multiple seasons, with Tennant returning each time to nail that perfect balance of world-weary mischief and reluctant protectiveness.

Jessica Jones

Tennant’s villain turn as Kilgrave in Netflix’s Jessica Jones is a masterclass in playing someone terrifying without ever raising his voice. Kilgrave’s mind-control ability makes him one of the most disturbing antagonists in the Marvel universe, and Tennant inhabits the role with unnerving calm. The show ran from 2015 to 2019, giving him a stretch of episodes to explore the character’s twisted psychology.

What is David Tennant most famous for?

Ask anyone on the street, and the answer comes back almost instantly: the Tenth Doctor. That role from 2005 to 2010 made Tennant a genuine star in the UK and around the world, and the chemistry he built with companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) gave the show its emotional backbone during those years. He brought a kinetic energy to the role — always moving, always talking a mile a minute — but could pivot to raw grief when the scripts demanded it.

Doctor Who

Tennant’s Doctor became a cultural touchstone. His final episode, “The End of Time,” aired on New Year’s Day 2010 and drew over 13 million viewers in the UK. When the BBC brought him back as the Fourteenth Doctor in 2022, the response showed just how enduring that connection remains. He’s also provided the voice for Family Guy parodies of the Tenth Doctor, cementing the role’s place in pop culture.

Other Standouts

Broadchurch stands out as his most sustained dramatic work outside Doctor Who. Playing detective Alec Hardy alongside Olivia Colman’s DS Ellie Miller, Tennant brought a gruff intensity that made Hardy’s struggles with depression feel lived-in rather than performed. The show won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series in 2014 (David Tennant Official Site), a testament to its quality and his contribution.

What is the new BBC drama with David Tennant?

BBC’s Time season 3 marks one of the most anticipated returns in British television drama. The BAFTA-winning prison series, written by Jimmy McGovern, is described by World Screen as coming from “a master” — a fitting tribute to the writer whose work defines grim realism done right.

Time Series

Tennant joins the cast as Prison Officer Bailey, set in a young offenders’ institution. Siobhan Finneran reprising her role as prison chaplain Marie-Louise anchors the ensemble (Digital Spy). The BBC has confirmed the new season focuses on two teenagers navigating “the terrifying first weeks and months of their incarceration” (Stylist). Seasons 1 and 2 are available on BBC iPlayer now, giving newcomers a chance to catch up before Tennant arrives.

What is the new show on Channel 4 with David Tennant?

Channel 4’s Deadwater Fell starred Tennant in a four-part drama dealing with family tragedy and community secrets. The series, which streams free on Channel 4’s platform, showcased his ability to play damaged, morally complex characters in intimate settings. While not as high-profile as his BBC or ITV projects, it demonstrated the range that keeps casting directors coming back.

Deadwater Fell

The series found Tennant in a darker register than his usual fare, dealing with themes of grief and culpability in a tight-knit Scottish community. It’s the kind of crime drama Channel 4 executes well — thoughtful rather than sensational, with performances that linger.

What is the new series of David Tennant on ITV?

ITV describes its upcoming drama The Hack as “explosive” — and the premise backs that up. Tennant leads a seven-part series about the News of the World phone hacking scandal, premiering 24 September 2025 on ITV1 at 9pm (Digital Spy). The series lands on ITVX beforehand from that same date, giving viewers a head start.

The Hack

Jack Thorne created the series, which features an ensemble cast including Robert Carlyle, Toby Jones, Eve Myles, and Katherine Kelly. The show promises to be a dense, character-driven piece about one of the most notorious scandals in British journalism. Tennant anchoring the project as lead suggests ITV is positioning this as its prestige drama event of the year.

The timeline below shows how Tennant’s career has moved between networks and genres over two decades.

David Tennant’s Voice and Guest Work

Beyond live-action drama, Tennant has built an impressive portfolio of voice work across animation and guest appearances. His voice credits include Sir Edmund Rockwell in Ark: The Animated Series (2024–present, 3 episodes) and appearances on The Simpsons in 2023 as Pa MacWeldon. He also hosted Genius Game, an eight-part game show arriving in 2025.

Notable Voice Roles

• Sir Edmund Rockwell in Ark: The Animated Series (2024–present)
• Fugitoid in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Pa MacWeldon in The Simpsons (2023)
• Voice work in Family Guy Tenth Doctor parodies

Where to Watch David Tennant TV Shows

Accessing Tennant’s work depends on the platform and the show. The table below provides a practical overview of where to find his series.

ITV has dubbed it an “explosive” drama.

— ITV on The Hack (Digital Spy)

Jimmy McGovern is described as a master by industry observers.

— World Screen on Time season 3 writer (World Screen)

David Tennant’s career trajectory tells a specific story: a performer who conquered science fiction, then deliberately walked away to prove he could do anything else. That range — from Time’s prison corridors to Good Omens’ celestial banter — keeps him relevant in ways that have nothing to do with nostalgia. For viewers in the UK, the next 18 months offer a particularly rich stretch of new work, with The Hack and Time season 3 both positioning him at the centre of prestige television’s busiest networks.

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David Tennant’s standout roles from Doctor Who to Broadchurch find expanded coverage in this full TV shows streaming guide, complete with streaming options for fans.

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