They thought it might never happen. But Red Dwarf fans are overjoyed that the sci-fi comedy will be returning to our screens after UKTV commissioned two new series.

Craig Charles (Lister), Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Danny John-Jules (Cat) and Robert Llewellyn (Kryten) will be reunited as the four hapless space explorers when the show begins production in the autumn before the series air on TV channel Dave in 2016 and 2017.

And fans are delighted.

Really delighted.

Red Dwarf’s co-creator Doug Naylor, who is writing and directing Red Dwarf XI and XII, said that he had been trying to bring back the series since 2012.

“Frustratingly it’s taken until now to get our ducks in a row and all the boys available at the same time. Now they are, we’re all absolutely delighted,” he said.

The now legendary Red Dwarf attracted a cult fanbase and a dedicated following after first airing in 1988 on BBC2.

The first episode featured the technician character Dave Lister on the mining ship Red Dwarf, who wakes up to discover that he has been in stasis for three million years and that his fellow crew have been killed by a radiation leak.

The show went on to attract more then eight million viewers, was broadcast in 25 countries and scooped International Emmy and British Comedy Awards.

After a 10-year absence, Dave initially brought back the show in 2009 with Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, which became the biggest ever non-terrestrial commission attracting over 2.6 million viewers – followed by a six-part series, Red Dwarf X in 2012.

Commissioning editor Simon Lupton said: “Red Dwarf has superb talent attached: writing, directing and acting plus an expert team who absolutely know what they are doing when it comes to delivering a stand-out piece of television.

“It has a universal appeal that manages to touch long-standing fans and recruit new ones.

“It is fantastic to be collaborating with them again on the next phase of the Red Dwarf adventure.”

Exactly.