As the story goes, Red Dwarf originated from a recurring sketch created by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant, Dave Hollins: Space Cadet, as part of the early 80s BBC Radio 4 comedy show, Son of Cliche, which was also written by the team of Grant and Naylor. The science-fiction sitcom premiered in 1988 and ran for 8 seasons until 1999.

The series returned to mixed reviews in 2009 with Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, a series of three episodes based on the somewhat disappointing concept where the inhabitants of the Jupiter Mining Corporation ship returned to Earth in 2009 only to discover that they were characters in a television series called Red Dwarf. Even with the mixed reviews, the ‘special’ audiences quite strong and, in 2011, a tenth series was commissioned by Dave, the digital television channel home of witty banter.

In just over three weeks, 23 December to be exact, the era of Red Dwarf X begins with the return of Lister, Rimmer, Kryten and Cat to Shepperton Studios to film the first of six new episodes to be broadcast in late 2012. To get you ready, here’s a bit of a secret behind-the-scenes video from the make-up room as Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn are transformed into Cat and Kryten as they prepare for RDX.

A bit of urban myth RD history as we move ever so close to zero hour and the first taping date of the long, long-awaited, Red Dwarf X on 23 December at Shepperton Studios.

• Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina auditioned for roles in the series, with Molina being cast as Rimmer. However, after Molina had difficulties with the concept of the series, and of his role in particular, the role was recast and filled by Chris Barrie.
• Doug Naylor and Rob Grant, former Spitting Image writers, wrote the pilot script for Red Dwarf in 1983 but it was rejected by everyone at the BBC, as commissioners believed a sitcom based around science fiction would not be popular. Must have been the same person that thought a sitcom set in a hotel in Torquay wasn’t funny either
• The mining ship, Red Dwarf, is 6 miles (9.7 km) long, 5 miles (8.0 km) tall, and 4 miles (6.4 km) wide