Red Dwarf: Specials

The crew of Starbug is transported to the Can't Cook, Won't Cook studio to see who can cook a better vindaloo. It's Lister and Kryten v. Rimmer and Cat. Well it should have been Cat, but he was worried he would mess up his suit (really he just didn't want to work with Rimmer), so Duane Dibbley took his place. This left Kochanski as the taster (God help her). It's not her fault, she lost the "ippy-dippy"! The show was total, hillarious chaos. Ainsley Harriott (now known as AH – which has a completley different meaning) was run all over the place.

Part 2 of the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Red Dwarf. Host by Patrick Stewart.

The cast of Red Dwarf compete with the fans in a quiz about the show, based on the format of "University Challenge".

An alphabet-based compilation of clips from "Red Dwarf" (1988) with celebrities discussing their favorite characters and moments.

The crew of Blue Midget pick up a transmission from 1998's Children in Need, with Terry Wogan encouraging people to make donations. After some talk over what to do, Rimmer decides he will help humanity by breaking Lister's guitar!

Documentary looking back at Series I of Red Dwarf.

Documentary looking back at Series II of Red Dwarf.

Documentary looking back at Series III of Red Dwarf.

A documentary about the seventh series. The contributors are refreshingly frank and fair about the various problems the production faced. They treat subjects like Rob's departure, Chris's departure, the introduction of Kochanski, the various visual effects crises, the guest writers and the lack of audience with honesty and clarity, and all sides of the story are represented.

The "lost" episode of "Red Dwarf" (1988), presented in storyboard form. The Cat is dying, and is forced to have sex in order to stay alive. This script was originally written as an episode of the seventh series of "Red Dwarf" (1988), but was dropped because the budget wouldn't stretch to the story; it was later replaced with the significantly less expensive "Red Dwarf: Duct Soup" (1997). For the DVD release of the seventh series, it was included as an extra feature in order to show what might have been. The first draft of the script, considered the best, was performed by Chris Barrie (Rimmer), then edited by Jem Whippey and set to a series of images drawn by Neil Maguire, in order to get as close to the original concept as possible.

Bodysnatcher was a partly finished script that was written but unused for the first series of the BBC sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf. To headline the release of Red Dwarf Remastered on DVD in Autumn 2007, the same audio story board process used in recreating the lost episode of Series VII, Identity Within, has been used to create the Bodysnatcher episode. When the script was retrieved from the vaults of Grant Naylor offices, it was found to be without an ending. The writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who went their separate ways during pre-production on the ITV series The 10%ers in 1996, collaborated on bringing the script into line with the series' continuity and giving it an end.

An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of new three-part series Back to Earth, which reunited the cult sci-fi comedy's original cast.

The Director's Cut of Back to Earth is not an extended version with new scenes, but rather a re-edited, condensed feature that improves pacing by removing filler and structural elements designed for television. It adds no new scenes or dialogue but rather removes what is considered inconsequential material to create a tighter narrative. A key cut is Rimmer's line complaining that the story is a "three-parter," despite other references to such remaining in. The only addition is at the very end: after the extended credits, the words "The End" are typed on a typewriter, reinforcing the meta-fictional theme.

Following the creation and reception of the remastered shows.

A look at the challenging logistics of the most celebrated and successful sci-fi comedy ever.

A look at the challenging logistics of the most celebrated and successful sci-fi comedy ever.

A look at the challenging logistics of the most celebrated and successful sci-fi comedy ever.

Episode 1 of series 3, 'Backwards', played entirely in reverse, revealing a few verbal gems only heard in reverse in the normal version.

A short animated discussion between Rob Grant, Doug Naylor and Ed Bye about the Red Dwarf series 3 episode "Polymorph".

"Dad" was intended to bridge the last episode of Series II and the first episode of Series III, expanding on the events happening in-between that were only otherwise briefly mentioned in the show, and detailed in a very fast, Star Wars-like opening scrawl at the beginning of the first episode of Series III.

Documentary looking back at Series IV of Red Dwarf.

