There’s a ton of great sci-fi shows available to watch. From various Star Trek spin-offs to Sliders [Editor’s note: Darryn please update pop culture references], the medium is filled with numerous series that are high-concepts with even higher stakes. But very few TV shows set in a sci-fi universe have ever been predominantly comedy and successful. Save for one. I am of course, talking about Red Dwarf.
Set in a future where the only surviving member of the human race is a slovenly, uneducated layabout who survives death through sheer luck and stupidity, Red Dwarf has been kicking around since 1988. It ran until 1993, took a short hiatus and came back for another run from 1997 to 1999, before taking another short break and returning yet again in 2009 and 2012. And now, Red Dwarf is coming back for two more seasons of space adventure.
UK channel Dave will air the new seasons in 2016 and 2017, with main actor Craig Charles returning as the vindaloo curry obsessed Lister. A role that will see him leave the UK soapie Coronation Street. “I have had an absolutely fantastic 10 years on Coronation Street and I will be very sad to leave,” Charles said in a press statement via The Independent.
Lloyd has become a huge part of my life and I have made some amazing friends with whom I will always keep in touch. But I feel I owe it to my colleagues on Red Dwarf to join them in filming the new series and finding out what is in store for Lister and the others. I would love to return to Coronation Street at some point in the future.
Actors Chris Barrie, Danny John-Jules and Robert Llewellyn will also return as suicidal hologram Arnold Judas Rimmer, the Cat and neat freak robot Kryten respectively. If you’ve never seen Red Dwarf, do yourselves a favour and check it out. Some episodes may be dated, but some episodes are magnificently ahead of their time. Including one episode where Lister spends a night with his parallel universe female self, and wakes up to discover that alternate reality laws dictate that he’s the lucky fella who falls pregnant.
Last Updated: May 5, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
May 5, 2015 at 15:49
I tried watching this at the beginning of last year. Just couldn’t after 3 or 4 episodes, it has NOT aged well.
juzzlehizzle
May 5, 2015 at 17:09
A friend introduced it to me a few years ago so it’s not like I have nostalgia to draw, but I still liked it.
Most of the humour only elicits a chuckle, but it’s so bizarre, with such a breathtakingly threadbare budget
and has such charm that I really came to like it. I was told that growing up during Thatcher or the post-Thatcher years may have helped in enjoying, but even without that, I found it good fun.
I even find myself humming the theme song sometimes
Mark Vincer
May 6, 2015 at 12:44
Sliders!