The First Three Million Years

Three-part documentary coming to Dave in August!

19 June, 2020

Back when Red Dwarf: The Promised Land was announced, you may recall that a three-part retrospective documentary about Red Dwarf was also said to be on the way. Well, for those of you who've been quite reasonably asking since then when they can expect to see it, we're delighted to finally have the answer.

The miniseries, produced by North One Television, is titled Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years - and all three episodes will air exclusively on Dave in August 2020!

The First Three Million Years

Here's the synopsis from UKTV:

Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years is THE definitive celebration of the most successful sci-fi sitcom of all time. Over three hour-long episodes we go on an epic journey through space and time to chart the history of Lister the lonely space-bum, Rimmer the failed hero, Kryten the spaceship-cleaning mechanoid and Cat, the vainest non-human ever to be trapped in space, through the eyes of co-creator, writer and director Doug Naylor, the cast, the crew, and celebrity fans.

With the aid of the enlightening memories of these key contributors including all the main cast (Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn, Danny John-Jules, Norman Lovett and Hattie Hayridge) we start by tracing the origins of Red Dwarf, from almost being cancelled while still on the launchpad due to a lengthy electrician's strike, to achieving lift off via spectacular viewing figures which ensured the commission of further episodes with unprecedented speed.

We also examine the aesthetic of the series as it developed from grey sets to special effects, modelling and costumes that wouldn't be out of place in a Hollywood movie, and analyse all the future science that Doug Naylor and Rob Grant predicted and ingeniously explained in classic episodes such as 'Backwards' and 'Gunmen of the Apocalypse'.

On the set of 'The Promised Land', the latest smash hit feature-length episode of the show, we gather the four 'Boys from the Dwarf' and lead them on a detailed trip down memory lane as they offer us the inside story on who was the most professional, who partied hardest and why starring in Red Dwarf is the best job they've ever had.

Throughout the series we'll also be showing previously un-broadcast scenes and the best of the many and varied 'smeg-ups' of the last 32 years while leaving no kipper unsmoked in our quest to feature some of the greatest moments and funniest gags from the entire back catalogue of 74 incredible episodes.

This is the first time a retrospective documentary has been made about Red Dwarf for television since the BBC's Comedy Connections episode in 2004; and before that, the Red Dwarf Night documentaries of 1998. These docs promise a fresh look back at the entire history of the show, filled with exciting tidbits (even for the most hardened of fans who've read our Complete Guide back to front)!

We'll bring you news of a firm broadcast date for the three episodes as soon as we have it...

Red Dwarf: The First Three Million Years lands exclusively on Dave in August!

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