Documentary looking back at Series V of Red Dwarf.

In the form of a vlog, Lister announces the top five favourite episodes voted for by viewers, although most popular isn't announced as DVD extra probably configured to play episode after this video.

Documentary looking back at Series VI of Red Dwarf.

Behind the scenes video diary filmed by Danny John-Jules

Robert's Series 7 Video Diary

With black and white drawings to suggest how the episode could have looked, the script is read by Chris Barrie, including portrayal of each of the characters.

Special introductions by Kryten (some featuring Rimmer and/or Lister) for Series VII DVD Director's Cut, Xtended episodes and Smeg-Up compilations.

Documentary looking back at Series VIII of Red Dwarf.

Numerous short sketches encouraging American viewers of PBS to contribute to the channel, including mocking Americans and suggestion that at some point after the 20th century the US will purchase Europe.

In part one of this special, the posse meet three cat clerics who worship Lister. Lister vows to help them as they are being hunted by a feral cat leader known as Rodon.

In the second part of this special, the crew are on the run from Rodon, a feral cat leader who wants to wipe out cats who worship anyone but him.

Go behind the scenes of Red Dwarf: The Promised Land with this UKTV Play exclusive

Deleted scenes from the special episode : The Promised Land

Bloopers from the special episode : The Promised Land

Reinstated deleted scenes and newly filmed material, including enhanced visual effects, and the omission of the audience laugh track for a more continuous, cinematic flow, it is 8 minutes and 32 seconds longer, with the most notable addition being an alternate ending. Set three weeks after the crew's return, Lister uses the Time Drive to retrieve curry supplies, so Rimmer, resenting Lister's gluttony, rigs the ship to detach its rear section, stranding Lister adrift with his hoard of curries.

Although applying film effect consistently, the reinstated opening titles sequence (omitted from the regular broadcast due to time constraints) is in an untreated, video-look format. The alternate dimensions interactions contain additional dialogue and character moments, deepening the contrast between the two crews, and a longer scene when requesting a sperm donation. The flashback of Lister and Kochanski includes more nuanced exchanges, such as Kochanski’s line “I’m serious” with a different take.

Includes significant additional material not seen in original broadcast, primarily due to time constraints. Laugh track removed. Reinstated opening titles, though they retain distinct video look rather than film-like treatment used in other episodes. Major addition in the ducts, where Lister recounts a childhood memory of a classmate named Squeaky Gibson whose bed squeaked uncontrollably, leading to a chaotic shoe-throwing incident that accidentally saved him from an epileptic fit. Also additional backstory of Kochanski's upbringing in cyber-school.

The combining of all three broadcast parts into a single, feature-length episode. Features minor technical differences in the opening sequence. Includes additional scenes cut from the original airing due to time constraints, such as Holly's humorous monologue about squashing deaths during Starbug’s vent traversal, and additional banter after Starbug crashes, including Kryten’s sandwich joke and Lister’s inappropriate "kiss of life" remark to Kochanski. Omitted from the feature-length episode are the two video reports by Captain Hollister, which include his confession about being Dennis the doughnut boy!

A single, feature-length episode includes no additional scenes but features reordered scenes for better flow and removal of title cards between parts.

Dave Lister emerges from 3 million years of suspended animation to find that he's the only surviving crew member of the Red Dwarf.

The members of the Red Dwarf crew get a glimpse of their respective futures when the ship goes into light speed, and time begins to dilate.

Fed up with Rimmer always pulling rank, Lister decides to take the chef's exam to become his superior -- which doesn't sit well with Rimmer.

When Holly, the ship's computer, reports a mysterious pod floating in space, Rimmer insists on capturing the capsule.

Plagued by a nasty case of space pneumonia, Lister begins to hallucinate.

Tired of sharing space with Lister, Rimmer begins a blissful new relationship with the ultimate roommate: a holographic replica of himself.

A distress signal draws the ship's crew to the site of a space shuttle crash.

Rimmer learns that his father has passed away but isn't sure which is sadder: his father's death or that he is now encumbered with an £8,500 tax bill.

