Red Dwarf returns – twice | Comedy out of stasis for TWO new series

Red Dwarf returns – twice

Comedy out of stasis for TWO new series

Red Dwarf is to return for two new series, TV channel Dave has announced.

Production starts on the 11th and 12th seasons in the autumn, and will air in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

The news was revealed at the Dimension Jump Red Dwarf convention in Nottingham today.

Co-creator Doug Naylor will be writing the scripts, and the key cast will all be returning: Chris Barrie as Rimmer, Craig Charles as Lister, Danny John-Jules as Cat and Robert Llewellyn as Kryten.

Dave revived Red Dwarf after a ten-year gap in 2009 with the special Back To Earth – its first original scripted comedy commission, which attracted 2.6million viewers. That was followed by a six-part series, Red Dwarf X in 2012, which regularly topped two million

Naylor said that Dave originally asked for more shows straight after the 2012 series, but added: ‘Frustratingly it’s taken until now to get our ducks in a row and all the boys available at the same time. Now they are, we’re all absolutely delighted.’

Dave’s general manager, Steve North, added: ‘Red Dwarf is a really important show for us and I’m delighted that we are bringing more new episodes to our viewers.

‘Above all else it’s a really funny show and one that is held in great affection by millions of people, including the Dave team. We’ve built up a great relationship over the years with Doug and the cast and it’s a privilege to be working with them again.’

And commissioning editor Simon Lupton, added: ‘Red Dwarf has superb talent attached; writing, directing and acting plus an expert team who absolutely know what they are doing when it comes to delivering a stand-out piece of television. It has a universal appeal that manages to touch long-standing fans and recruit new ones. It is fantastic to be collaborating with them again on the next phase of the Red Dwarf adventure.’

Red Dwarf XI and XII will be made by Grant Naylor Productions and Baby Cow.

To tie in with the announcement UKTV has added a collection of previous episodes, including the complete Red Dwarf X series, to its on-demand service UKTV Play. 

Red Dwarf first aired in 1988 on BBC Two – peaking at more than eight million viewers for series eight, selling more than 11.5 million DVDs and videos, and being broadcast in more than 25 countries. 

Published: 2 May 2015

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