Red Dwarf returns to Dave for feature-length special
David Farnor | On 19, Oct 2019
Red Dwarf will return to Dave next year for its first ever feature-length special.
Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn will be back as Lister, Rimmer, The Cat and Kryten, in an all-new story written and directed by series co-creator Doug Naylor and produced by Baby Cow Productions.
The two-hour special is produced by Richard Naylor, with Christine Langan the executive producer for Baby Cow. The special will be filmed on location and at Pinewood in front of a live studio audience.
Craig Charles says: “I’m really excited to get back on board with the boys from the Dwarf. I can’t wait to discuss Robert’s prostate problems, Chris Barrie’s hip replacement and have a proper look at Danny’s new dentures whilst they marvel at the agelessness of the Charles physique. I will surely require the services of a chiropractor after dragging these doddering misfits through what promises to be our most epic adventure yet.”
Naylor adds: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity of making more Red Dwarf. UKTV has been a never-ending source of support and encouragement since we first started working together ten years ago. Can’t wait to start shooting a format that I don’t think has ever been done before. Smoke me a kipper, we’re back and not just for breakfast.”
To celebrate the return of the small rouge one, Dave has also commissioned a series of three hour-long documentaries, which will tell the definitive story of the show from day one – over 30 years ago – right up to the present. The Red Dwarf retrospectives are produced by North One and will include rare and un-broadcast material, as well as new interviews with cast and crew. The retrospectives are produced by Richard Ward and series produced by Chris Hill. Executive producer for North One is John Quinn.
The new Red Dwarf special and retrospectives are commissioned by Pete Thornton, UKTV head of scripted, and ordered for Dave by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, and Steve North, genre general manager, comedy and entertainment.
Since Dave debuted Red Dwarf: Back To Earth to over 2 million overnight viewers on Good Friday in 2009, there have been three further full series. The most recent, Season XII, appeared on screens in 2017 and garnered some of the most positive critical notices the show has ever received.
Thornton says: “Our relationship with Red Dwarf has been incredibly fruitful and satisfying so far and it’s been a real pleasure to see the cast and crew fully committed and seemingly enjoying themselves more than ever in the run up to this latest production. We’ve been talking to Doug and the team about how to take Red Dwarf forward and the special clearly offers us an exciting next step. It’s going to be a proper event in the history of the series – and with the show having now passed its thirtieth birthday, what better time to take a proper look back at its history via our retrospectives with North One.”