The Young Ones is to be released on Blu-ray next month, as the landmark sitcom celebrates its 40th anniversary on 9th November. Pre-orders are now open for £19.99.

The triple-disc set sees all 12 episodes of the anarchic comedy series, which aired in 1982 and 1984, comprehensively restored and remastered in high definition.

Starring Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Christopher Ryan and Alexei Sayle, the sitcom was amongst the first and most iconic comedies to emerge from the "alternative comedy" scene to make it to television.

Expressing his delight at continued interest in the series, co-writer Ben Elton said today: "Forty years melts away and I'm thinking of course of my dear lost friend Rik Mayall, forever young."

All surviving original film elements from the series have been newly scanned at HD resolution, whilst videotape segments have been thoroughly upscaled and professionally cleaned for the all-new remaster, with their original interlacing intact.

Excitingly, the set will also chart the very earliest days of alternative comedy on television, including the first ever release of comedy showcase Boom Boom... Out Go The Lights, which ran for two specials, aired in 1980 and 1981, respectively.

Complete and uncut, the programmes feature the likes of Rik Mayall, Alexei Sayle, Nigel Planer and Keith Allen, and come with new introductions from producer Paul Jackson. Clips from original studio rushes for the second programme, including the stars rehearsing on set, will also feature.

An extensive array of deleted scenes that were filmed on location have also been recovered, and out-takes such as the initial failed explosion of the double-decker bus as seen in the final episode, Summer Holiday.

Other extras on the set include Rik Mayall's contributions to the 1981 charity comedy special Fundamental Frolics, further rarities collated and introduced by producer, archivist and BBC radio host Richard Latto, and three featurettes released on previous DVD releases of The Young Ones.

Released on 28th November, the set also includes the previously released commentaries on the very first and very last episodes with producer Paul Jackson and director Geoff Posner, as well as all-new commentary tracks for the other ten programmes, featuring contributions from co-stars Sayle and Planer, co-writer Lise Mayer; Jackson, director Ed Bye; guest star Suggs; and editor Ed Wooden, who provides fascinating insights into how the fast-paced series was produced.

British Comedy Guide will feature more insights from the Blu-ray set closer to its release at the end of November.