Doctor Who season 10: Matt Lucas was ‘nervous’ to join because of late partner
LITTLE BRITAIN comedian Matt Lucas has revealed that he wanted to star in Doctor Who for a while but held off partly because of his late partner Kevin McGee.
Dr Who series 10: The Doctor, Bill and Nardole are BACK
The 43-year-old actor, who plays alien Nardole, said that both he and his ex-husband had been big Doctor Who fans, which had fuelled his desire to be part of the iconic series but had he had held off.
Speaking to media including Express.co.uk at a screening in London this evening, Matt said: "I’d wanted to be in the show for a while but had been a bit nervous about being in the show partly because I’m a fan and partly because my late partner was a huge fan of it and so it was a bit of an emotional thing for me.
“I needed to be ready and enough time had passed for me to say, ‘Okay, I’m ready to do this.'
“Once I was ready, I wanted to come back in and be in it more because I had such fun in The Husbands of River Song.”
He added: “I hope I haven’t spoilt it for too many people.”
Kevin and Matt entered into a civil ceremony in 2006 which was dissolved in 2008, bringing to an end a six-year relationship.
He was left grief-stricken in 2010 after Kevin hung himself following the couple's divorce and a battle with drug addiction.
I needed to be ready and enough time had passed for me to say, ‘Okay, I’m ready to do this
Matt is set to be reprising his role as Nardole in the 10 season of Doctor Who when it hits screens later this month starring alongside Peter Capaldi as the enigmatic Time Lord and newcomer Pearl Mackie as Bill Potts.
Nardole has featured in the two previous Doctor Who Christmas specials: The Husbands of River Song and The Return of Doctor Mysterio, however he will have a more substantial part to play in the upcoming run.
The funny man admitted that he pestered showrunner Steven Moffat for his character to return to the show and his persistence paid off.
“I’m quite pushy and I kept contacting Steve, saying, ‘Very happy to come back’,” he admitted.
Matt also teased about Nardole’s significance in the BBC show: “He does evolve throughout the season and he becomes a bit less broad most of the time.
“I’ve noticed people asking, ‘Why is the character there?’ and there is a very definite reason why Nardole is there.”
Doctor Who season 10 will air on BBC One on Saturday, April 15.