Red Dwarf
Last human, hologram bunkmate, and cat-evolved crew in deep space.
Red Dwarf is a British science fiction comedy programme created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. It originally aired on BBC Two from 1988 to 1999 and was revived by Dave from 2009 to 2020. The series follows low-ranking technician Dave Lister, who awakens after three million years in suspended animation to find he is the last living human aboard the mining spacecraft Red Dwarf, accompanied by a hologram of his deceased bunkmate Arnold Rimmer and a humanoid feline called Cat.
- created_by
- Rob Grant and Doug Naylor
- original_network
- BBC Two (1988–1999), Dave (2009–2020)
- series_count
- 12 series (including one miniseries) plus a feature-length special
- main_cast
- Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, Norman Lovett, Hattie Hayridge
- awards
- International Emmy Award (1994), Best BBC Comedy Series at British Comedy Awards (1994)
- highest_ratings
- Over 8 million viewers (Series VIII, 1999)
Lore & Background
The series begins with an on-board radiation leak that kills the entire crew of the mining ship Red Dwarf, except for Dave Lister, who is in suspended animation as punishment for smuggling a cat aboard. The ship's computer Holly keeps Lister in stasis for three million years until radiation levels normalize. When Lister awakens, he is the last human in the universe. Holly resurrects Lister's former bunkmate Arnold Rimmer as a hologram to keep Lister sane, and they are joined by Cat, a humanoid evolved from Lister's pregnant cat.
Reader's Guide
Red Dwarf is primarily a character-driven comedy, using science fiction elements as complementary plot devices. The early episodes focus on the Odd Couple-style relationship between Lister and Rimmer, who intensely dislike each other but are trapped together in space. The series features no aliens; all strange lifeforms evolved from Earth over millions of years. In 1994, the episode 'Gunmen of the Apocalypse' won an International Emmy Award in the Popular Arts category, and the series won Best BBC Comedy Series at the British Comedy Awards. The revived series on Dave achieved some of the highest ratings for non–Public Service Broadcasting commissions in the UK. In a 2019 ranking by Empire, Red Dwarf placed 80th on a list of the 100 best TV shows of all time.
Did You Know?
- Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina auditioned for roles; Molina was initially cast as Rimmer but was replaced by Chris Barrie.
- Four novels based on the series were published from 1989 to 1996.
- Two pilot episodes of an American version were produced but never aired.
- The magazine 'The Red Dwarf Smegazine' was published from 1992 to 1994.
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