Red Dwarf returns to Earth

Two-part Easter special

Red Dwarf is returning to TV, 21 years after it first aired.

Digital channel Dave has ordered a two-part special to be screened over the Easter weekend, and the plot, written by the series’s co-creator Doug Naylor will have the crew finally return to Earth.

Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn have all signed up to return as Rimmer Lister, The Cat and Kryten.

Filming will begin on the new episode on February 16, and the digital channel has promised to give weekly updates from the Shepperton Studios set every Wednesday on its website.

The new episodes – the first of which premiere on April 10 at 9pm – will be the cornerstone of a Red Dwarf weekend.

Also in the schedules is a ‘making-of’ documentary and Red Dwarf: Unplugged, a ‘no holds barred’ episode with no sets, no effects - and no autocue.

Red Dwarf is Dave's biggest commission yet, following the success of panel game Argumental, and is its first foray into scripted comedy.

At its peak, the series pulled in around eight million viewers and was broadcast in more than 25 countries. It has sold more than seven million DVDs and videos.

Published: 27 Jan 2009

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