Coming Attractions

Watch out for the Red Dwarf crew on a screen near you.

12 December, 2014

As we all wait patiently - or, depending on your temperament, somewhat impatiently - for news on new Red Dwarf, it's safe to say that the cast haven't been sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Instead, the show's main stars have been working on an array of new projects that you'll start to see hitting screens from early 2015 - and what's more, plenty of Dwarf guest star alumni can also be found lighting up the schedules.

To start with the main gang, though, Danny John-Jules will shortly be seen in the upcoming fourth series of Caribbean crime drama Death in Paradise. The episodes were filmed in Guadeloupe earlier this year, and while there isn't a confirmed start date, it's likely to start airing sometime around January or February. We've also had word that Danny will be playing a role of some kind in Comedy Central's UK remake of the hit US series Drunk History, which sees comedians drunkenly attempting to tell historical stories while actors mime to their words. No, seriously, it works better than it sounds! We'll bring you more details on that show, and Danny's part in it, when we have it.

Chris Barrie, meanwhile, will be bringing his luxurious voice-over skills and love of cars together in a new documentary series for Channel 5. Car Crash TV: How Not to Drive is a ten-part series which will apparently "provide viewers with tips on how to drive and clips of what not to do filmed on dashboard cameras". Again, there's no confirmed start date yet, but it'll be early in the new year.

As for Craig Charles, we'd expect to see him returning to Coronation Street early in 2015 following his recent break; and Robert Llewellyn continues to produce new episodes of webseries Fully Charged and is also planning to return to Carpool before too long as well. We're also expecting news shortly of a publication date and cover art for Robert's book News From The Clouds, so stay tuned for more on that.

Looking longer-term, some other cast members have also recently had upcoming projects announced. Norman Lovett will be appearing in an as-yet-untitled Radio 4 sitcom with comedian Lucy Beaumont, while a high-profile piece of casting news recently saw Mark Dexter announced as playing Prime Minister David Cameron in Channel 4's upcoming drama Coalition. We're not sure if it's flattering Mark or insulting him to say what an uncanny piece of casting it is, though...

Turning our attention to the big screen, meanwhile, one of the highest-profile former guest stars Timothy Spall has a major movie out in cinemas. Mr Turner sees the man better known to us as a Brummie videogame technician take on the role of the titular nineteenth-century landscape painter, and has already attracted several plaudits following its UK release last month. It hits US screens, meanwhile, on 19th December.

Also across the pond - and also on that same date! - the one-time Confidence, Craig Ferguson, ends his near-decade-long run as the host of the acclaimed Late Late Show with his final episode on the 19th, so if you're in a position to tune in to that one, you'll want to make sure you do. And back over here, another returning BBC1 drama - again with an unspecified "early 2015" start date - sees Mark Williams resume his lead role as Father Brown.

Phew. So it's a busy start to the year all round for those of you who like to keep your eyes out for this sort of thing - and as ever, we'll try and keep you posted with further details of broadcast dates and suchlike once we get them!

Any news to share on Red Dwarf cast and crew? Join the chat on the Forum!