Back in the Red - Part 1

Series VIII, Episode 1
Recorded: 28.09.1998, Shepperton Studios
First Broadcast: 18.02.1999 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 01.11.1999 (BBCV 6842)
DVD Release: 27.03.2006 (BBCDVD 1693)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)

Written by Doug Naylor
Directed by Ed Bye

Synopsis

Not only have the nanobots recreated Red Dwarf, they've also populated the ship with its original crew. This is extremely good news for Rimmer.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Chloe Annett (Kochanski), Norman Lovett (Holly), Mac McDonald (Captain), Paul Bradley (Chen), David Gillespie (Selby), Karl Glenn Stimpson (MP Thornton), Kika Mirylees (Doc Newton), Andy Taylor (Dr. McClaren), Paul Bradley (Chen), David Gillespie (Selby), Karl Glenn Stimpson (MP Thornton), Kika Mirylees (Doc Newton), Andy Taylor (Dr. McClaren)

Did You Know?

This is the highest-rating episode, not just of Red Dwarf, but of any sitcom ever broadcast on BBC2. Figures from the Thursday premiere and Sunday repeat topped 8 million viewers.

The original plan for the "rat arsed" sequence was for Starbug to encounter Lister's revived cat, Frankenstein. The rat, however, proved easier to animate!

"Nige", the inmate shown on the video screen, was played by an uncredited extra, John Lynch. The retired bank manager would go on to be named in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest number of body piercings on record.

In addition to Mac McDonald as Hollister, Paul Bradley as Chen and David Gillespie as Selby, Mark Williams and Robert Bathurst were approached to reprise Petersen and Todhunter respectively - but proved unavailable.

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