10 Best Doctor Who Characters Only In One Episode

There weren't a whole lot of memorable characters in Jodie Whittaker's first series as the Thirteenth Doctor, so Alan Cumming didn't exactly have a high bar to reach.

But his portrayal of King James was so entertaining that it would've stood out as special even if the competition was better. Camp, eccentric and with an incredibly pompous - in an amusing way - costume and top hat, he was the bright spot in an otherwise dreary episode, and the whole screen livened up significantly whenever he appeared in front of the camera.

Aside from the welcome amount of levity he brought to proceedings, King James also had a few sombre flashes here and there - such as the scene where he talks about his bloody family history - which Cumming also nails, ensuring that the character stays strong and proud, even when he's clearly accessing some very distressing memories.

He could've easily come across as an annoyingly flamboyant laughing stock, but it was little bits of nuance like this that, instead, made him someone who was easy to admire.