Funk Funk Funk in the Sun Sun Sun

More Danny John-Jules and Craig Charles than you can possibly handle.

30 July, 2021

We're never happier than when one of our own does good. And this week we can report that not one, but two high-ranking members of the Red Dwarf posse have done just that, with Danny John-Jules reprising an old role, and Craig Charles taking over an established show.

Danny played Officer Dwayne Myers from the very first episode of the Caribbean-set crime drama Death in Paradise and continued in the role until his departure in its seventh series. Since then, rumours have been rife about the actor's return. Rumours, it turned out, that had some foundation when the following video from Ralf Little caught our attention:

We have exciting news... there?s a #DeathInParadise Christmas special coming your way to continue our tenth anniversary celebrations!@RalfLittle addresses some of the rumours ?? pic.twitter.com/28L2GwK5xL

— Death in Paradise (@deathinparadise) July 21, 2021

Never one to turn down an opportunity to mess with us, Danny took to Twitter to vehemently deny this scandalous piece of libel with the following tongue-in-cheek clip:

In response to all the lies and the delusional fabrications, heaped upon myself today by about #DeathInParadiseChristmasSpecial on #BBC?. pic.twitter.com/D54C25EBo0

— Danny John-Jules?? (@DannyJohnJules) July 21, 2021

But it is indeed all true: Danny is set to return as the charismatic copper in the BBC's 90-minute Death in Paradise Christmas Special later this year.

On returning to the show, Danny said, "It's always a pleasure going back to the Caribbean. And after four years away, fitting back into the fold should be seamless as I know all the new leading cast members already. I look forward to bringing Dwayne and this tenth anniversary special script to life."

If you'd like to catch up with Death in Paradise before the special airs, the entire series is available to stream on the iPlayer, and the 90-minute Christmas Special will air on BBC One in December this year.

As if this news isn't exciting enough, we also found out on the same day that Craig Charles has plans to further cement his position as the dominant face of the UK music scene:

Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) is the new host of weekday afternoons between 1?4pm ?

The show will be an uplifting and eclectic mix of music with guests from across the worlds of music, comedy, TV & film.

Craig will continue to present the Funk and Soul Show on Saturdays ? pic.twitter.com/iYO9FBqyAE

— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) July 21, 2021

Here's what Craig had to say:

Thanks to everyone for their lovely messages.Those less convinced please give me a https://t.co/1tQe4mJ7IJ for @shaunwkeaveny.I can?t fill his shoes.nobody can.I?ll miss him more than most I?m proud to call him my friend. Too hard to follow so I?m going a different route.

— Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) July 21, 2021

As for those people who are "less convinced," well, we've no idea who they are but feel free to send them our way, Craig. We have a solution involving a bowl of water, a poker, a recharge socket and 4,000V of direct current that will take care of them just fine.

You can catch Craig on BBC Radio 6 Music's afternoon show when he takes over from Shaun Keaveny in October.

Make sure you come back to reddwarf.co.uk next week for all the news from the small rouge one.