Matt Lucas‘ return to Doctor Who will happen sooner than expected, with confirmation that he is to appear in this year’s Christmas special to be found in the new edition of Doctor Who Magazine.

Lucas played bumbly alien Nardole for the first time in the 2015 Christmas special, The Husbands of River Song, and was previously announced to be returning in a recurring role alongside Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie for the show’s tenth series (and thirty-sixth season overall).

DWM mention that filming on Series 10 – which began in the Summer – has now moved on to the next episode to air: 2016’s Christmas special, and that Nardole’s return will occur in this episode.

Typically, the Christmas specials air on Christmas Day evening, and tend to be extended hour-long editions for good measure. We’ll post more news on the special, and Series 10, as soon as we get it, but stick close to the official Doctor Who pages on Facebook and Twitter for first-hand info. Issue 504 of Doctor Who Magazine is in all good newsagents, supermarkets and sci-fi shops from tomorrow.