{"id":142863,"date":"2025-09-17T07:23:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/142863\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T07:23:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T07:23:10","slug":"why-boss-of-80s-cult-classic-red-dwarf-is-really-concerned-about-sitcoms-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/142863\/","title":{"rendered":"Why boss of ’80s cult classic Red Dwarf is “really concerned” about sitcoms in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Red Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor has shared his concerns about the state of British sitcoms in the modern era.<\/p>\n

The beloved comedy series<\/a> originally aired for eight seasons between 1988 and 1999, before a revival on Dave brought a further four seasons between 2009 and 2017. The most recent episode, a feature-length special called The Promised Land, aired in 2020.<\/p>\n

A continuation had been in the works for the past few years<\/a>, though Naylor confirmed via Reddit<\/a> earlier this month that the episode had been scrapped by UKTV after the broadcaster decided not to commission the special.<\/p>\n

What to Read Next<\/p>\n

Though he subsequently clarified that the episode could be picked up by another channel in the future, Naylor shared during an interview with RadioTimes.com<\/a> that he was “really concerned” about the state of sitcoms in the UK. <\/p>\n

“The BBC used to have great slots on BBC Two with lots of really good sitcoms, and it was kind of like the home of sitcoms,” he explained. “Channel 4 was also great for a long time, and they seem to have just evaporated. We don’t have those same slots anymore. <\/p>\n

\"danny<\/p>\n

UKTV\/Gareth Gatrell<\/p>\n

Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

“It’s such a shame because hit sitcoms are so hugely loved. People comfort-watch them over and over again. We know this. The figures [and] facts are there. My feeling is \u2013 maybe it’s irrational \u2013 [that] the BBC are obliged to look after the nation by creating much-loved sitcoms.”<\/p>\n

Naylor, who co-created the series alongside Rob Grant, shared details of the scrapped adventure earlier this month, with the writer revealing that the feature-length episode would have seen the core characters come into contact with their younger selves.<\/p>\n

\"red<\/p>\n

UKTV<\/p>\n

Related: Vigil star to lead “unique and exciting” new Copenhagen-set period crime drama<\/a><\/p>\n

“I’ve also done two thirds of a [film] called Out of the Red where the guys play fictitious versions of themselves, and there’s real interest in that as well, both from a distributor and from a production company,” he told RadioTimes.com<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n

“In fact, I had a meeting about that this morning, so there’s that possibility as well. So it’s not dead, Dave \u2013 yet!” continued Naylor, who added that the cast were “really keen to do more” episodes.<\/p>\n

The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Gaga in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99.<\/p>\n

\"Lettermark\"<\/p>\n

Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies<\/a> and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. \u00a0His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible<\/a> and John Wick<\/a> to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
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