I thought it might be interesting to look at who created the various villains / races that have recurred. Of course, the person who wrote their introductory episode didn't necessarily create them but I suppose they did much to flesh them out if they weren't the originator of the actual idea, and also presumably made them popular through the script they wrote.

The Daleks & Davros - Terry Nation

The Meddling Monk - Dennis Spooner

Cybermen - Kit Peddler & Gerry Davies (my understanding is Kit Peddler was the ideas man and Gerry Davies the dramatist in their writing partnership)

The Macra - Ian Stuart Black

The Ice Warriors - Brian Hayles

The Great Intelligence & the Yeti - Merv Haisman & Henry Lincoln

The Autons - Robert Holmes

The Silurians - Malcolm Hulke (one of Doctor Who's most underrated writers in my opinion)

The Master - Robert Holmes (wrote his first appearance in 'Terror of the Autons' but he was really made to order as an ongoing villain and so presumably Terrance Dicks (script editor) and Barry Letts (producer) are really co-creators)

The Sontarans - Robert Holmes

The Zygons - Robert Banks-Stewart

The Mara - Christopher Bailey

Sil - Philip Martin

The Rani - Pip & Jane Baker

The Slitheen - Russell T. Davies

The Judoon - Russell T. Davies

The Ood - James Strong (writer of their first episode but I believe R.T.D is the credited creator)

The Weeping Angels - Steven Moffat

The Silence - Steven Moffat


Those are off the top of the head. I know I'm almost certainly missing a lot so feel free to add them.

KEY

In bold are the ones who have appeared in more than one era (ie the greatest longevity). I've defined this as must be a different Doctor, producer & script editor (classic series) / Doctor and 'showrunner' (modern series) to their initial appearance.

In italics are the ones who have been written by writers other than their creator (ie have had a shelf life beyond the ongoing influence of their creator)


Underlined are the ones who have appeared in both the 'Classic' and 'Nu' series.

Class A Villains:

The Master
The Rani
Omega

Class B Villains:

Davros
The Celestial Toymaker
The Meddling Monk

Class A Enemies:

Daleks
Cybermen
Weeping Angels

Class B Enemies:

Zygons
Sea Devils
The Silents

@TT

Although fleeting on both occasions, the Judoon also returned with the Alliance in S5 & The Doctor's army in S6

I think out of all the monster we've seen in New Who, I think the Weeping Angels are the ones that stand the best chance of still appearing in stories twenty years in the future.

I'd want to say the Silents as well, but they seem specific to Eleven's era, and the arc around him, so I don't think we'll never see them once Smith goes.

Creatures like the Ood, Judoon, or Slitheen are enemies that I think we'll also see stories for in the future, but maybe only once.

It also occurs to me that we haven't really haven't had a new nemesis in New Who, like the Master or Davros, that could stand up to the show's longevity. The closest I think we've gotten was the Trickster, who only appeared in SJA, but I'd love to him him appear as an enemy in Doctor Who.

As I said, his inclusion is arguable, depending on how much you're willing to lean on the spin-off series as well - what swayed me (personally) is that he's appeared in three stories, met The Doctor in one of them whilst heavily referencing him in both others, was essentially responsible for the events of Turn Left and was also a cog in the machine behind TW: Miracle Day.
It's all personal opinion of course, but as someone who watched the three RTD series flow between each other, and then saw The Doctor come up against him in The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, he has a more established presence within the Whoniverse, if not Doctor Who itself, than anything else from NuWho on that list except perhaps the Ood.

Of course, I'd never rank him with the likes of The Daleks or The Master, but that's an entirely different league. And due to the unfortunate passing of Lis Sladen which likely prevented the Eleventh Doctor (and Ace and Jo Grant, apparently) coming up against him too then he'll now probably disappear into obscurity in time

Have to say out of all the assessments I've seen of the Doctor Who foes, this is the one I agree with the most I think.

Only ones I'd add are Davros with the Daleks under "Classics" and perhaps the Zygons under "Vintage" - I know they've only had two televised appearances (so far) but they're brilliant monsters IMO and have the potential to be great recurring villains - they were one of the most requested monsters to be brought back a few years ago IIRC. I remember hearing about them when I was just getting into Doctor Who and being very surprised to learn they'd only been in one story, considering how popular they seemed to be.

I agree with you about the Trickster too - not sure I'd include him in the list, but he was a brilliant recurring enemy in SJA and he would not be unwelcome if he ever makes an appearance in the main show.

lol the giant rat from talons. The effects guy was very optimistic when he said it would look terrifying. Weirdly I always assumed it was a clockwork mouse model they used not a bloke in a suit. Be fair the rat is memorable.

[quote=Abomination;70252607]As I said, his inclusion is arguable, depending on how much you're willing to lean on the spin-off series as well - what swayed me (personally) is that he's appeared in three stories, met The Doctor in one of them whilst heavily referencing him in both others, was essentially responsible for the events of Turn Left and was also a cog in the machine behind TW: Miracle Day.
It's all personal opinion of course, but as someone who watched the three RTD series flow between each other, and then saw The Doctor come up against him in The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, he has a more established presence within the Whoniverse, if not Doctor Who itself, than anything else from NuWho on that list except perhaps the Ood.


