british comedy franchise primarily comprises series ninth mini series television science fiction sitcom aired bbc dave gaining cult following announced series film later air exclusively dave channel series created addition television episodes novels pilot episodes american version radio version produced tie books magazines merchandise despite science fiction backdrop primarily character driven comedy wall science fiction elements plot devices early episodes recurring source comedy odd couple style relationship central characters intense dislike trapped deep space main characters known human alive dead regular characters cat evolved descendants pregnant pet cat holly red dwarf computer service series vii earth alternative reality version long lost love series highest accolades came episode sixth series gunmen apocalypse won international emmy award category year series awarded best bbc comedy series series attracted highest ratings million viewers eighth series series revived year break digital channel dave screened episode production titled red dwarf earth april easter weekend followed series consisting episodes broadcast dave october november critically acclaimed metacritic score radio origins based space cadet series sketches aired series son cliché produced sketches recounted adventures voiced space traveller space far earth steady companion computer voiced grant chose use dave space cadet sketches base television watching film changed elements sketches year figure changed billion years million characters cat created changed football player called known replaced holly voice actors son cliché went portray series episodes found disc dvd sets starting series ending series setting plot main setting series eponymous mining spaceship miles long miles tall miles wide operated episode set late 22nd century board radiation leak kills lowest ranking technician suspended animation time pregnant cat safely sealed cargo hold following accident ship computer holly keeps background radiation dies process takes million years emerges human universe board ship immediate superior resurrected holly time creature known cat member board race evolved ship hold cat million years main dramatic thrust early series desire return home earth crew ownership unlimited time space travel drive series seven later intention journey begins crew encounters phenomena time faster light travel diseases strange developed intervening millions years second series group encounter service rescuing long crashed vessel initially appeared episode series beginning series regular character end series stolen persons unknown forcing crew travel smaller craft series effect lose contact holly series seven departs crew role alter ego parallel universe long standing legend legacy passed dimension dimension shortly crew encounters parallel version universe long term love interest time leak remaining human complicated series events leaves stranded series main universe forced join crew end series seven learn service abandoned years earlier theft end series beginning eighth series reconstruct broken constituent process entire crew ship including pre accident resurrected crew find sentenced years ship brig crashing bringing onboard later information confidential files series ends metal eating virus loose red dwarf entire resurrected crew save original cliffhanger ending left stranded face death promptly knees groin flees years later beings ship holly mourning lost time previously chance earth dimension warp presents appears gives new hope learns alive tenth series sees travelling hopes eventually locating returning earth comes characters actors played self described lowest ranking crew members ship accident long standing desire return earth start farm fiji feet water following volcanic eruption left far away accident renders known surviving member human race deeply enjoys indian food especially chicken recurring theme series bronze swimming certificate silver swimming certificate played second lowest ranking member crew alive bureaucratic failing replace drive plate properly responsible red dwarf accident kills entire crew including holly chose ship available considered person likely series iii episode onwards timeline crew adjusted death newly attributed moment hits cardboard box filled explosives series vii leaves dimension shared new ship crew resurrected start series viii comes face face death end series kicks groin earth specials onwards cat played creature evolved offspring smuggled pet cat cat concerned little sleeping eating appearance tends members crew influenced human companions time begins resemble stylish self centred human later revealed unlike human companions cool sounding pulse colour coordinated internal organs played series iii onwards appearance series rescued crew crashed spaceship nova series continued serve ship crew despite having dead thousands millions years service encountered crew bound gradually encouraged break programming think change appearance actors explained away accident involving having repair holly ship computer played series vii viii series iii holly functional severely depleted million years lack repairs holly left radiation accident kills rest crew computer developed computer radiation accident rendering change appearance series iii explained holly having changed face resemble computer parallel universe fallen love originally portrayed took role series vii initially navigation officer crush later altered girlfriend memory episode crew happens alternative dimension survived red dwarf accident joins crew link dimension collapses episode earth specials believes dead later revealed sole witness death lied instead fled ship blue clear complete lack self respect slowly killing greatly depressed advised fans television series find series character ultimately appear 10th series production series aired series far produced film development continually series viii concept commission concept originally developed sketch series space cadet son cliché mid-1980s written influences came films television programmes silent running alien galaxy large element british style comedy satire thrown mix ultimately form sitcom visual character elements bear similarities nuclear submarine bbc documentary defence realm having written pilot script image writers unusual original script rejected bbc believed science fiction sitcom popular finally accepted result spare budget assigned second series happy families arise producer insistence filmed instead lucky strike rehearsals early shut entire production title sequence filmed january filming rescheduled september pilot episode finally television screens february casting auditioned roles series cast difficulties concept series role particular role recast filled professional voice actor previously worked writers image producers productions punk poet given role approached production team opinion cat character concerned considered people racist cat pretty cool reading script decided wanted audition stand comedian originally tried role kept holly computer titular ship professional dancer singer arriving half hour late appointment stood cat immediately partly cool exterior dedicated research reading book showing character wearing father 1950s style suit writing producing directing grant wrote series pseudonym novels later production company episodes grant left pursue projects leaving write series vii viii group new writers including actor portrayed character produced directed series left series scheduling clash ended directing starring wife