Red Dwarf cast return at premiere

Red Dwarf ran for eight series on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999

The stars of Red Dwarf have attended the premiere of three new episodes of the cult sci-fi comedy show in London.

Chris Barrie, Robert Llewelyn and Danny John-Jules greeted fans on the red carpet in character ahead of the screening of Red Dwarf: Back To Earth.

Cast member Craig Charles, who was unable to attend as he was filming for Coronation Street, apologised with a pre-recorded video message.

The new episodes will be shown on digital channel Dave over Easter.

"I'm really gutted that I won't be there to see Back To Earth with you all but unfortunately I've got a Coronation Street night shift," said Charles, who made his name playing Lister on the show.

"I'm really proud of what we've achieved, maybe it will lead to more shows, and I hope it will make you laugh, gasp and maybe even shed a little tear. And not just for the bit where Chris gets his knackers slammed into a desk."

More shows

All the cast were in agreement that if the Easter special was a success they would be keen to make more.

Barrie, who plays Rimmer said: "The chemistry was still there. Once we were back together and in costume it was just a continuation of the norm.

"I'm afraid it's not up to me if there will be more, but I'm certainly up for being in them and I think we all are. Never say never," he added.

The show was screened in more than 25 countries

John-Jules said that there had been plans for 10 years to put Red Dwarf on the big screen, but creator Doug Naylor could not secure funding for his film script.

Naylor said he hoped the new episodes could help boost interest.

"The film script is still there in tact. We thought we had the money but we just needed the BBC to back it, to buy the TV rights, and of course when they didn't it fell through.

"If someone wants to invest in a Red Dwarf film we'd all love to make one," he added.

Red Dwarf ran for eight series on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and won an International Emmy award.

At its peak, it pulled in around 8m viewers and was broadcast in more than 25 countries.

Set three million years in the future, the show followed the exploits of Dave Lister, slovenly crew member of the mining ship Red Dwarf - and the last man in the universe.

He was joined in his weekly attempts to make it back to Earth by a cast of oddballs including human hologram Arnold Rimmer, mechanoid servant Kryten and Cat - a preening half-man, half-animal who evolved from the ship's cat.

The new episodes, which begin on 10 April, sees the cast finally return to Earth.