From misty Scottish villages to the dramatic cliffs of Dorset, David Tennant’s greatest television roles feel like invitations to explore Britain itself. Charming, intense and endlessly versatile, the beloved actor has transformed every series into a journey — and these five are the very best places to begin.
Some actors simply appear on screen; David Tennant transports you somewhere else entirely. Over the years, the Scottish star has become one of Britain’s most captivating television exports, guiding viewers through crime-ridden coastal towns, futuristic galaxies and elegant city streets with equal brilliance.
What makes Tennant so compelling is not only his talent, but the unmistakably British atmosphere surrounding many of his finest productions. Watching his series often feels like setting off on a grand tour of the UK: one moment you are braving salty sea air along England’s south coast, the next you are dashing through rainy London avenues or exploring the rugged beauty of the Highlands.
For travellers who enjoy discovering destinations through film and television, these five David Tennant series offer the perfect escape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li_WIjv53pI
Coastal mysteries and small-town Britain
Broadchurch
At the top of the list sits Broadchurch, Tennant’s haunting crime drama set along Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Filmed around West Bay, the series transforms England’s southern shoreline into a windswept, cinematic dream. Tennant plays Alec Hardy, a troubled detective investigating the murder of a local boy in a tight-knit seaside community. The combination of emotional storytelling, dramatic cliffs and moody skies makes the series impossible to forget. The series is available on Prime Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjJzPdbzGuY
Deadwater Fell
Equally atmospheric is Deadwater Fell, a dark Scottish thriller set in a seemingly idyllic village. Here, Tennant trades Hardy’s quiet melancholy for something far more unsettling. Surrounded by misty forests and remote countryside, the series captures the eerie beauty of rural Scotland while slowly revealing the secrets hidden beneath village life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A1w_8Q_Nvc
Des
Then there is Des, perhaps Tennant’s most chilling performance to date. Based on the true story of serial killer Dennis Nilsen, the drama explores 1980s London through a grim and claustrophobic lens. Tennant’s restrained portrayal is deeply unsettling, yet utterly mesmerising. Though far darker than his other work, the series paints a fascinating portrait of Britain’s capital during a troubled era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzXgIV-EJQE
Time lords, detectives and urban adventures
Doctor Who
Of course, no Tennant itinerary would be complete without Doctor Who. For many viewers, he remains the definitive Doctor: funny, energetic and heartbreakingly human. His adventures whisk audiences from Cardiff to Shakespearean England before leaping across galaxies in the iconic TARDIS. Yet despite the science-fiction setting, the series always feels wonderfully British — full of wit, eccentricity and rainy city streets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8R2eLeiUYE
Good Omens
Finally, there is Good Omens, the delightfully eccentric fantasy based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Tennant stars as Crowley, a fast-living demon with excellent sunglasses and questionable morals. Opposite Michael Sheen’s angelic Aziraphale, he races through London, Oxfordshire and beyond in a story filled with humour and apocalyptic chaos. The series captures Britain at its quirkiest and most charming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On0RbFjh8tI
Together, these five series reveal the many sides of David Tennant: heroic, sinister, emotional and irresistibly charismatic. More importantly, they offer viewers a journey across Britain’s landscapes and imagination — no passport required.
Are you looking for your next binge-watch? Find inspiration in these articles:
- This gripping series starring Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan will make you physically uncomfortable, and it’s available on BBC iPlayer
- This British period drama series, inspired by real events, takes us back to the early years of Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra
- ‘A superb British period drama’: this British historical series takes us back to 1940, to a five-star London hotel in the midst of WW2