MULDER and Scully returned to TV this week as the first episode of The X-Files' 11th series aired in the US on FOX.
Channel 5 are once again due to broadcast the latest season of the revived cult sci-fi serial, having screened last year's highly anticipated six episode mini-series revival to record viewing figures (and middling reviews).
However, with no word yet on whether RTE will follow suit and Channel 5 yet to even announce an exact air date for the new series – which once again stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as alien conspiracy embroiled FBI-duo Dana Scully and Fox Mulder – many fans in Britain and Ireland will now resort to illegal streaming/downloads to get their new X-Files fix.
It's already been confirmed that series 11 will be Gillian Anderson's swansong with the show which made her an international star in the 1990s, so the pressure on X-Files creator/writer Chris Carter to do right by Scully with the current 10 episode run is pretty immense.
Sadly, with fan reaction to Wednesday night's series opener just as mixed as some of the reactions to last year's episodes, it looks like Carter could be on a hiding to nothing.
Fingers crossed that he manages to send Scully – and, perhaps the much-loved show itself – out on a high note.
:: Channel5.com/show/the-x-files