Back to Earth - Part 1

Back to Earth - Part 1
Recorded: Jan-Mar 2009, Shepperton Studios
First Broadcast: 10.04.2009 (Dave)
DVD Release: 15.06.2009 (2EDVD 0441)

Written by Doug Naylor
Directed by Doug Naylor

Synopsis

Nine years later the Red Dwarf crew are older but still none the wiser. Lister's busy day of annoying Rimmer is interrupted by the discovery of a dimension-hopping leviathan in the ship's mile-deep water tank.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Sophie Winkleman (Katerina)

Did You Know?

For the first time in a non-Remastered episode, a Skutter is animated rather than physical. Mindful of tight budget concerns, Matt Graham of effects house FXPHD generously donated work to the show in exchange for a signed copy of the script.

At Kochanski's memorial, alongside a photo of the deceased Rimmer is one of Mel Bibby, the Series III-VIII production designer who had sadly passed away in 2002.

For the first time, the Red Dwarf closing credits fade from page to page rather than scrolling constantly. The later Director's Cut of the special, however, would revert to the standard format.

With nearly three million viewers on initial transmission (four including its first repeat), Back to Earth Part One still stands as the highest-rated non-sport broadcast ever on a non-PSB (or non-terrestrial, as was) channel in the UK.

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