Red Dwarf returns in a two-part Easter special

: 06 March 2009; John Howell

Rimmer from Red Dwarf If you've been waiting for more of the BBC's sci-fi comedy show Red Dwarf, wait no longer. A new two part special will air in the UK over Easter.

All the show's main characters will return, including the last human, David Lister (Craig Charles), the human hologram, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie), the mechanoid servant Kryten (Robert Llewellyn), and the Cat (Danny John-Jules), a vain half-man, half-animal, who evolved from the ship's cat when the original crew were wiped out.

The two part show, Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, has been written and directed by Red Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor.

A behind-the-scenes special and an "unplugged episode" with no sets, no effects and no cue cards, will also air.

Red Dwarf started out as a sketch show on Radio 4, before moving to television on BBC 2 in 1988 (21 years ago now!). The show attracted over eight million viewers at its peak, was broadcast in more than 25 countries, and won an International Emmy award. The last, eighth season was broadcast in 1999. According to the BBC, it has sold more than seven million DVDs and videos.

While I like the early Red Dwarf seasons, I think the show lost some of its polish when co-creator Rob Grant left, so I'm not over the moon about this one. Reunion shows also have a tendency to be disappointing. Then again, perhaps it's improved with age?

The two part special, as you've probably guessed from the title, will see Lister and Rimmer finally return to Earth. This story was supposed to have been used in a Red Dwarf movie, but funding and production dilemmas killed the movie idea off a couple of years back.

Display search results for: Red Dwarf