Norman Lovett signs up for Screen-Con

Comedian and Red Dwarf star Norman Lovett has been lined up to appear at a sci-fi convention on Tyneside this spring. 

Lovett, who appeared as the ship’s computer Holly in four series of the sci-fi sitcom, has been announced as the first guest at Screen-Con 2014 on Saturday 3 May.

The event, at The Parks Sports Centre in North Shields, sees Lovett answer questions about his stint onboard Red Dwarf before a signing session for convention-goers.

Lovett’s Red Dwarf co-star Craig Charles appeared at the convention’s sister event, Scream-Con, last October.

The question and answer session is sure to be of particular interest to Dwarf fans, who will be keen to find out more about Lovett’s turbulent relationship with the show.

Lovett played Holly in the first two series of Red Dwarf before the character had a “head sex change” and was replaced by Hattie Hayridge.

He did return to the role for series seven and eight, but was not invited back for the 2009 three-part special Red Dwarf: Back to Earth or Red Dwarf X.

And in an interview with The Wharf in 2009, Lovett called time on the character, citing a fall out with the show’s co-creator and head writer Doug Naylor.

He said: “When I watched it [Back to Earth], I was glad I wasn’t in it. I thought it just wasn’t funny.

“In my heart, I wanted it to do well, and they’d made such as fuss about it and the new cameras with high definition. I thought ‘Stop going on about that. Will it have a heartbeat? Will it have a soul?’

“I thought Craig [Charles] was the best. His acting has come along a lot since he’s been in Coronation Street. The rest I thought were going through the motions. Back to Earth? They want to go back to reality and back to basics.

“I said I’d never be working for them again. It’s just not worth it.”

Lovett added: “Red Dwarf is the thing I’m known for and I don’t regret it. There were some smashing jokes that still stand up today.

“To be known as Holly the talking computer is very good, but I hope to leave more than that when I go. Hopefully something to do with acting, and something I’ve written myself. But I’m going to keep plodding on.”

Tickets for Screen-Con 2014 are £9.95 for adults and £4.95 for kids under 15.

Under 5s go free.

Screen-Con 2014 takes place at The Parks Sports Centre, North Shields, on Saturday 3 May. Click for more information and tickets.