Gazpacho Soup

• Series X News

The first big piece of news this week was of course the release of the first publicity shot from the new series. It managed to get some good attention across all manner of sites, including the likes of the Radio Times. It was also picked up on by The Sun, who in a typically fine display of top quality journalism told its readers that the series started this week. Just when they had corrected this and everyone was enjoying the excitement of seeing a picture at last, we then saw this tweet from Howard Goodall:

Just received my first rough cuts of the new Red Dwarf series, looking forward to viewing and putting some music on them. Kipper-time!

After all the issues with the music cues that we mentioned here a while ago, it’s fantastic to see that Howard is once again directly involved. How much music he is providing remains to be seen but whatever the outcome we are delighted to have him back. Aside from these pieces of news, the only other things we have heard about the episodes came in these tweets from Richard Naylor:

Want to meet the guy in the red dwarf X audience who literally laughs like this: heeheeheeheehee.

I’ve watched the edits so many times, literally recognise the laughs. Can recognise same people in different eps by their laugh.

Hehehe laugher was at show 6. Further evidence suggests maybe female… Hard to tell!

Of course, the behind the scenes material edit continues as well. Here’s what Nathan Cubitt had to say about it:

Has come to the mo in the doc where he wonders if anyone has pics or vids of a green portaloo located around Westminster…

Oh boy, going to be a tough day cutting 90 min interview down when nearly every word is interesting

And lastly, Andrew Ellard also mentioned his work on compiling this series’ Smeg Ups:

I’ve compiled a first assembly of Red Dwarf X Smeg Ups. Hmm, looks like we might have trouble with disc space… Be very glad it’s been whittled down! After the second hour they’re a bloody exhausting watch…

• Radio Times Asks ‘Are you looking forward to the new Red Dwarf?’

In reaction to the posting of the first publicity shot, the Radio Times have put up a poll asking people to vote on how interested they are in the new series. Here’s the blurb:

The first image from Red Dwarf’s new series was released this week to a largely rapturous reception from the show’s fans.

After a wait of more than three years since the comeback special, Back to Earth, aired on Dave in 2009, the boys from the Dwarf are finally coming back to TV – and according to actor Chris Barrie, who plays pompous smeghead Arnold Rimmer in the show, the new series is going to be great.

“I think we’ve done some of the best Red Dwarf scenes ever,” he said. “Really looking forward to seeing what the fans think.”

In fact, early reports from fans have been rather encouraging. RadioTimes.com reader King Richard said of the new series: “I went to see the third episode being filmed early this year [and] I can tell you right here, right now, that this new series of Red Dwarf isn’t going to be poor at all. It’s as good as series six was.”

However, others expressed the opinion that reviving the popular sci-fi sitcom smacks of “nostalgia warmed over”, and questioned the need for a new run of episodes.

But what do you think? Are you excited about the return of Red Dwarf, or do you think the show should’ve made Back to Earth its swansong? Vote in our poll below and let us know…

You can place your vote in the poll here.

• Robert On ScreenJabber Podcasts

Robert appeared as a guest this week on ScreenJabber Podcasts to talk about the various projects he is currently involved in, including Red Dwarf X. Here’s the blurb:

Stuart O’Connor is joined by Toby Weidmann and Stuart Barr for a beer and a chat with writer, actor and broadcaster Robert Llewellyn about his new novel, News From Gardenia, as well as his other ongoing projects, Fully Loaded and Carpool. Oh, yes, and we also get some juicy goss about the upcoming new series of Red Dwarf.

You can listen to the episode on the ScreenJabber site here.

• Chris To Appear At Classic Car Show Revival

Chris is set to appear at the Classic Car Show Revival at Old Warden Park, Biggleswade on Sunday 20th May. Here’s the blurb:

The classic car show and autojumble at Old Warden Park near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, was always a firm fixture on the calendar until it lapsed a few years ago. Now the highly popular event is being revived and returns to the wonderfully scenic venue.

Organised by the enthusiastic and professional team at Greenwood Exhibitions, the Old Warden rally will feature ‘Red Dwarf’ star and engineering enthusiast Chris Barrie presenting his highly entertaining and humorous live show ‘The First 100 Machines’ in which he talks about his seven years of filming for TV documentaries including such diverse cars, planes and trains as the 250mph Bugatti Veyron, Avro Vulcan nuclear bomber, and the mighty Pacific steam locomotive.

Several hundred classic and vintage cars from all over the region are expected to attend and will be on display in the picturesque grounds of the Mansion House, Old Warden Park. Pre-booked entries receive a charming old-style licence disc memento and winners of the judged classes will receive a commemorative mug and a free entry to the Shuttleworth Collection.

To mark the fact that nearby Biggleswade was home to the Berkeley Car company in the 1950s and 60s Greenwood are offering free entry to all Berkeley vehicles.

The general public is invited and encouraged to attend the rally where they will have the opportunity to see a wonderful collection of stunning vehicles and to meet with the owners. It can be a great day out for all the family as there is also the opportunity to visit the nearby Shuttleworth Collection of vintage aeroplanes and vehicles and the beautiful Swiss Gardens that lie a short walk from the park.

The event takes place between 10.00 am and 4.00 pm. Public entry to Old Warden Park on the day will be £8 for adults and £4 for children, but pre-booked entry for classic vehicles with up to two adults and two children is just £3. The Shuttleworth Collection, Swiss Gardens, and Chris Barrie’s ‘The First 100 Machines’ are by separate entry. The application form to pre-book tickets is available on the Greenwood Exhibitions website.

• Last Chance To Enter The Dimension Jump Logo Competition

Just a quick reminder that you only have until 23:59 today to get your entries in for the Dimension Jump logo competition for Dimension Jump XVII in 2013. The winner will have their logo used all over the website, convention merchandise and quite possibly an entire hotel lobby as well as getting a free ticket to the convention. For a reminder of the full details and the address to send your submissions to, you can find a rundown on the fan club site here, but be quick to get your entry in ASAP for a chance to win.

• Gazpacho Soup On Facebook

And finally, a quick plug for this site. Aside from this site, we also have our Twitter account which many of you are already familiar with or follow already. To expand upon that, we’ve just launched our new Facebook page too. Like our Twitter account, we’ll be using it to let you know when we have a new piece of news or new article up on the site, but we will also tend to use it to update you on smaller pieces of information. We’ve only had it running a couple of days and we haven’t really plugged it until now, so if you’re interested then please ‘like’ our new pageTa-muchly.