Red Dwarf X
First full series of Red Dwarf since 1999.
Red Dwarf X, the tenth series of the British sci-fi sitcom, aired on the UK channel Dave from 4 October to 8 November 2012. Its six episodes marked the first full season of the show since 1999. The story follows technician Dave Lister (Craig Charles), the sole human survivor of a spaceship accident and the last person of his species, three million years in the future. He lives alongside a holographic version of his deceased bunkmate and former boss, Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie); a sapient Cat (Danny John-Jules) who evolved from Lister’s pet over millions of years; and the sanitation droid Kryten (Robert Llewellyn).
Plans for a new series emerged in June 2010, when Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, and Hattie Hayridge mentioned possible further episodes, though the official website stressed nothing was confirmed. In January 2011, Robert Llewellyn stated on his site that filming would occur in late 2011 for a 2012 broadcast on Dave, but UKTV initially declined to comment. On 10 April 2011, a six-episode tenth series for autumn 2012 on Dave was officially announced, with Doug Naylor confirming it on Twitter and at Dimension Jump XVI, and Dave publishing the news on its website.
Filming dates were announced on 11 November 2011, with confirmation that shooting would again take place at Shepperton Studios in front of an audience. Principal photography ran from 16 December 2011 to 27 January 2012, followed by six days of pick-up shots. Howard Goodall, who composed music for the show from its start through series VII, was announced as the composer for Red Dwarf X on 4 May 2012. Post-production wrapped on 19 June 2012, and all six episodes were approved for broadcast that autumn.
The first trailer appeared on Dave’s Facebook page on 20 July 2012, with a new teaser released each Friday until the premiere. The series began airing on 4 October 2012 and was promoted via billboards across the UK, often near train stations. The only returning characters were Chris Barrie as Arnold Rimmer, Craig Charles as Dave Lister, Danny John-Jules as the Cat, and Robert Llewellyn as Kryten.
In Australia, Red Dwarf X aired on ABC1 from 7 November 2012. In New Zealand, it broadcast on BBC UKTV from January to February 2013. In the United States, it debuted on PBS station KERA-TV in Dallas, Texas, in July and August 2013, with plans to expand to other public stations in 2014. Writing in 20
- series_number
- 10
- broadcast_channel
- Dave
- broadcast_dates
- 4 October to 8 November 2012
- number_of_episodes
- 6
- country_of_origin
- United Kingdom
- genre
- Science fiction sitcom
Lore & Background
Red Dwarf X follows the life of technician Dave Lister, the only survivor of an accident on the spaceship Red Dwarf and the last survivor of the human race, three million years in the future. His shipmates include a holographic reproduction of his dead bunkmate and boss, Arnold Rimmer, a sapient Cat who evolved from Lister's pet cat, and sanitation droid Kryten. The series was announced on 10 April 2011, after earlier reports in June 2010 and January 2011 indicated plans, though UKTV initially refused to comment. Filming took place at Shepperton Studios from 16 December 2011 to 27 January 2012, with six additional days for pick-ups, and was shot in front of an audience. Howard Goodall, who composed music for Red Dwarf from its beginning until series VII, returned to compose the score. Post-production was completed on 19 June 2012.
Reader's Guide
Red Dwarf X marked a significant return for the series after a thirteen-year hiatus from full seasons. Its broadcast on Dave and subsequent international releases on ABC1 in Australia, BBC UKTV in New Zealand, and PBS station KERA-TV in the United States helped reintroduce the show to a global audience. In 2015, Den of Geek ranked it seventh among the then nine full seasons, calling it a 'return to the Dwarf we knew and loved.' The series was released on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK on 19 November 2012, with limited-edition steelbook versions and a Japanese box set alongside Back to Earth. Its legacy lies in reviving a beloved cult sitcom and demonstrating the enduring appeal of its characters and setting.
Did You Know?
- Red Dwarf X was the first full series of Red Dwarf since 1999.
- Filming took place at Shepperton Studios in front of an audience from 16 December 2011 to 27 January 2012.
- Howard Goodall, who composed music for Red Dwarf from its beginning until series VII, returned to compose the score for Red Dwarf X.
- The first trailer was released on 20 July 2012 on Dave's official Facebook page.
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