Another chance to see "Requiem" and season 8 begins!
by Mark Tinsley

Confirmed air-date for Season 8 in the UK (Sky One)....

Straight from the Sky scheduling department is the confirmation that The X-Files will be returning to Sky One on Sunday 18th February at 9pm for a double-bill of "Within" & "Without". These two episodes follow on directly from the events of "Requiem" (the finale of Season 7) where Mulder was abducted by aliens. The opening two-parter involves Assistant Director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), and also includes the introduction of FBI Agent John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and the return of boss-from-hell Deputy Director Alvin Kersh (James Pickens, Jr.)

This new date is great news for UK fans, who usually have to wait until at least March for the new season to be broadcast. As a result, the Sky1 network is now only 13 episodes behind the United States. The series will not be remaining in its traditional sunday time-slot however, as it moves to Thursday's from the 22nd February with the broadcast of "Patience" (episode 3) The reason? Sky has lost the "Friends" broadcast rights to E4 (Telewest's new digital entertainment channel) so the 9pm broadcast time has opened up. I can only imagine that they need a top series to fill it! In addition to this, the BBC has moved The X-Files to Sky's vacated time-slot, consequently acquiring the already well established audience for the Sunday 9pm XF showing.

Still, considering the absence of Mulder this year, it will be interesting to see how this season's ratings shape up (for example, The Sixth Extinction premiere had 1 million viewers) Will "Within" and "Without" beat this figure, or more importantly, will "Patience"?

© 2000/2001 tinnypriv@hotmail.com -// xfilesuk.com