When Lister awakens after a night of revelry, he's at a loss to explain how he and Cat broke their legs.

A wrinkle in time takes the crew 3 million years into the past, before the radiation leak killed everyone aboard except Lister.

With Holly on the fritz, the ship's backup computer, Queeg 500, steps in to command the Red Dwarf and its crew of misfits.

After testing Holly's latest invention, the crew ends up in a parallel universe where they encounter opposite versions of themselves.

Under Rimmer’s supervision, Kryten takes a driving lesson at the wheel of Starbug, Red Dwarf's newly-revealed scout ship. A chance meeting with a wormhole, however, sends student and teacher to a world that literally has everything backwards.

As the Red Dwarf approaches a minefield of black holes, the crew must evacuate, throwing Lister and Rimmer together on a frozen planet.

Terror reigns on the Red Dwarf when a shape-shifting genetic mutant climbs aboard and subjects the crew to its menacing slobber.

When a haywire scutter meddles with the circuitry on the Red Dwarf, Lister accidentally throws the ship into self-destruct mode.

Kryten's discovery of a liquid that transforms photographs into interactive portals sends the Red Dwarf crew on a series of misadventures.

When the Red Dwarf crew learns that Kryten has only 24 hours left to live, they band together to give the android the best night of his life.

Japanese Version of the pilot episode. Dave Lister emerges from 3 million years of suspended animation to find that he's the only surviving crew member of the Red Dwarf.

The crew goes back in time to get food but inadvertently lands in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated.

The crew goes back in time to get food but inadvertently lands in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated.

The posse meet three cat clerics who worship Lister as their God. Lister vows to help them as they're being hunted by Rodon, the ruthless feral cat leader who has vowed to wipe out all cats who worship anyone but him.

A tribute to the late Mel Bibby and his contributions to Red Dwarf as production designer. This is a touching and well-deserved tribute to the man who managed to completely revolutionise the look of the show, despite not having a great deal more money than his predecessor. After six or seven minutes of lovely tributes from interviewees, we get a real gem. According to the caption, it's the only known footage of Mel talking about his work on the series. It's hard to tell where it came from, or when it was recorded, but he talks about the moody, industrial sets contrasting with the cleaner, more conventional sci-fi sets.

Hattie Hayridge records her experiences at the tenth annual Red Dwarf convention, Dimension Jump. This features some great footage of Robert, Chloe and Danny messing about, as well as some good links performed by Hattie. There's also some fancy dress stuff, and footage of Chairman Jane's excellent tattoo.

Comedy Connections focusing on Red Dwarf

A short story for Children in Need 1999, and first aired on Christmas Day, Shaggy Dog Story featured various comedians and comic actors (some in character, others as themselves) telling a long-winded shaggy dog story or yarn, beginning with Ronnie Corbett in his infamous chair. Blink and you'll miss Lister and Rimmer from The Tank!

A short story for Children in Need 1999, this slightly extended version was never aired. Shaggy Dog Story featured various comedians and comic actors (some in character, others as themselves) telling a long-winded shaggy dog story or yarn, beginning with Ronnie Corbett in his infamous chair. Blink and you'll miss Lister and Rimmer from The Tank!

This was a failed attempt in 1992 to make an "Americanised" version of the hit British sci-fi comedy. Two pilots were filmed after the producers replaced the actors playing Rimmer and Cat, but the series was never picked up, even with the involvement of the original creators, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. The story was an amalgam of several episodes but pretty much followed the original British pilot episode The End, except that Kryten is aboard the Red Dwarf from the start and the Cat is now a woman. The official Red Dwarf site (www.reddwarf.co.uk) has a complete article about the fate of Red Dwarf USA in their 'DownTime' section; and a documentary on the entire American experience is included on the Series V DVD.

The second and shorter attempt at a US pilot of Red Dwarf comes across as more of a promotional video than a pilot episode due to it's clips from the British version of the show. Features Terry Farrell as the Cat and script concepts from Backwards, Terrorform and Parallel Universe.