The BBC has announced that Matt Lucas will be appearing in Series 10 of Doctor Who, reprising his role as Nardole from the 2015 special The Husbands of River Song.

Filming on the tenth series of the show (and its 36th overall since 1963), will begin next week in Cardiff, and will see Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It) return as the 12th Doctor for his third series, alongside new companion Bill (played by West End actress Pearl Mackie).

When last seen, Nardole was (spoiler alert) decapitated and stuck inside the robot body of King Hydroflax (Greg Davies), so we’re not entirely sure how this return appearance is going to work out – but the BBC’s report indicates that it will be an ongoing role “from the opening episode of Series 10”.

Commenting on his return to the show, Matt told the BBC: “I’m chuffed to bits that Nardole is returning to the TARDIS for some more adventures. I loved acting with Peter and I’m excited to work with Pearl.”

Showrunner Steven Moffat added: “Delighted and slightly amazed to be welcoming Matt Lucas back on to the TARDIS – and this time it’s not just for Christmas, he’s sticking around. One of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space.”

The long-running science-fiction smash has long had an affiliation with TVO regulars, with last season also featuring Reece Shearsmith, Rebecca Front and Paul Kaye. Lucas himself, a lifelong fan of the show, had previously appeared in Big Finish audio play The One Doctor alongside Colin Baker in 2001, and regularly packed sketch classic Little Britain with references to the series. You can see a clip of him as Nardole below.

Doctor Who returns with a Christmas special in December, and Series 10 will air next year.