juliet took director parted ways halfway series personal professional reasons took direction series addition writing producing series directed returned direct series vii viii series iii subsequent series produced writers company grant productions bbc north series broadcast bbc beginning series production moved bbc north manchester theme song music theme tune incidental music written performed distinctive vocals closing theme tune series relatively instrumental version closing theme opening titles series iii onwards switched upbeat version wrote music songs including tongue tied lyrics written grant credited cat orchestrated released tongue tied october reached number charts sang song heard series vii episode blue remastered tenth anniversary airing broadcast series vii viii series remastered released vhs included replacing model shots computer graphics cutting certain dialogue scenes filming holly footage creating consistent set opening titles replacing music creating ambient sound effects digital master remastered series released disc dvd collection hiatus years series vii partly grant partnership cast crew working projects series eventually returned longer shot live audience allowing greater use walled sets location shooting single camera techniques returned eighth series years later dropped use process returned live audience received setback bbc rejected proposals series confirmed bbc decided renew series preferred work projects short animated christmas special available mobile phone subscribers ultimately fans wait decade series returned television revival red dwarf earth episode production commissioned digital channel dave red dwarf earth broadcast easter weekend making documentary episode set years events good cliffhanger ending episode left unresolved situation continue series storyline involves characters arriving earth circa find characters called red dwarf supposedly dead holly water damage caused leaving tap running actress played character called resurrected science officer intent replacing achieve cinematic atmosphere earth filmed studio audience previous episodes shot way seventh series earth represented time laughter track added broadcast episode filmed high definition specials televised nights starting friday april broadcasts received record ratings channel dave episodes represented highest viewing figures commissioned programme digital network earth released dvd june blu ray august earth subsequently described series official website purposes ninth series red dwarf placement series confirmed series commissioned branded tenth series red dwarf april dave announced commissioned episode red dwarf series broadcast dave autumn filming dates new series red dwarf announced november confirmation series shot audience principal filming began december ended january cast crew subsequently returned days filming pick ups guest stars core cast charles returned series absent scripts include references holly july second trailer series released facebook followed new teaser friday new series debuted thursday october series aired produced high ratings dave cast shown strong interest series starting scripts dependent commissioning series dimension jump fan convention stated discussions happening involved parties arrangements finalized hoped shooting begin february october played reports new series commissioned january stated eleventh series currently written red dwarf october posted blog stating eleventh series happen removed post blog issued statement twitter saying getting claiming red dwarf commissioned true april sci festival cast panel stated filming eleventh series commence october expected release autumn dave dimension jump convention announced eleventh twelfth series commissioned series shot end broadcast dave respectively new series produced company ceo executive producing new episodes christmas message official website confirmed episodes red dwarf filmed remaining red dwarf filmed january march message said broadcast date set corresponding facebook post stated shown june brief synopsis upcoming season confirmed series air september themes founded standard sitcom focus disparate frequently dysfunctional group individuals living restricted setting main characters routinely displaying incompetence exchanging insulting sarcastic dialogue series provided humorous fearless morally upright space explorers typically found science fiction series main characters acting possible alternative increasing science fiction elements series treated seriously creators satire parody drama alternately woven episodes referencing television series films books included references likes space odyssey gun star wars wild high noon rebel cause writers based theme episodes plots feature films series iii episode references parodies key moments alien series echoes key scenes main plot series earth partially inspired series themes limited films television having incorporated historical events figures religion plays series significant factor ultimate fate cat race perception god episode waiting god title makes literary reference play waiting crew meeting man believe jesus christ series episode series vii episode titled derives theme ancient mythological snake series explores science fiction staples time travel including grandfather question free episodes pursuit happiness virtual reality premise human near certainty human species extinction time far future aliens feature series grant decided early process want aliens involved usually addressed belief extraterrestrial life shot vessel believes alien ship turning garbage pod non human life forms earth species cat race robotic life forms created humans kind genetically engineered life form artificially created creature frequently serve antagonists later series series developed distinct vocabulary words phrases sic space zero football appear series highlighting development language political climate technology evolution culture future creators employed vocabulary fictional order avoid potentially offensive words futuristic language particular variants head features prominently alongside terms ratings red dwarf viii red dwarf earth red dwarf reception achievements critical reactions changes series cast setting creative teams production values series series meant opinions differ greatly fans critics alike quality certain series great red dwarf debate published volume issue science fiction writers argued early series later series stated unique balance sci comedy worked agreed series original funny went wasn series iii hit stride series regarded continuation philosophy series considered visually impressive discussions revolve quality series seen viewers good earlier series criticised descent formulaic comedy change setting changes seen series vii seen disappointment higher budget appearance shift away outright sitcom approaching comedy drama seen wrong direction furthermore attempt shift traditional sitcom format series viii greeted response similarly lukewarm criticism aimed decision entire crew felt series central premise human alive critics feel series vii viii weaker earlier series topic subject constant debate fanbase achievements pilot episode gathered million viewers viewing figures successive episodes series generally poor ratings series ratings steadily increased peaked million viewers achieved episode gunmen apocalypse series returned gained highest audience figures million viewers tuned series viii opening episode red series history series won numerous awards including special effects award best dramatic