Doctor Who: 10 Great Actors Who Were Completely Wasted

10. Tom Ellis (Last Of The Time Lords)

Like a few of the cases on this list, Tom Ellis is an example of an actor whose full potential was only realized in the years after his Doctor Who role. As a result, you can't really blame the show for wasting him - because nobody knew how great he was at the time - but he was wasted nonetheless.

Ellis popped up in the final episode of Series 3 as Thomas Milligan, a fugitive trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world ruled by the Master. The role itself is fine and serves the episode adequately, but considering that Milligan's sole purpose is to assist Martha Jones (and ultimately die for her) he feels like a bit of an empty shell - a character built to serve the plot, rather than a compelling character in his own right.

But what truly makes Ellis feel wasted is the fact that he's now a hugely popular name in fan circles for his superb portrayal of the title character in the TV series Lucifer.

Wicked, charming, and with a playful twinkle in his eye, he's an utter joy to watch, so it's a bit disappointing that his only appearance in Doctor Who was as a bland and forgettable character, when he's clearly capable of much greater things.