After the BBC cancelled plans to produce new episodes of The Fast Show last year, UKTV has stepped in…

Last year, we got some very sad news about a couple of The Fast Show specials that had been in the planning stages at the BBC.

“Paul [Whitehouse] and Charlie [Higson] were approached by the Beeb with a view to doing two new specials for Christmas,” The Fast Show‘s John Thompson told The I newspaper. “They went to the Beeb with a budget for everything that wasn’t extortionate for two half hours – and the powers that be said ‘no’. I was very shocked about that because the demand for a 25th anniversary would be huge. I told Paul and Charlie to go back in and say, ‘Why does Gary Lineker get £1.75 million for a Saturday job?'”

But now it seems we will still get a reunion special, as the Star reports that UKTV is behind a fresh celebration of the classic comedy series. Filming is said to be kicking off in the coming weeks, with Thompson, Whitehouse and Higson all onboard to film new interviews and clips.

“Fans have something to look forward to. There’s something in the pipeline. I think people want the show back on TV too. It’s stood the test of time. It’s all still relevant,” Thompson promised.

The Fast Show originally debuted on our screens in 1994, running for three series and 24 episodes on BBC Two. It was later resurrected by Fosters for some online sketches, before BBC Two brought it back properly for two new episodes in 2014.

More soon.