London: UKTV and Grant Naylor Productions have granted the merchandise rights for Dave’s Red Dwarf XI to product design and procurement specialist, Matrix.
Matrix, in close collaboration with Doug Naylor, the co-creator of Red Dwarf and writer and director of Red Dwarf XI, is producing a range of merchandise that includes baseball caps, badges, t-shirts, bags, keyrings and hoodies. Red Dwarf fans will be able to buy the coveted items at a new ecommerce store www.shop.reddwarf.co.uk from 15th September, to coincide with the premiere of the new series coming to UKTV’s Dave Channel.
The product design specialist, which is BBC Worldwide’s preferred supplier for all promotional and marketing projects, and selected retail projects, has a proven track record in delivering to high ethical and quality standards and has produced a wide range of products for many of BBCWW’s key brands including Doctor Who, Top Gear, Sherlock, CBeebies and Hey Duggee. It has also delivered new and innovative products for Blue Peter and Children in Need.
UKTV and Grant Naylor Productions’ deal with Matrix will further position the company as a leading light in the production of highly creative, fully sustainable products for broadcasters and other businesses alike.
Rob Stewart, product sourcing manager at Matrix, said: “Our appointment was smegging fantastic news! We’re thrilled to have been selected to supply the first official line of Red Dwarf merchandise to land on Earth this century. It’s an iconic TV series, watched by millions of people, and so it is a great privilege to play our part.”
Simon Michaelides, UKTV’s chief commercial officer, said: “We’re very excited to be working with Matrix and Grant Naylor Productions on this line of merchandise to mark the forthcoming series of Red Dwarf on Dave. Red Dwarf and Dave are both incredibly strong brands with significant commercial potential beyond the confines of our TV screens. The relationship with Matrix represents a great opportunity to extend our reach into other areas, giving the millions of people who will tune in, another way of interacting with their favourite characters and storylines. The range will closely reflect the show’s distinctive brand of humour and gives us the opportunity to reach a new generation of viewers, as well as rewarding the loyal fans, who have waited over 10 years since the last official line of Red Dwarf merchandise.”
Doug Naylor, co-creator of Red Dwarf and writer & director of Red Dwarf XI, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Matrix developing some official merchandise for the fans. For too long pirate merchandise has ruled the waves. No more me hearties!! I’m also thrilled to be working with GameDigits on a Red Dwarf XI game. If I get time between playing it to release it, Red Dwarf fans might get to play it too.”
Dave is the UK’s most watched non-PSB channel and has been the home of brand new Red Dwarf since 2009, with the three-part Back To Earth special followed by series X in 2012. New and exclusive to Dave, Red Dwarf XI begins on the 22nd September, and previews on UKTV Play from the 15th September.
