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Nothing beats a good TV villain.
Whether it’s a character you love to hate or one you simply hate, without them, your favourite shows just wouldn’t be the same.
For instance, take Cersei Lannister . Delectably played by Lena Headey , she’s a character who, if removed from Game of Thrones , HBO series lacking.
This week, her attempts to keep the Iron Throne reach a head as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen bring the heat to King’s Landing for one final battle, before the series ends next week. No character is safe with Cersei around – but will her murderous ways come to an end? Time will tell.
In celebration of Headey’s magnificent performance, we count down the greatest TV villains of all time, featuring characters ranging from shows such as Deadwood , EastEnders and Lost
Scroll through the below gallery to see who made the cut – warning: some spoilers for classic TV shows within.
Show all 35 1 /3535 best TV villains of all time 35 best TV villains of all time Cersei Lannister Played by : Lena Headey
In Cersei, Game of Thrones has found somebody whose appearance on screen makes even the most relaxed viewer nervous. She's that terrifying type of villain who endangers the safety of anyone by merely being in the same scene – something a lot of film and TV shows shoot for with their villains, but struggle to achieve.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Jim Fenner Played by : Jack Ellis
Despite being on the other side of the bars in Larkhall women's prison, Bad Girls' officer Jim Fenner was just as villainous as its inmates. His misdeeds led to his murder in the ITV drama's seventh series.
Warner Bros Television
35 best TV villains of all time Gaius Baltar Played by : James Callis
The debate over whether or not Battlestar Galactica's Gaius Baltar is actually a villain rages on. But the fact that he sells out humanity to the cybernetic creations they're at war with throughout the show's four seasons earns him a place on this list.
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
35 best TV villains of all time Gustavo Fring Played by : Giancarlo Esposito
Breaking Bad is a show with many selling points, but sitting at the top of the heap is Giancarlo Esposito's performance as Gus Fring, the pleasant fast-food restaurant owner who, behind closed doors, is a fearsome drug kingpin not to be messed with.
Sony Pictures Television
35 best TV villains of all time Gyp Rosetti Played by : Bobby Cannavale
Prohibition gangster Gyp Rosetti came into Boardwalk Empire like a wrecking ball. Cannavale's performance as the maniacal self-asphyxiating character intent on destroying the world of Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) won Cannavale a well-deserved Emmy.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Doug Judy Played by : Craig Robinson
A good villain returning after an absence can be an exciting moment in a television show, but it's certainly rare for the lead hero to be as excited as the viewer. Well, not when that show is Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Craig Robinson plays the affable "Pontiac Killer" Doug Judy whose elusive criminal skills leave Andy Samberg's cop Jake Peralta in awe every time he guest stars. Not all villains come in evil forms.
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
35 best TV villains of all time The Gentlemen Played by : Doug Jones, Camden Toy, Don W Lewis, Charlie Brumbly
Buffy the Vampire Slayer's fourth season episode "Hush" is considered by many to be one of the show's best, and it's no doubt partly thanks to the malevolent Gentlemen. Inspired by Nosferatu, Hellraiser's Pinhead and Mr Burns, the creatures would cut out people's hearts, a smile etched on their face the entire time. Chilling.
20th Television
35 best TV villains of all time Richard Hillman Played by : Brian Capron
Coronation Street villain Richard Hillman had many faults (arson, murder, etc) but it was abducting his step-family and driving them into a canal that truly cemented him as one of soap's most memorable baddies.
ITV Studios
35 best TV villains of all time JR Ewing Played by : Larry Hagman
For 12 years, scheming Dallas character JR Ewing lied and cheated his way through the show so much that by the time he was gunned down - as part of the renowned "Who shot JR?" storyline - everyone was a suspect.
Warner Bros.
