10 Terrifying Doctor Who Monsters That Had Us Hiding Behind The Sofa

The Midnight Entity is the third monster on this list that we never actually see - it seems that, on a BBC budget, the most effective horrors in this show are the psychological ones. This otherworldly entity is no different - in fact, it might be amongst the greatest one time villains in the show’s history.

Hijacking the space bus of a companionless Doctor as he attempts to cross the surface of the diamond planet, Midnight, this creature starts off by playing out some standard horror beats. First, the bus driver claims to have seen an impossible shadow outside the bus, before knocking is heard outside, coming closer and closer. The episode takes a more interesting turn, however, when the entity possesses Sky Silvestry.

What happens next is remarkably straightforward, but it’s unnerving effect cannot be understated: the entity begins to mimic everyone else, word for word. To someone who hasn’t watched the show, this doesn’t sound at all scary, but thanks to a knockout performance by Leslie Sharp, and the immediate descent into hysteria of the Doctor’s fellow passengers, viewers are sold on this threat off the bat. These stakes only rise with the two perfectly timed reveals of Sky talking at the same time as the Doctor, and later, speaking before the Doctor.

This episode is claustrophobic and frantic in equal measure, ramping up the tension to absolute boiling point and tripping Ten over with his own hubris, resulting in one of his most resounding defeats ever - this culminates in him nearly being jettisoned out of the airlock due to the paranoia of the other travellers.

To achieve all that with one set, and no physical monster - that’s good writing.