THE COD DELUSION

RED DWARF HAS GONE FEATURE-LENGTH BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A MOVIE. SFX JOINS CREATOR DOUG NAYLOR, THE BOYS FROM THE DWARF AND A NEW LITTER OF CATS ON A MISSION TO FIND “THE PROMISED LAND”…

- RICHARD EDWARDS

WHEN SFX ARRIVES AT PINEWOOD Studios in December 2019 – in case you’re wondering, yes, it is cold outside – we’re not entirely sure what we’re about to find. We’re definitely headed for deep space – more than three million years from Earth, in fact – but this time the Jupiter Mining Corporation’s most famous vessel is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, we’re in the unfamiliar surroundings of a ship called the Iron Star – described by one member of the production team as “one of the biggest sets we’ve ever done” – so we’ll admit it’s something of a relief when we lay eyes on Arnold Rimmer, Dave Lister, the Cat and Kryten. At least we know we haven’t accidentally stumbled onto the set of one of the many sci-fi movies that call Pinewood home…

The latest incarnation of Red Dwarf is a little harder to pin down than usual. While many of the ingredients are the same, there’s a slightly different flavour this time out. After more than 70 half-hour sitcom episodes, “The Promised Land” sees the Starbug crew shifting up a gear and venturing into feature-length territory. What the smeg?!