Image via hunterseakerhk
Today the new series of Red Dwarf became palpably real as filming dates and good news for Dwarfers as the chance to apply for tickets were announced.
TV shows that come back after a long delay are always welcome. Who can forget the 1996 Liver Birds revival? Or the amazing The Legacy of Reginald Perrin from the same year. That 2007 Christmas special of To The Manor Born was pure TV gold.
So it’s with some trepidation that fans are ready to welcome back Red Dwarf to TV screens for its first full series since 1998 following the ratings, if not critical, success of the 2009 mini series Back to Earth.
Like that comeback the new series, known hereafter as Red Dwarf X will be shown not on the BBC 2 where the first eight series aired but on cable channel Dave, curiously owned by the commercial arm of the BBC.
While many revivals might not really hit the mark there is some hope for optimism. Science fiction survives far better than most genres. And if Back to Earth was the difficult comeback like Star Trek: The Motion picture then perhaps the series 10 can be the small rouge one’s Wrath of Khan.
All the key players are back with cast members Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn and Danny John-Jules all returning to the roles that made them famous. Behind the scenes co-creator Doug Naylor will be on scripting duties and the show returns to it’s original format of 6 episode seasons. Even better, the return of the live audience for should give the performers plenty of incentives to up their game.
If Back to Earth proved one thing it’s that the production team know how to get the best out of a tight budget and with the advances in special effects since the 1990s, it should definitely look awesome.
Red Dwarf X will film at Shepparton Studios in December 2011 and January 2012. Tickets are available from Lost in TV.
Do you think a new series of Red Dwarf is a good idea? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
