Comedy writer and director, Doug Naylor shared promising news for fans of the sitcom as he sat down for a Q&A session at Bristol’s Comic Con on Sunday (October 12)
Fans of Red Dwarf have expressed their excitement following an announcement by co-writer and director, Doug Naylor on Sunday (October 12). Appearing at a Comic Con event in Bristol alongside Danny John-Jules (who plays Cat) and Chloe Annett (Kristine Kochanski), Naylor told fans in a Q&A session that plans are afoot to turn the BBC sitcom into a stage show.
Red Dwarf originally aired over the course of seven series on BBC2 between 1988 and 1999 before being given a second lease of life in 2009. Further series have since followed, but last month it was confirmed that UKTV had canned the commission of a new three-part feature-length special, citing a move away from scripted comedy.
Fan, River Marie, who was in attendance in Bristol, shared footage on TikTok of Naylor revealing some more promising news for ‘Smeg Heads’, however.
«Discussions have taken place about doing a stage show at the O2 [in London] – probably about 10-12 shows,» he said.
Naylor went on to explain: «But they want it to coincide with our 40th anniversary, which is in 2028. So I’m not saying it can’t be done before then, but there’s very much interest for us to do that.»
One excited fan penned in response: «Can I buy a ticket now please?! Where can we sign up for information?»
A second person declared: «This would be so good!»
Whilst a third TikTok user gushed: «I love how open he is with the fans.»
As for any future TV series, Naylor confirmed: «There are no plans at this moment in time – no network has presently commissioned anything.»
The most recent series of Red Dwarf – Red Dwarf XII – concluded in November 2017, whilst a feature-length episode aired three years later, titled, ‘The Promised Land’.
Naylor elaborated on the special being cancelled last month: «Back in January 2023, I went in for a meeting with UKTV who said they wanted to progress a new 90-minute Red Dwarf special. The cast were all on board and I was told to start writing.
«Several months later, things were progressing and I had got two-thirds of the way through the script, I had just signed my writer’s contract, when I got an e-mail from UKTV who said they had difficult news to share – they were no longer going to commission scripted comedy, including the RD special, which I hadn’t yet sent them.»
In addition to John-Jules, Red Dwarf stars Chris Barrie (Arnold Rimmer), Craig Charles (Dave Lister), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Norman Lovett and Hattie Hayridge (both as Holly).
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