That's fine but the vast majority of casual viewers won't have a clue who he is, and that for me would be the only criteria.

I pretty much agree with these thoughts above too.

What I think could really work is some creepy looking people that look otherworldly. Such as the stories you hear about with regards to the "Men in Black" (& no, not the silly Will Smith movies). What I'm talking about are the reports of strange people that drive around in old (but new) cars, talk in riddles, stare, know what's about to happen next, wear old suits and have no eye brows. Not sure if The Silence are suppose to substitute for this, but I think that something like this is a missed opportunity.
But really what I'm trying to say is: without much effort or cost, I think you could really make quite a spooky "monster", via coming up with something that is more closer to what we know and are familiar with can often be the more scary (just take a look at Bela Lugosi's original Dracula or Nosferatu -both still very creepy in my books)

The Reapers were hugely effective, and I would like to see them return to the show.

I notice people have glossed over my questions apropos the Kandyman...

I thought you were taking the proverbial...
OK, I'll bite...
The Kandyman was a one off, was destroyed at the end of the story, has no further story to be told, and was appallingly rubbish in the first place.
So, basically, I genuinely can't imagine why anyone would want it back.
There are plenty of other old monsters that could return, or better still plenty of new ones still to be created. Please let's leave the rubbish old ones (and the Rani and the Valeyard) firmly in the past.

I think it's interesting that, certainly with Moffat as showrunner, we've seen a lot more interaction between these races and their day to day business (I think i'd count Rory's visit to the Cyberfleet, it was interesting to see them dealing with the situation), so a lot of these races are starting to have more longevity.

The Alliance in series 5 was the real start of that, there was a lot of races in the Alliance, while they weren't the focus, they were in the background, they were there and a part of events. I wonder if this would be taken any further, its nice to see the Doctor Who universe in more detail and i'm glad it's subtle.

I like the Kandyman, and The Happiness Patrol is a definite favourite. Sadly, he's squashed by fondant surprise, so won't be able to reappaar.

I would say the Silence, but I do think they are top easy to forget about.

I'd defo go for the Weeping Angels. They are always displayed along with Daleks, Cybermen etc when the Doctor Who monsters are advertised. In all seriousness though, I think the Silence have bundles of potential. We still don't really know that much about them.

I'd also say the Ood will probably be re-used, as will the Judoon (Moffat has re-used both of these himself, crediting they were "created by RTD" (a nice sentiment, but the Ood were actually created by the bloke who wrote Impossible Planet, Paul thingy)).

They were a good idea, albeit one that seems to have been abandoned. My favourite part was the fact that very old walls and doors afford a measure of protection against them, as though the age of a thing gives it a fourth-dimensional thickness.

Yes, I do think the Weeping Angels have achieved classic status but they need to be used wisely in the future or I think people are going to get very bored of them.

I reckon the Ood have got their place as well and they seem to be able to fit into stories pretty easily.

I think The Silence (race not order) could easily achieve classic status but like the Weeping Angels, they need to be used well. If they appear after The Time Of The Doctor, it's probably best if they aren't with any allies.

The design for the Vigil is terrific in my opinion, I think they should definitely be seen again but with the focus on them, if that's possible.

THE WISPERMEN WERE SUCH A FANTASTIC DESIGN TOO. They really shouldn't have served as an extension for the GI because they could have be a brilliant recurring Villain. I honestly thought they were going to be the Doctor Who equivalent of The Trickster. It would be great if they could prop up again and have a cool concept but I don't know how Moffat would be able to seperate them from the Great Intelligence.

Matt Jones wrote The Impossible Planet, but maybe he sometimes uses the pseudonym Paul Thingy...

But it's commonly acknowledged that RTD actually came up with the Ood. Originally the Impossible Planet was to have featured some Slitheen, so I'm glad it was changed. RTD wanted some really odd looking creatures, and their name was play on 'Odd'.

Everyone seems to have done a great job already so i can't add to this list but I can't hold back the temptation to post these quotes:

“Are you my mommy"

"Hey, who turned out the lights"


both of these still creep me out!

Any more ideas?

Shame that no NuWho villain returned in Capaldi's first year.

Time to bring back the Scarecrows or the Clockwork Droids!

The Weeping Angels
The Silence
The Clockwork Droids
The Ood

I would say the Vashta Nerada but I feel they need to return first for them to be truly iconic.

I wouldn't say that. They did return in The Doctor's Wife and the online minisode Pond Life.

The Clockwork Droids returned in Deep Breath. As for the Scarecrows, they don't need to return. They're just your generic henchmen. Where else can you go with them?

Maybe I need to rewatch but the Scarecrows weren't actually a monster or race were they? They were just brought to life as henchmen and due to the setting it made sense it was them. So 'they' can't return as there never was a 'they'. Could you have scary scarecrowes again in the show? No reason why not but they werent a thing.

No, they weren't. They were literally just ordinary scarecrows.