They're back!

RD

The boys from the Dwarf return to Dave next year

18 October 2019

UKTV can today confirm that Red Dwarf will return to Dave next year for its first ever feature-length special (1x120').

Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn are 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.

Craig Charles said:

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.

Doug Naylor said:

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.

The special is produced by Richard Naylor. Christine Langan is executive producer for Baby Cow. The special will be filmed on location and at Pinewood in front of a live studio audience.

To celebrate the return of the small rouge one, Dave has also commissioned a series of retrospectives (3x60'), which will offer fans the definitive story of the show from day one - over thirty years ago - right up to the present day. 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.

Pete Thornton said:

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.

Luke Hales, Dave channel director, said:

I am a huge, life-long fan of Red Dwarf and I still re-watch it and re-read the books regularly to this day. So it goes without saying that it gives me huge pleasure to be a part of the team this time around. I am as excited about this one as a viewer as I am in my role as channel director on Dave. The episodes we've made for the channel so far have been brilliant, and what a way to welcome it back too, with a feature-length special and three-part look back at the show's history. We at the Dave team literally cannot wait to bring this huge treat to our viewers.

Since Dave debuted Red Dwarf: Back To Earth to over two million overnight viewers on Good Friday in 2009, there have been three further full series. The most recent, series XII, appeared on screens in 2017 and garnered some of the finest critical notices the show has ever received.

Red Dwarf airs on Dave next year.

Audience tickets will be available from 12pm today >>> HERE <<<

__

Dave

For more information, please contact Ben Duncan

About Dave

Freeview 19, Sky 111, Virgin 127, YouView 19, Freesat 157, BT & TalkTalk 19

On demand on UKTVPlay

Ever since it was knee high to a TV remote, Dave had an idea. It wanted to be the first place viewers would come for brand-new, award-winning entertainment from the biggest and brightest stars and production companies in the UK. And in the years since, it has launched some of the most exciting and best-loved titles on TV.

There are names like BAFTA and Emmy-nominated Taskmaster - now in its ninth series -, Judge Romesh, Hypothetical, Jon Richardson: Ultimate Worrier and Comedians Giving Lectures. And of course there's Dave Gorman, whose inquisitive mind is returning to the channel for Terms and Conditions Apply. It's not just in front of the camera where the comic genius lies either, with a wealth of scripted treasure such as Sliced, Porters and the globally popular Red Dwarf.

Dave's not content just to make you laugh and share gags with your mates though. Expedition with Steve Backshall and Hurricane Man are showing you regions and aspects of the earth never before seen on TV. Red Bull Soapbox continues to delight with its boundless capacity for invention. And stepping away from the TV entirely, Dave's partnered with CALM to launch the "Be The Mate You'd Want" campaign and the "Conversations Against Living Miserably" podcast.

Reaching 20million viewers a month, Dave's come a long way, but it's only just getting warmed up.

dave.uktv.co.uk / @davechannel

About UKTV

UKTV has been at the forefront of branded television for over 25 years, entertaining the nation with programmes they love. Its leading brands - Dave, Gold, W, Drama, Alibi, Eden and Yesterday - span comedy, entertainment, natural history, factual and drama, and are delivered to audiences through UKTV Play, Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView, Freesat and Amazon Fire. The broadcaster is a significant investor in British creativity and is committed to working with new and established writers, directors and programme-makers.

UKTV is part of BBC Studios, the UK's most-awarded production company, a world-class distributor with international branded services, and a commercial subsidiary of the world's leading public service broadcaster, the BBC.

corporate.uktv.co.uk | press.uktv.co.uk | @uktvpress.