THE prospect of Red Dwarf: The Movie has tantalised fans of the TV series for almost two decades.

Now I can reveal the dream is becoming reality as the cult sci-fi TV sitcom returns to the Dave channel with a two-hour, feature-length film next year.

15 Red Dwarf is set to return as a feature-length film next year, and it will see key cast members return as Lister, Rimmer, The Cat and Kryten Credit: Joel Anderson

Cast members Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn return as Lister, Rimmer, The Cat and Kryten.

Red Dwarf co-creator Doug Naylor has written and directed the new story.

A TV insider said: “This is the moment which devotees have waited for since 1999 when the first run of Red Dwarf came to an end on BBC2, before later moving to Dave in 2009.

“For many years, Doug spent time trying to get the film version off the ground. In the process, he whipped fans into a frenzy only to leave them disappointed.

15 An insider says co-creator Doug Naylor has been trying to get the film version off the ground for years Credit: Alamy

"Now they’re likely to be in heaven at the prospect of this epic next chapter.”

Red Dwarf first aired on BBC2 in 1988 and ran for eight series, building up a huge following in the process.

Dave cheered fans as it briefly revived the show in 2009 with three-parter Red Dwarf: Back To Earth.

The channel then ran a further three series in 2012, 2016 and 2017.

15 Craig Charles promises that Red Dwarf: The Movie, which will air on Dave next year, will be their 'most epic adventure yet' Credit: Getty

Now, to mark the film, Dave has also commissioned three one-hour shows telling the full story of Red Dwarf.

They will include previously unseen material, as well as new interviews with cast and crew.

Speaking about the film, Red Dwarf star Craig Charles joked: “I’ll surely require a chiropractor after dragging these doddering misfits through what promises to be our most epic adventure yet.”

I hope it lives up to the promise.

Must watch WHAT? Later . . . with Jools Holland, BBC Two, 11.05pm. WHY? Jools Holland has Mark Ronson helping him to host this week with Yebba, Sampa The Great and Cate Le Bon performing.

Five go full circle for £100k

THESE are the final five contestants in The Circle . . . and the bookies’ odds of them winning the £100,000 prize tonight.

Tim, Georgina, Paddy, James and Zoe Ball's son Woody have been living with other strangers in a block of flats, competing for popularity on social media – but never meeting.

15 The Circle is down to its final five contestants, all competing to win £100,000 Credit: jack bridgeland

Last night Ella May was the latest to be evicted from the Channel 4 show.

Host Emma Willis will reveal the winner – and the five will finally meet.

15 Bookies have revealed the odds of them winning - Woody's odds are 13/8 while Georgina's are 6/1 Credit: jack bridgeland

15 Tim has odds of 2/1 Credit: jack bridgeland

15 It's not looking good for Paddy who is at 11/1 Credit: jack bridgeland

15 James' chances aren't too bad - he's looking at 4/1 Credit: jack bridgeland

C4 drag race is all over

CHAPS in slap are having a ball on the BBC, thanks to RuPaul’s Drag Race, but the same can’t be said over on Channel 4.

After just one series, makeover show Drag SOS has been axed due to poor ratings. It began in the summer with 1.2million viewers but the final show had a measly 400,000.

15 Channel 4's Drag SOS has been axed after only raking in a measly 400,000 viewers for the final Credit: Slater King/ Channel 4

It featured drag troupe The Family Gorgeous as they travelled the country turning wannabe queens into more glitzy versions of themselves.

Leading lady Cheddar Gorgeous told the United Queendom Podcast: “Channel 4 is not that interested in it any more, I don’t think it’s coming back.”

Meanwhile, Drag Race has managed to attract guests including Cheryl Tweedy and Hollywood star Andrew Garfield.

The best that Drag SOS could bag was drag queen Liquorice Black, from Dover.

15 Meanwhile BBC's Drag Race has been soaring and even attracted celebrity guest judges like Andrew Garfield Credit: BBC Pictures' Digital Picture

bizbit ROSEMARY Shrager says reality stars need to go on Ladette To Lady. The show’s deputy headmistress, who judged Eviivo’s Tastiest Breakfast award, said: “Some of them could do with going. I’m not naming anyone.”

Peaky Liam bid

LIAM Payne says he was snubbed for Peaky Blinders, despite his Midlands accent.

The former One Direction singer, from Wolverhampton, had talks about playing Billy Grade in the BBC1 show but the part went to former Hollyoaks actor Emmett J. Scanlan.

15 Liam Payne claims he was in talks about a role in Peaky Blinders, but he says producers ultimately 'went for someone a little bit older' Credit: PA:Press Association

Speaking on Jessie Ware's Table Manners podcast, Liam said: “We spoke about doing some sort of character that was from Wolverhampton so it would be natural for me to play it.”

He added: “They had this part called Billy Grade who was obviously in the new series, but they went for someone a little bit older.”

15 He lost out on the part of Billy Grade to former Hollyoaks actor Emmett J. Scanlan Credit: BBC

Bundy's ex talks

THE girlfriend and daughter of fiend Ted Bundy will talk for the first time in 40 years in an Amazon Prime documentary.

Elizabeth and Molly Kendall will recall their experience of living with the monster who raped and murdered more than 30 women in the 1970s.

15 Ted Bundy's former girlfriend and her daughter are breaking their silence about their time living with the monster Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Amazon says its four-part series Ted Bundy: Falling For A Killer will reveal “unsettling new details” about him when it is released next year.

Bundy escaped from US prison twice before being sent to the electric chair in 1989.

bizbit SKY and BBC Sport will broadcast Britain’s first draft for cricket competition The Hundred with players picked live on Sunday night. The new form of cricket features 100 balls, and in the draft a player is picked every 100 seconds.

Boxing for Babs

EASTENDERS’ Jake Wood and former boxer Spencer Oliver are hosting a charity boxing night to raise money for Dementia Revolution.

The charity is being supported by Barbara Windsor's hubby Scott Mitchell.

15 EastEnders star Jake Wood is hosting a charity boxing night with former boxer Spencer Oliver to raise money for Dementia Revolution Credit: Getty

15 The charity is supported by Alzheimer’s sufferer Barbara Windsor and her husband Scott Mitchell Credit: Getty

MOST READ IN TV & SHOWBIZ MUM CRINGE Katie Price's daughter Princess orders her to take down embarrassing photo HOLLY'S HOME Holly Willoughby gives fans a first glimpse of her swimming pool at £3m home NIPPED OUT? BGT fans accuse Amanda Holden of wardrobe malfunction after 'seeing nipples' EVANS SAKE Lee Evans spotted for the first time in two years after quitting showbiz BABY LOVE Gigi Hadid shares rare pic of newborn baby girl and tags 'aunt' Taylor Swift Exclusive VISA TEASER Neil Jones's girlfriend reported as an illegal immigrant - by her ex

Jake, who plays Max Branning on the BBC soap, is a pal of former co-star and Alzheimer’s sufferer Babs.

He said: “I think it will be celebrity boxing or it might be amateurs or even pros.

“If Sky wanted to get behind it and put it on TV then that would be a great idea, I could see that.”

bizticker Daisy May Cooper to play a witch in BBC2 comedy The Witchfinder

Harvey Proctor officially complains over BBC Breakfast interview

The boys from the Dwarf are back with new trailer for return of sci-fi comedy classic Red Dwarf

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk