The boys from the Dwarf are back, this time trying to escape from a factory-reset Holly and some feral cats.

It was only November 2017 when we last said goodbye to Red Dwarf at the end of its 12th series, but it has felt longer, and in many ways this new ninety-minute special feels like a reunion special after a lengthy break. Half hour shows follow a specific structure, and I’m pleased to report that the Promised Land doesn’t feel like three episodes tacked together, but instead enjoys the room that the extended run time allows it.

Running like a well-oiled machine, the characters are old friends, the situations familiar and the resolutions predictable. And yet, that is by no means a criticism – indeed the opposite applies. There is such affection for these smegheads that just being in their company is the first bonus. Following a tried and tested formula, writer/director Doug Naylor also has some great visual effects work and an exciting score by Paul Farrer to stretch what was probably a meagre budget and make it feel bigger.

I wouldn’t dream of spoiling any of the jokes, and I pretty much chuckled from start to finish. Each member of the crew gets to do their thing, with Rimmer arguably getting the most to do. Chris Barrie’s hologram may be the most annoying crew member, but there’s some real pathos in his self-discovery and some of Barrie’s best work in the role.

Verdict: A seasonal Red Dwarf holiday special which like most Easter eggs is a bit of a treat, and while it’s wrapped up in a fancy bow, you still know what you’re going to get. My preference is seasons of six half hours, but if this is the way that Red Dwarf continues, sign me up. 8/10

Nick Joy

Red Dwarf: The Promised Land airs Thursday, 9th April on Dave.