New series of Red Dwarf in development for 2011
Update: Writer Doug Naylor has clarified that a new series has not yet been commissioned, saying: "There is nothing to report yet".
Andrew Ellard, the Script Consultant on Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, has confirmed that a new series of the sci-fi sitcom is currently in development for digital channel Dave.
He told Last Broadcast: "The latest word is that the deals are being done and - assuming UKTV get it sorted - they'll be in a position to start prepping before the end of the year." However, he corrected the news that came from star Craig Charles earlier in the year which announced two more series, saying the actor "didn't confirm it, so much as mention the call he'd had most recently regarding his availability. I think it's just one series of six episodes... right now."
Ellard also dismissed the long-standing rumours that a Red Dwarf movie was still in development. "The TV revival on Dave seems to be the new life for the show now. Just observing it, the movie seemed to end up being a case of 'recast or don't make it', and right now those actors are those characters," he said. "The film script was great, though, and I really hope it gets released one day. It was a reboot of the series - just as the novels were, a parallel universe - so most of what was great about it wouldn't adapt easily to the TV series. But it'd make a knockout graphic novel."
Andrew Ellard was talking to Last Broadcast to promote his new podcast pilot, a sitcom called I'm Not With Him which stars actors including Red Dwarf's Chris Barrie and Hattie Hayridge. The pilot can be downloaded from www.andrewellard.com