The crew of the Red Dwarf will return to Earth this Easter when the show makes a comeback – 21 years after the science fiction comedy first blasted off.
Red Dwarf started out as a sketch on an 80s Radio 4 comedy series called Son of Cliche, in a similar vein to the beginnings of “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” but from its original budget of £12.75, a cult was soon born.
To those of you who haven’t seen the series, it features a space ship’s lone surviving crew member (Dave Lister), accompanied by a self-obsessed cat-human (Cat), a weaselly hologram (Rimmer) and a subservient mechanoid (Kryten). It’s kind of like a weird parody of “The Wizard of Oz,” only with fewer ruby shoes and more ruby murrays (currys).
No news yet on whether Holly (Norman Lovett) or Hilly (Hattie Hayridge), the two faces of the ship’s computer, will be appearing, but the regulars (Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Chris Barrie and Robert Llewellyn) have all signed up.
Written and directed by co-creator Doug Naylor, the show will begin a Good Friday weekend dedicated to the series. It will be followed by Red Dwarf: Unplugged – a “no holds barred” episode with no sets, no effects – and no autocue.
The weekend will climax with “Red Dwarf: The Making Of Back To Earth,” a behind-the-scenes special from the new production.
The original series ran for 8 seasons, sold 7.25 million DVD and videos worldwide, broadcast in some 25 territories worldwide and won International Emmy and British Comedy Awards. Unfortunately, the movie hung in stasis for years and the American remake was deader than corduroy.
More details as they emerge at joindave.co.uk..
Source: Daily Mail
Published: Jan 27, 2009 11:17 pm