<Tr> <Th> Affiliated </Th> <Td> River Song Twelfth Doctor </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Species </Th> <Td> Humanoid alien / Cyborg </Td> </Tr> <P> Nardole is a fictional character created by Steven Moffat and portrayed by Matt Lucas in the long - running British science fiction television series Doctor Who . He is a companion of the Twelfth Doctor, an incarnation of the alien time traveller known as The Doctor, portrayed by Peter Capaldi . He initially appeared in the 2015 Christmas special "The Husbands of River Song" as a companion of River Song, before returning in the following episode "The Return of Doctor Mysterio", having become the Doctor's companion in the meantime . </P> <P> Despite looking like an everyday human, Nardole is an alien from the 54th century, with cybernetic implants, belonging to a humanoid colony on the planet Mendorax Dellora . He is the first full - time alien companion of the revived series, and the first in the series in over 30 years . Unlike most companions, Nardole rarely wishes to travel with the Doctor, instead staying safe on Earth in most episodes . Nevertheless, he sometimes gets involved in the Doctor's adventures, mostly against his will . </P>

When did nardole first appear in doctor who