List of Red Dwarf episodes

This is a list of television episodes from the science fiction sitcom television series "Red Dwarf". There were eight series and 52 episodes in total. The first six series were written by co-creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, while Series VII and VIII were written by Naylor with collaborations from other writers. Series I and II were produced by Paul Jackson Productions (Grant Naylor Productions taking over from Series III) for BBC North, and broadcast on BBC2. The series first aired on 15 February 1988cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/NMRE754F | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF - THE END | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2008-01-04] and ended on 5 April 1999cite web | url =http://catalogue.bbc.co.uk/catalogue/infax/programme/ICEA500D | title =BBC - Programme Catalogue - RED DWARF - ONLY THE GOOD | publisher =BBC |accessdate =2008-01-04] after eight series. The eight series are available on DVD.

The main setting of the series is the self-titled mining spaceship "Red Dwarf"cite web | url =http://www.scifidimensions.com/Feb03/reddwarf1.htm | title =Series I at Sci Fi Dimensions | publisher =www.scifidimensions.com |accessdate =2008-02-06] which is mi to km | 6 | abbr | Commonwealth | precision | yes long, mi to km | 5 | abbr | Commonwealth | precision | Yes tall, and mi to km | 4 | abbr | Commonwealth | precision | yes wide.cite book | last=Grant | first=Naylor | coauthors= | year=1989 | title=Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers | id=ISBN 0-14-012437-3 ] In the first episode, an on-board radiation leak of cadmium II kills everyone except for low-ranking technician Dave Lister, who is in Suspended animation at the time, and his pregnant cat, Frankenstein, who is safely sealed in the cargo hold.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 45.] Following the accident, the ship's computer Holly has to keep Lister in stasis until the background radiation dies down — a process that takes three million years. Lister therefore emerges as the last human being in the universe — but not the only life form on-board the ship.Howarth & Lyons (1993) p. 46.] His former bunkmate and immediate superior Arnold Rimmer is resurrected by Holly as a hologram to keep Lister sane, while a creature known only as Cat is the last known surviving member of "Felis sapiens", a race of humanoids that evolved in the ship's hold from Lister's cat, Frankenstein, and her kittens during the millions of years that Lister was in stasis.

The main plot of the series is Lister's desire to go back to Earth.cite web | url =http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw9510.html | title =Series I at SciFi.com | publisher =www.scifi.com |accessdate =2008-02-06] As they journey through space, the crew encounters such phenomena as time distortions, faster than light travel, mutant diseases and strange lifeforms that developed in the intervening millions of years. During the second series, the crew encounter a sanitation mechanoid called Kryten, who joins them. [Howarth & Lyons (1993) p52.] At the end of series five, the "Red Dwarf" ship is stolen from the crew, forcing them to travel in the smaller "Starbug" craft for the subsequent two series.cite web | url =http://www.scifi.com/sfw/screen/sfw1823.html | title =Series VI review at Sci-Fi Weekly | publisher =www.scifi.com |accessdate =2008-02-20] Rimmer departs the crew to take up the role of his alter-ego from a parallel universe, Ace Rimmer. Shortly afterwards, the crew discover a parallel gateway to another universe with versions of themselves in which Kristine Kochanski, Lister's former girlfriend, was the person put into stasis becoming the last remaining human.cite web | url =http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd/red-dwarf-vii.html | title =Series VII review at DVD Active | publisher =www.dvdactive.com |accessdate =2008-02-20] "Red Dwarf" is found in Series VIII and the entire crew of the ship — including a pre-accident Rimmer — are resurrected, but the "Starbug" crew find themselves sentenced to two years in the ship's brig on a set of convoluted charges. The final episode ends with "Red Dwarf" being eaten away by a mystery virus. The crew have all abandoned ship, save for Rimmer who is left stranded alone to face Death.cite web | url =http://www.britannia.org/tvarchives/dwarf/episodes/series8.php | title =Episode Guide - Series 8 | publisher =www.britannia.org |accessdate =2008-02-06]

eries

During 2002-06 the eight series were released on DVD in North America, Europe, Australia, Central and South America (Region 1, 2 and 4), with each release from Series III onward being accompanied by an original documentary about the making of each respective series, and a bonus disc of extra material.cite web | url =http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue358/screen2.html | title =Series III DVD review at Sci-Fi.com | publisher =www.scifi.com |accessdate =2008-02-04]

eries III (1989)

With Grant and Naylor directly involved with the series' production, under Grant Naylor Productions, they radically changed the look of the show.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=3&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=production | title =Series III Production | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] The opening credits sequence was changed. A new upbeat version of the theme tune played over clips from the series.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=3&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=music | title =Series III Music | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] A new official "Red Dwarf" logo also appeared at the end of the credit sequence. "Starbug" was introduced as the new spaceship in place of Blue Midget.Interview: Peter Wragg, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 8, October 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] The look of the show had been overhauled with the incoming Mel Bibby who had re-designed the old grey sets.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=3&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=sets | title =Series III Sets | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07] Costumes were overhauled as well as Costume designer Howard Burden brought in a new stylish look to the crew.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=3&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=costumes | title =Series III Costumes | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-07]

