Malcolm Cometh

The man behind Red Dwarf USA unleashes his new show on a helpless BBC2

30 March, 2001

Friday, April 6th sees hit US show Malcolm in the Middle arrive on BBC2 for its first terrestrial broadcast. Malcolm was created by Linwood Boomer, the man behind Red Dwarf USA. Boomer was originally an actor, playing Adam Kendall in Little House on the Prairie, and went on to write and produce for, amongst other things, SF sit-com Third Rock from the Sun.

'Linwood Boomer! He is now the toast of Los Angeles,' Red Dwarf USA actor Chris 'Rimmer' Eigeman recently told reddwarf.co.uk. 'Malcolm in the Middle was a mid-season replacement, no-one knew anything about it, but people who were involved with it really, really loved it and stood by it. When it hit the schedules on Fox, it became this incredible runaway hit. He's sitting on top of the world!'

Malcolm in the Middle tells the story of four squabbling brothers and their parents - but the focus is Malcolm, the son who is discovered to have a genius IQ. Malcolm is the 'middle' child (his eldest brother having been sent for discipline at a military camp), whose skewed perspective and cynical wit guide him through each episode.

You can catch Malcolm in the Middle on BBC2 from Friday, April 6th at 6:45pm (6:20pm on BBC Scotland).