Red Dwarf

The boys are back in town! The middle part of the new trilogy that's sent sci-fi message boards into a frenzy sees Arnold Rimmer's holographic replacement Katerina (played by Claudia Winkleman's half-sister Sophie) determined to take Lister back home. Needless to say he crew are in for a big suprise on the Earth of 2009. And Rimmer has no intention of being replaced.

Back To Earth Part 1 Review

Slightly more than halfway through this first of the three-part revival of what was once voted Best Comedy Series, newly arrived hologram Katerina Bartikovsky delivers the official verdict on Rimmer. He's a bit crap. Sadly it's been ten years since Red Dwarf was Best Comedy, and those two words apply not just to Rimmer, but to this whole episode.

'Red Dwarf' stars are 'best mates'

Robert Llewellyn has revealed his joy at being reunited with his former Red Dwarf co-stars.

New 'Red Dwarf' pulls in over 2 million

The return of Red Dwarf for its first new episode in ten years was a huge hit for multichannel Dave last night, according to early ratings figures.

Back To Earth (Part 2) Review

Okay, that was poor. I could forgive part 1 for many things, but part 2 was unforgivably laughter-free and meandering. You're playing a dangerous game when you attempt meta-comedy and, while this actually did a decent job for the first ten minutes or so, it was too dull for words.

What happened to Red Dwarf?

When Red Dwarf returned this week, after a decade-long hiatus, it became clear that the big issue is not the social acceptability of sci-fi - but simply that this is a pitifully weak revival.

Oh smeg yes. After a decade in limbo, the sci-fi comedy series returns with a new three-parter, showing on consecutive nights over the Easter weekend. All the main cast members are present and correct which means no radical rework of concept or characters - Lister is still a loveable punk-poet slob, Rimmer a pugnacious coward, the Cat vain and stupid and Kryten riddled with neuroses.

The creators have definitely pandered to the hardcore fans, so anyone hoping for any character development will be sorely disappointed. But this is a comedy not a highfalutin' drama and so long as fresh mayhem is unfolding, nothing else really matters. The plot involves the foursome returning to Earth (for reasons that can't be divulged here) where, among other things, they pay a visit to Craig Charles's real paymasters on Coronation Street. A welcome return.

For Craig Charles, one of the highlights of making this three-part special was finding he could still fit into the leather jacket and trousers that he wore as Dave Lister 21 years ago.

All the cast (minus Holly in either of his / her incarnations) are here, too - Chris Barrie as hologram Arnold Rimmer, Danny John-Jules as Cat and Robert Llewellyn as Kryten - for this much-anticipated reunion.

The sci-fi comedy ran for eight series on BBC2 between 1988 and 1999, picking up an International Emmy on its intergalactic travels. So well done to Dave (the channel, that is, not Lister) for doing what the BBC never managed - getting the crew of the Red Dwarf back to Earth.

Actually though, that's down to guest star Sophie Winkleman - a comedy favourite thanks to her Peep Show appearances. She plays the new holographic Senior Science Officer Katerina Bartikovsky, who works out a way to send Lister to a new dimension.

Katerina's arrival is bad news for Rimmer - this spaceship's not big enough for two holograms - but good news for Lister as, being the last surviving human, it will be his job to go forth and multiply.

Tonight's episode might feel a bit flat as the crew battle a sea monster but, in the next two instalments - tomorrow night and Sunday - there'll be plenty of surprises as they arrive on Earth in the year 2009 and find themselves on a Manchester street you'll certainly recognise.

Back To Earth (Part 1) Review

While a lack of laughter is definitely a huge problem for a comedy series, I have to commend the visual effects and production design teams.

First Look: Red Dwarf: Back To Earth

First things first. It looked amazing. It has been filmed in HD and has dispensed with the laughter track, so, in essence, it looked like a proper film.