Back To Reality

Series V, Episode 6
Recorded: 06.12.1991, Shepperton Studios
First Broadcast: 26.03.1992 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 04.07.1994 (BBCV 5197)
DVD Release: 08.11.2004 (BBCDVD 1371)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)

Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Directed by Grant Naylor

Synopsis

The crew of Red Dwarf discover an abandoned space ship on an ocean bed but suddenly the salvage operation doesn't sound quite so sexy when they realise all of the occupants of the vessel committed suicide. Attack by a gigantic sea monster makes escape the favourite option.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Hattie Hayridge (Holly), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Timothy Spall (Andy), Lenny Von Dohlen (Cop), Anastasia Hille (New Kochanski), Marie McCarthy (Nurse), John Sharian (New Lister)

Did You Know?

Teasing the cast members with the suggestion that they might be about to be replaced, the script featured a joke stage direction (reproduced in the Primordial Soup script book) on the arrival of the replacement crew: "Are you worried yet, guys?"

In a clever piece of economising, the AR arcade set was a revamp of Holoship's Enlightenment set - with a significant amount of "scuzzing up"!

Actor Lenny von Dohlen, best known for appearing in hit US drama Twin Peaks, was persuaded to appear in the show by his friend Frances Barber - who had played the "Genny" incarnation of the Polymorph back in Series III.

Back to Reality has topped fan polls with some regularity ever since being voted as the "Best Ever" episode to be shown on BBC2 at Christmas 1995.

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