35 best TV villains of all time Al Swearengen Played by : Ian McShane
Al Swearengen was Deadwood's beating heart, a character whose dealings are so murky it's a wonder you actually found yourself wanting to catch up with him in every new episode.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time The Demon Headmaster Played by : Terrence Hardiman
Despite being on screen for just three years, the Demon Headmaster - a disciplinarian who attempts to use hypnosis to control the children in his school - has wedged his way into the history books as one of children television's most chilling villains of all time.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Arthur Mitchell Played by : John Lithgow
Arthur Mitchell – also known as The Trinity Killer – was a key part of why the fourth season of Dexter was its greatest. Though he was a loving family man by day, Mitchell's murderous ways would come to the fore at night and an Emmy-winning Lithgow balanced that tightrope to disturbing degrees. His ultimate clash with Dexter led to one of the show's most heartbreaking climaxes.
Showtime
35 best TV villains of all time The Daleks As one of Doctor Who's longest-running villains, the Daleks - a race of emotionless machines bent on universal conquest and domination - are beloved by pretty much everyone thanks to their spine-tingling wail: "Exterminate!" Whenever they return to the BBC show, it becomes headline-worthy news.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Trevor Morgan Played by : Alex Ferns
Perhaps of all the villainous characters EastEnders has had over the years, Trevor is an unexpected choice, but none came more malevolent. His storyline of domestic abuse against wife Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth) was heralded as one of the soap's most accurately depicted, and the country wasn't just celebrating the arrival of 2002 when she beat him with an iron in a special New Year's Eve episode in 2001. So successful was actor Alex Ferns's depiction of Trevor that he received death threats and had to travel the London underground in disguise.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time VM Varga Played by : David Thewlis
Thewlis was rightly Emmy-nominated for his role as the very British VM Varga in the third season of Fargo, a cunning and manipulative mastermind who has a knack for leaving destruction in his wake without ever getting his hands too dirty. Impressive.
20th Television
35 best TV villains of all time Godmother Played by : Olivia Colman
It's testament to Olivia Colman's acting ability – and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's writing – that someone so likeable can play someone quite so appalling, but her role as Fleabag's sneering, judgemental and domineering Godmother in the series is one of comedy's most detestable creations in quite some time.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Mr Bronson Played by : Michael Sheard
Mr Bronson was every Grange Hill viewer's worst nightmare, arriving as part of the eponymous school's merging with another in 1985 eight years after the show first began. Bronson became a fan favourite and, despite leaving in 1987, remained a legend of the show right up until it ended in 2008.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Aunt Lydia Played by : Ann Dowd
Further proving that Ann Dowd's niche is playing villains is her role of Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale. As the God-fearing matriarch who polices the fertile “handmaids” who bear children for the brutal theocrats of a government called Gilead, she is all the more unnerving for occasionally showing the tiniest glimmer of humanity.
Hulu
35 best TV villains of all time Hannibal Lecter Played by : Mads Mikkelsen
Taking on a role made famous by acting heavyweights Brian Cox and Anthony Hopkins is no mean feat, but it's one that Mads Mikkelsen feasted upon with relish. As the Dr Hannibal Lecter in the short-lived TV series, he was able to, er, flesh out the role in a way that the aforementioned were unable to do in just four films, respectively.
Sony Pictures Television
35 best TV villains of all time Skeletor Voiced by : Alan Oppenheimer
Skeletor's willingness to put up with useless henchmen may have made him less scary than his face would suggest, but he caused enough of a problem for the heroic He-Man to warrant a placement here.
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
35 best TV villains of all time Villanelle Played by : Jodie Comer
Are villains meant to be this likeable? Thanks to Comer's performance as the sprightly assassin in Killing Eve, she certainly bridges the gap.
IMG
35 best TV villains of all time Patti Levin Played by : Ann Dowd
The Leftovers may not be a show in which its characters are distinctly good or bad, but the Rapture – an event that saw two per cent of the world's population disappear into thin air – certainly sent some on a darker path than others. None came more ominous than Patti Levin, the leader of a cult who smoke, dress in white and communicate only in writing.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Lindsay Denton Played by : Keeley Hawes
Line of Duty wouldn't have gained half as much attention if it wasn't for the critical frenzy whipped up by Keeley Hawes for her portrayal of DI Lindsay Denton in the show's second and third outings. She was the perfect emblem of the show's (initial) premise that kept fans guessing whether she was good or bad right until the very end.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Benjamin Linus Played by : Michael Emerson
The writers of Lost were such a fan of Michael Emerson's guest performance in season two that they ensured his character, Benjamin Linus, became the show's central villain right through to his final episode. As the one-time leader of the mysterious Others residing on the island, Ben was a master manipulator who played everyone off of each other and constantly remained five steps in front of the characters – and viewers – in the process.
