Exciting news - more than a decade on from Fat, Rob Grant has a new novel out later this year. It's an adaptation of The Quanderhorn Xperimentations, the Radio 4 sitcom he's co-written with Andrew Marshall of 2point4children fame, set to be released in June at the same time as the radio version is broadcast. We're told that this will be "expanded from" the radio series, prompting hopes of a Red Dwarf style full novel treatment, rather than a straightforward transposition of the scripts.

We're very much looking forward to all of this - it's been far too long since we got hold of any new Rob Grant material, and now we'll be treated to new examples of both his dialogue and his prose, all within the next few months. It'll also be interesting to see how he works with another writer; correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the first time he's collaborated with someone other than Doug.

Time is short and we are lazy, so here's the press release in full:

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If you’re like me, a couple of times a day you probably sit bolt upright, let out a strangulated groan, and think: “Just what the fuck is Rob Grant doing these days?” After all, his last tweet was in January 2016; his website is stagnant.

Here’s some brand new gossip then, from comedy writer extraordinaire Andrew Marshall, (co-)writer of The Burkiss Way, End of Part One, Alexei Sayle’s Stuff, If You See God, Tell Him, and 2point4 Children. Speaking to Steve O’Brien about his old fanzine:

If you still do that, Rob Grant and I will have something new to talk about soon.

— Andrew Marshall (@AndrewM2p4c) July 30, 2017

And just in case that wasn’t enough:

It is sci-fi related.

— Andrew Marshall (@AndrewM2p4c) July 30, 2017

Andrew Marshall and Rob Grant collaborating? That is a very, very intriguing team-up indeed. And something to keep us all excited until Red Dwarf XII hits our screens. Then we’ll forget all about it and moan about UKTV Play for six fucking weeks straight instead.

Anyway, here’s one of my favourite End of Part One sketches, for precisely no reason at all.

With thanks to Ian Potter for the friendly nudge towards this news.