The countdown to the long awaited tenth series of Red Dwarf  has begun, with digital channel Dave confirming it’s air date.

The show reunites original stars Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John Jules and Robert Llewellyn as Rimmer, Lister, Cat and Kryten for the first full length series since 1998, after the ratings success of the Back To Earth mini-series in 2009.

The brand new series, written and directed by it’s co-creator Doug Naylor, begins with the Dwarfer’s mining ship still creaking though the wastelands of unchartered deep space, but the posse soon stumble upon the mysteriously abandoned SS Trojan.  As they inspect the ship Rimmer receives an SOS distress call from an old foe and is suddenly faced with the dilemma of his life.

Throughout the six part series Lister grapples with the problem of being his own father, gets involved in a love triangle with snack dispensers 23 and 34, while Kryten and Cat become quantum entangled forcing them to do everything in unison.  The posse also find themselves marooned in 23 AD where they rescue a famous historical figure with a beard.

The series final episode finds the boys surrounded by a Simulant War Cruiser and its fleet of attack ships. Armed with only two forks and a pencil sharpener, the Dwarfers begin to wonder whether this is the beginning of the end. Only one man can save them. Unfortunately that man is Arnold J Rimmer.

It all sounds like classic Dwarf, and we here at TVO Towers can’t wait.  Understandably, we’re all huge Red Dwarf fans – so how delighted, we were, to discover that our very own Colin Hoult will be guest starring in at least one episode.

Colin was understandably tight-lipped about the project when we last spoke to him earlier this year, but we’re sure his part will be just one smashing piece in a truly stonking jigsaw of a return.

The first episode of Red Dwarf X airs on Thursday, October 4th, on Dave.  Every Friday, until then, new teasers will be released via the show’s official Facebook page.  You can see the initial trailer below.

The show can also be pre-ordered on dvd and blu-ray via The Velvet Onion Amazon UK Store now, for release on November 19th.