Disney–ABC Domestic Television
35 best TV villains of all time Alice Morgan Played by : Ruth Wilson
Alice Morgan may have started out as the primary villain in BBC show Luther, but over time, she became the perfect foil - and Hannibal Lecter-style adviser - to Idris Elba's titular detective.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Alfie Solomons Played by : Tom Hardy
Peaky Blinders isn't the same without Alife Solomons. It's Tom Hardy who breathed life into the volatile yet loveable baker who, thanks to the pitch perfect writing from creator Steven Knight, was the television equivalent of a lion waiting to pounce on the BBC drama's characters.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Montgomery Burns Voiced by : Harry Shearer
Could Mr Burns be the greatest animated villain of all time? Quite possibly. As the wealthiest man in Springfield – loyally backed up by sidekick Smithers – he's also the town's most evil and the source of many of the long-running show's most "excellent" moments.
35 best TV villains of all time Livia Soprano Played by : Nancy Marchand
The Sopranos was a show full of villains, but none came more Machiavellian than Tony's mother, Livia. The first few seasons saw her conspiring with brother-in-law Junior (Dominic Chianese) to bump off her own son. Nihilism at its coldest.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Malcolm Tucker Played by : Peter Capaldi
Don't be mistaken - The Thick of It's sweary spin doctor Malcolm Tucker may be one of the funniest characters to ever appear on television, but he's also one of the most awful. The kind of character you're happy to sit back and watch take down others, but would be trembling at the thought of encountering yourself.
BBC
35 best TV villains of all time Maryann Forrester Played by : Michelle Forbes
True Blood was a show that may have outstayed its welcome, but it was never more brilliantly bizarre than in the days of Maryann – an ordinary women until she transformed into a bullheaded Maenad who wanted to turn The fictional Louisiana town of Bon Temps into a Dionysus-worshipping bacchanalian wasteland. As you do.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Nina Myers Played by : Sarah Clarke
24 featured many notable villains over its 10 seasons, but Nina Myers sits top of the list. Why? Because she was first introduced as Jack Bauer's most trusted colleague at intelligence agency CTU before a huge season one finale twist that saw her unveiled as a corrupt deep-cover spy working for the bad guys.
35 best TV villains of all time Killer BOB Played by : Frank Silva
It would be hard for Twin Peaks' nightmarish Killer BOB not to go down in history as one of TV's best villains, considering he's an inter-dimensional entity who possesses humans and commits heinous acts of murder in their name.
35 best TV villains of all time Dick Dastardly Voiced by : Paul Winchell
You've got to respect Dick Dastardly. The Wacky Races baddie, alongside his canine pal Muttley, was intent on wreaking havoc upon his fellow racers, despite his ploys always backfiring. He was as resilient as villains come.
35 best TV villains of all time Marlo Stanfield Played by : Jamie Hector
In The Wire, unpredictability reigned whenever Marlo Stanfield was on screen. The character, introduced in season three, overtook Avon Barksdale as overseer of the Baltimore drug trade, and his quiet intensity made for unbearably tense television. Marlo was the kind of villain who had someone killed for merely "talking back" to him.
HBO
35 best TV villains of all time Cigarette Smoking Man Played by : William B Davis
Such was the success of Cigarette Smoking Man that he was one of very few X-Files characters away from Mulder and Scully to return in the recent Fox revival series. He's a mysterious representative for the shady corporation hiding the truth behind alien existence on Earth.
Game of Thrones continues on Sunday and will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK .
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