The character of Kryten was originally intended as a one-off appearance in the series-two episode "Kryten", but had returned mainly to broaden the story potential. The show was becoming difficult to write for. At the insistence of Naylor, Kryten returned to complete the team.Interview: Grant Naylor, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 6, August 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] They had approached David Ross with the intention of bringing him back to play the regular role of Kryten. Ross, however, was in a stage play "Flea In Her Ear" and was not available, so they went to see Robert Llewellyn. Llewellyn was also in a stage show called "Mammon", playing a robot. They saw his performance and were impressed.

The regular cast changed for Series III, Robert Llewellyn came in as Kryten, and Hattie Hayridge replaced the departing Lovett.Interview: Norman Lovett, Red Dwarf Smegazine, issue 9, November 1992, Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603] Craig Charles, Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules remained as Lister, Rimmer and Cat respectively.cite web | url =http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0684144/fullcredits | title =Backwards cast and crew | publisher =www.imdb.com |accessdate =2008-01-25]

eries VI (1993)

The writing of Series VI was rushed due to the fact that the BBC wanted the episodes completed as soon as possible. Grant and Naylor decided to make changes for the new series - "Red Dwarf" itself was written out, thus removing Holly and Hattie Hayridge - and the series was set entirely aboard "Starbug". During the series Rimmer would also obtain "hardlight", which would effectively give him a physical presence. For the first time in the series history a story arc was introduced and followed throughout the episodes leading up to the series cliffhanger.cite web |url=http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/guide/index.cfm?seriesID=6&sectionID=behind-the-scenes&subsectionID=writing |title=Series VI Writing |publisher=www.RedDwarf.co.uk |accessdate=2007-12-12]

pecials (2009)

UKTV channel Dave will screen four new 30-minute specials to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the show. The new episodes form part of an effort by Dave to screen more original programming, instead of just repeats. The specials will be made up of a two-part episode, a "Making-of" the specials, and "a clip show with a serious difference".

Unbroadcasted scripts

Bodysnatcher

Originally to be the second episode of Series I, and would have involved Rimmer going insane trying to deal with his intangibility and attempting to build himself a new body by stealing parts of Lister's. This idea was, in a way, used in the episode "Bodyswap" in Series III. It was dropped in favour of "Me²".cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_the_bodysnatcher_collection_270407.html | title =The Bodysnatcher Collection | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2007-12-19]

Dad

This would have been the opening episode to Series III. It was to be a direct continuation of the earlier episode "Parallel Universe" (the last episode of Series II), and would deal primarily with Lister's pregnancy. The idea was ultimately rejected by Grant and Naylor who felt that the script was unfunny and possibly sexist. The events were referenced in the pre-title sequence of the episode "Backwards".cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_3/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf series III Writing | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-04]

Identity Within

This episode was going to be in Series VII but was replaced by "Duct Soup". A reconstructed version of the episode, performed by Chris Barrie (who does the voices), appears on the Series VII DVD release.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck01/dvd_the_bodysnatcher_collection_270407.html | title =The Bodysnatcher Collection | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-04] cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/deck05/series_7/writing.html | title =Red Dwarf series VII Writing | publisher =Red Dwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-01-04] The Cat is fatally ill, with only one cure: he has to have sex. They travel to a GELF village, where a female cat called Aura is being held prisoner for auction. Lister, Rimmer and Kryten have to save Aura and get her to fall in love with the Cat before he dies from being a virgin.

The Movie

Since Series VIII ended in 1999, Doug Naylor has been attempting to make a feature length version of the show. A script has been written, by Naylor, and flyers began circulating around certain websites.cite web | url =http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/archive/making_the_movie.html | archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20070710221153/http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/archive/making_the_movie.html | archivedate=2007-07-10 | title =Making The Movie | publisher =www.reddwarf.co.uk |accessdate =2008-02-07] The flyer outlined the movie's plot, set in the distant future where Homo Sapienoids - a fearsome flesh-machine hybrid race - had taken over the solar system and were wiping out the human race. Spaceships that tried to escape Earth were hunted down until only one remained... "Red Dwarf".cite web | url =http://www.thereddwarfzone.co.uk/movie.htm | title =Red Dwarf The movie | publisher =www.thereddwarfzone.co.uk |accessdate =2008-02-07] Pre-production began in 2004 and filming was planned for 2005. However, sufficient funding has not been forthcoming and production was put on hold.cite web | url =http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a44838/cult-spy-red-dwarf-the-movie-that-never-was.html | title =Red Dwarf - The Movie That Never Was | publisher =www.digitalspy.co.uk |accessdate =2008-02-07]

Notes

References

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