Red Dwarf
- TV sitcom
- U&Dave / BBC Two
- 1988 - 2020
- 74 episodes (13 series)
Science fiction sitcom based in space. The crew aboard the damaged mining spaceship Red Dwarf are doomed to drift in space for the rest of eternity. Stars Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, Norman Lovett and more.
- Due to return for Untitled three-part special
- Series IV, Episode 1 repeated Monday at 1am on U&Dave
Episode menu
The Promised Land
Further details
The new 90-minute special is the thirteenth outing of the legendary sci-fi comedy. It reunites the original cast of Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat) Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) and sees the return of Holly (Norman Lovett) the much loved ship's computer. Written and directed by Doug Naylor, it was recorded in front of a live studio audience over two nights at the world famous Pinewood Studios.
Three million years ago... David Lister, a vending machine repairman, was sentenced to eighteen months in suspended animation for smuggling his pregnant cat aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf. While Lister remained in stasis, a radiation leak killed the rest of the crew. Safely sealed in the hold, the cats evolved into humanoid form. The cats now roam deep space in a fleet of their own...
The special sees the posse meet three cat clerics (Tom Bennett, Mandeep Dhillon and Lucy Pearman) who worship Lister as their God. Lister vows to help them as they're being hunted by Rodon, the ruthless feral cat leader (Ray Fearon) who has vowed to wipe out all cats who worship anyone but him.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 9th April 2020
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- U&Dave
- Length
- 120 minutes
Cast & crew
| Chris Barrie | Rimmer |
| Craig Charles | Lister |
| Danny John-Jules | Cat |
| Robert Llewellyn | Kryten |
| Norman Lovett | Holly |
| Ray Fearon | Rodon |
| Tom Bennett | Brother Sol |
| Mandeep Dhillon | Sister Luna |
| Lucy Pearman | Sister Peanut |
| Alastair Roberts (as Al Roberts) | Count Ludo |
| Hayley-Marie Axe | Protector |
| Doug Naylor | Writer |
| Andrew Ellard | Script Editor |
| Richard Naylor | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Doug Naylor | Director |
| Richard Naylor | Producer |
| Doug Naylor | Executive Producer |
| Christine Langan | Executive Producer |
| Pete Thornton | Executive Producer |
| Adrian Pegg | Line Producer |
| Alan Levy | Editor |
| Linda Glover | Casting Director |
| Howard Burden | Costume Designer |
| Vanessa White | Make-up Designer |
| Howard Goodall | Composer |
| Dominic Roberts | Production Designer |
| Ian Adrian | Director of Photography |
| Paul Farrer | Composer |
| Matthew Clark | Graphics |
| Matt Bell | 1st Assistant Director |
| Lyndsey Shingler | Production Manager |
Videos
The Promised Land: full trailer
The trailer for the Red Dwarf special.
Featuring: Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Norman Lovett (Holly), Ray Fearon (Rodon) & Tom Bennett (Brother Sol).
The Promised Land - first five minutes
A sneak peek at the first 5 minutes of brand new Red Dwarf "The Promised Land".
Featuring: Ray Fearon (Rodon), Tom Bennett (Brother Sol), Mandeep Dhillon (Sister Luna), Lucy Pearman (Sister Peanut) & Al Roberts (Count Ludo).
Press
Red Dwarf special breaks records for Dave
Two-hour sci-fi comedy special is Dave's most watched show for almost four years.
Max Goldbart, Broadcast, 14th April 2020Red Dwarf review
Red Dwarf (Dave), the sci-fi sitcom that's been running almost since the beginning of the universe, switched format to record a feature-length episode, a full two hours. Even Dad's Army couldn't manage that. And it was funny. Not just catchphrase funny, more than simply in-joke, fan-favourite funny, but loaded with some great gags.
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 10th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
Dave's feature-length special is fun but far from purrfect.
Mr Josh, The News Trace, 10th April 2020TV review: Red Dwarf - The Promised Land, Dave
Judging it on what we actually got, it mostly worked.
Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 10th April 2020Rimmer, Lister, Kryten and the rest of the Red Dwarf crew are back for a feature-length special of galactic mishaps and absurd adventures. Craig Charles reprises his role as the radioactively reborn vending machine repairman who, in this one-off, encounters a trio of cat clerics who worship him as their god. But they are being hunted by feral cat leader Rodon (Ray Fearon) and only Lister can lead them to safety. Forever oddball, the return of Red Dwarf is a suitably escapist break in these uncertain times.
Ammar Kalia, The Guardian, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
Feature-length versions of sitcoms have, at best, a chequered history. But given that Red Dwarf has always had epic ambitions that defy its shoestring budget, scaling up the story to fill 90 minutes - plus adverts - is less of a stretch than most. Even so, the Promised Land story is surprisingly underdeveloped, and scenes intended to supply emotional heft feel forced, as if they have been added out of expectation that's what a film version should do.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
This tale of Lister's cat cult won't convert any newbies, but fans will find plenty to enjoy. **CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS**
Morgan Jeffery, Radio Times, 9th April 2020How Red Dwarf became a comedy classic, despite the BBC
It was deemed 'too weird, too alien' for the Beeb. But Red Dwarf is now a British comedy institution - wobbly sets and all.
Tom Fordy, The Telegraph, 9th April 2020TV Review: Red Dwarf - The Promised Land, Dave
The idea of a Red Dwarf film has been floating around for years and now they have finally done it. OK, The Promised Land is not getting a Star Wars-style major cinema release and in a way the show's devoted army of fans might have preferred another full series, but this 90-minute special certainly had plenty going for it.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
This feature-length space odyssey sees the gang reunite to fight a bunch of evil felines, in an adventure that's great fun for fans and perfectly watchable for everyone else.
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land, review
In this space sitcom no one can hear me laugh.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
Not a triumph then, this feature-length special, more a fond rehash of some former hits.
Chris Farnell, Den Of Geek, 9th April 2020Red Dwarf: The Promised Land review
This tale of Lister's cat cult won't convert any newbies, but fans will find plenty to enjoy. **CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS**
Morgan Jeffery, Radio Times, 31st March 2020