This weekend blogger Narin Bahar attended the Better Than Life convention and heard from the cast of Red Dwarf about plans to bring the series back for more:
Red Dwarf back for more?
It's the news Red Dwarf fans have been waiting for - the cast have confirmed for the first time that the show's creators are planning a new full series of the much-loved show.
Speaking at the Better Than Life convention this weekend, Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Chloe Annett (Kochanski) and Danny John-Jules (Cat) all confirmed that plans were being put in place for a full series. following the success of the Back to Earth specials commissioned by digital channel Dave and shown at Easter.
Danny John-Jules told fans: "They're talking to Dave about doing a new series. I've heard they're discussing six episodes."
Llewellyn said that he had been approached about it too and, along with Annett, confirmed that he was "very happy" at the prospect of a return of the show. There is no indication yet of when the show would be broadcast.
John-Jules also said he was thrilled at the success of the recent specials, which gave Dave (renamed Lister for the Easter weekend in honour of Red Dwarf's own Dave) their best ever ratings and outperforming much bigger channels including the BBC, the show's former home - a fact which gave him particular glee.
He told fans: "Coming back to do the specials was great. People were saying Red Dwarf was dead, that we wouldn't be able to do it, that it wouldn't be funny, that we wouldn't get into our costumes even. But there's something about always being the underdog. We overcame it. The BBC put three brand new shows on against our episodes when they were airing. And we whacked them all. We're very proud."
* The cast were appearing at the Better Than Life Red Dwarf convention. Organisers have already announced that following the success of the event there will be a second one in July 2010.
* Red Dwarf: Back to Earth The Director's Cut is out on DVD from today.
Posted by Mr Speed (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 10:41 AM BST #
'Back To Earth' was just depressing.
Posted by David P (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM BST #
I don't expect any new episodes to hit any of the highs of the first five series but I would at least like them to give me a laugh or two, if nothing else.
Posted by Hal (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 11:00 AM BST #
If red dwarf ever wants to be as big as they once were, get back the laugh track, lessen the budget so they don't rely on special effects, and for fraks sake, GET THE COMEDY BACK!
Posted by rodders (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 11:06 AM BST #
Posted by Paul (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 11:13 AM BST #
Lol
Posted by PJ Bottoms (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 11:24 AM BST #
Posted by The Naysayer (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 01:52 PM BST #
Now all we need are new seasons of Buffy and Deep Space Nine and S.F. TV will almost be worth watching again.
Posted by Voyager Hater (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 07:25 PM BST #
Posted by Adam Whitehead (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 09:36 PM BST
Website: http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/ #
Posted by Lanta (127.0.0.1) on June 15, 2009 at 10:34 PM BST #
You quite clearly have already used it since the episodes were called 'Back to Earth'.
FAIL.
Posted by Dave (127.0.0.1) on June 17, 2009 at 02:04 AM BST #
I just hope the producers and writers read the comments posted by fans and bring in new writers that can inject some fresh inventive storylines into the series.
Posted by Pete W (127.0.0.1) on June 17, 2009 at 09:37 AM BST #
Some comedy should be subtle. Red Dwarf should go the way Doug Naylor is currently taking it - towards subtlety and away from fools who want everything to be like series eight which can be roughly summarised as: "woo hoo! Look I am running in a funny way!!!!!!"
Posted by Zebid (127.0.0.1) on June 17, 2009 at 12:56 PM BST #
Posted by Rob (127.0.0.1) on June 17, 2009 at 09:02 PM BST #
The one thing that scares me to death is that Annet is being asked, based on this hearsay, to come back! HELL NO! I liked Back to Earth until she came in during Part Three (her Kochanski was one of the critical flaws of the post-Grant Red Dwarfs), and if she is in a new series, my expectations will be extremely low.
I do agree 100% that they need Rob Grant back, or at least another writer to work with Naylor (not that the goofs for VII did that great a job), and I also feel that they need another director (a lot of potentially funnier BTE jokes were hurt by Naylor as director's lack of comic timing). I personally feel that a laugh track would be nice, but I don't think it is mandatory (re-watch BTE a few times and you will get used to the lack of one). I also think that Naylor would be wise to poll the fans on what they would like, rather than doing it all himself (after all, that would make his life easier would it not?).
Finally, they do crow over the ratings a bit. However, Back to Earth was genuinely accepted and even loved by many and disliked or hated by many as well. The reaction was mixed, I say.
Posted by Technopeasant (127.0.0.1) on June 29, 2009 at 04:16 AM BST
Website: http://reddwarf.wikia.com/wiki/User:Technopeasant/BTE-Review #
Posted by Kickback (127.0.0.1) on August 18, 2009 at 01:18 AM BST #
Posted by LunarCity7 (127.0.0.1) on December 15, 2009 at 08:25 PM GMT #