You're the last human being in space, with only your spaceship's computer for company. Then, years later it decides to bring back to life the rest of your crew - a hologram of your dead roommate, who you detest, and a creature that evolved from the ship's cat. That's the lot of Dave Lister, trapped aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf in this clever and sometimes poignant cult sci-fi comedy.

The thing about Red Dwarf is that it follows in the footsteps of Doctor Who in that great tradition of the high-concept sci-fi show with a budget of £12.75. But as the cult status of each series grew (there were eight in total), so did the budget, and our intrepid crew have visited many planets and experienced time travel, dimension jumps and even interspecies fornication. All in the name of progress, you understand.

Red Dwarf actually started out as a sketch on an 80s Radio 4 comedy series called Son of Cliche. Written by Grant and Naylor, the show actually contained a number of zany bits and bobs which they considered turning into a fully-fledged sitcom. For a while they focused on a sketch called Captain Invisible and the See-Thru Kid, before ultimately deciding on Dave Hollins: Space Cadet – a long-running bit about a human who winds up light years from Earth with only a talking computer for company. Hollins was changed to Lister for Red Dwarf because some footballer was rather thoughtlessly called Dave Hollins.

A host of famous names read for parts on Red Dwarf, including Hugh Laurie, David Baddiel and even Ronnie Barker. The ones who came closest were Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina (the veteran star who played Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2). They both auditioned for the parts of Lister and Rimmer, but the producers eventually felt that a few big names would upset the balance of the show, and unknowns would maintain the sitcom's integrity. Probably saved a bit of cash as well.

Whatever happened to the Red Dwarf movie?

Comments (11)

bjwakey

January 3, 2009
11:23 p.m.

Thank goodness for the dave channel. I have been watching red dwarf since the beginning it has top notch chemistry great one liners and the special effects model team did some excellent work. A great addition was chloe annett i think she was extremeley underated and a great comedy actress. Well done dave on bringing it back at long last!!
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fredthefish

January 3, 2009
1:35 a.m.

Thrilled to hear of Red Dwarf returning to our screens!
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Bugar

December 22, 2008
4:33 p.m.

The rumours are true yes, from what I can gleen from the fan club it's going to be 2 new episodes and 2 documentaries. But of course that could all change, The filming I think starts in early Jan (which is why I'm here on this site, want to know if I can get tickets lol)
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SIMOND

December 20, 2008
1:57 p.m.

Is the rumours true about a Red Dwarf comeback next year. If so when and where as I can't wait as I have been a fan since the beginning like many others. Will it be all the same crew again including holly and Kristine Kochanski. Please keep it running.
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cochybunddu

December 20, 2008
1:57 a.m.

If you like Red Dwarf , read some of Douglas Adams. - Not just the guide !!
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terri5784

December 18, 2008
12:57 p.m.

RED DWARF ROCKS!!!!!!!!! IT IS THE ONE OF MY TOP THREE SHOWS ON TV
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skbromley

December 7, 2008
2:33 p.m.

Red Dwarf is my life. Sadly. As I approach my 30th birthday next month, I look back at my schooldays, when all the other kids would take time out from calling me names to ask me what was happening in smegdom. I was the Dwarfmeister, and they knew it. The 21st Anniversary shows next year are going to be terrific.
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mentalist queen

November 23, 2008
12:49 p.m.

I adore red dwarf and I am only 14 it is a great show and deserves its own channel bring on red dwarf ix
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