presentation international emmy award series episode gunmen apocalypse tied episode hospital category nominated international emmy award series won british comedy award best bbc comedy series video sales won series holds record bbc longest running highest rated sitcom series voted readers radio_times magazine editor stated result surprised series given new episodes century spin offs merchandise logo characters appeared wide range merchandise spun variety different media formats instance song tongue tied featured parallel universe episode released single hit cat stage plays produced theatre group perth western australia given permission mount stage versions certain episodes october interactive dvd entitled red dwarf beat geek released hosted reprising roles holly novels working grant creators series wrote novels published november incorporates plot lines episodes series second novel followed october largely based second series episode novels provide expanded backstory development series principal characters themes authors began work sequel called human drawn away interest projects owing novels decided write alternative sequel completely different sequels result presenting possible version story continuation human adds crew places emphasis science fiction plot elements novel backwards keeping previous novels extensively established television stories edition novels released including edits original text extra material original pilot script series novels released format read human read backwards read author december released germany title german novels home video releases initial release vhs editions episodes separated volumes released series series vii released separate tapes labelled plus series vii videos named episode presented tape typical bbc video releases time occasions bbc decided ignore original running order use popular episodes series sales videos series iii release swapped round receive billing second vhs volume second vhs volume series confidence paranoia given billing original broadcast order retained leading episode waiting god shared title comedy series set retirement home series reality given billing respective video release completely organised order episodes originally broadcast future releases increasingly observe authenticity original broadcast context series available vhs episodes series vii released special sic versions extra scenes including original ending episode ride laugh track remastered versions series iii released individually complete box set finally videos released sequel series released dvd region bonus disc extra material release series iii onwards accompanied original documentary making respective series regions seen release shows containing episodes series volume viii volume static extras collection containing remastered episodes new documentaries series released release showcased storyboard construction unfinished script finally completed working time december anniversary dvd set entitled red dwarf shows released reworking disc content shows sets packaging resembling photo album carefully omitted information extras included box set released smaller slip case sized box shows title november series available download itunes dvd releases blu ray releases magazine magazine title changed issue launched comprised mix news reviews interviews comic strips competitions comic strips featured episode adaptations original material including stories popular characters like notably comic strip stories characters drawn request wanted use technique television series process deemed expensive produce despite achieving circulation figures month magazine publisher decided close title concentrate publications farewell issue published cover dated january featured remaining interviews features comic strips feature following issues magazine started called red dwarf available features cast interviews latest news person gets issues year version despite original version having broadcast pbs pilot episode american version known produced universal_studios intention broadcasting nbc essentially followed story episode original series american actors main roles cat exceptions reprised role british actress played holly written directed grant onboard creators executive producers grant travelled america filming american pilot production fifth series series according cast satisfied script grant rewrote script cast preferred write script filmed closer version pilot episode includes footage series title sequence retain logo theme music series filming pilot audience reaction good felt story received studio executives entirely happy pilot especially casting decided project chance charge intention shoot promo video small studio described writers garage new cast members hired roles cat respectively meant unlike original british series cast asked play second pilot declined small budget deadline new scenes quickly shot mixed existing footage pilot series episodes idea basic plot character dynamics alongside proposed future episodes remakes episodes original participate shoot clips british version character despite shoots casting option pilot picked cast immediately star trek deep space cast similarly year later cast moon cast british american versions criticised casting particularly portrayed british version likable version somewhat clean cut documentary said actor successfully portrayed interview chat said casting huge mistake said type better suited role american pilot heavily broadcast country excerpts pilot included making pilots included dvd release fifth series rights clearance issues footage second pilot included red dwarf movie end eighth series attempting feature length version final draft script written began circulating certain websites genuine distributed market film overseas plot details included teaser set distant future race taken solar system human race tried escape earth hunted remained scouted australia idea locations finance costs pre production beginning filming planned finding sufficient funding difficult explained convention film rejected bbc reasons given script considered funny ready contents early drafts film eventually series finale beginning game press released red dwarf game february printed copyright based series game allows players portray original characters red dwarf universe player characters human survivors evolved house pets cats dogs rabbits rats mice types series series pleasure total products released game core page analogous game master screen games featuring extra bits book booklet series series contains plot episode series viii game rules major minor characters series game praised staying true comedic nature series entertaining writing detail background material explained reviewers found game mechanics simplistic compared science fiction games market red dwarf night february night tenth anniversary pilot episode broadcast bbc devoted evening programmes series banner red dwarf night evening consisted mixture new existing material introduced linked actor fan addition series special offs bbc featuring logo falling love night began won spoof programme cook won cook presented host appeared series episode taking place outside continuity series teams versus cat cat quickly departs replaced alter ego challenged best chicken compilation featuring takes programme spoof hosted original presenter team dwarf fans compete team consisting followed half hour documentary chose different aspect focus letter alphabet talking heads episode included original producer finally night ended showing episode gunmen apocalypse
Red Dwarf