Backwards

Series III, Episode 1
Recorded: 19.09.1989, BBC Manchester
First Broadcast: 14.11.1989 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 07.10.1991 (BBCV 4696)
DVD Release: 03.11.2003 (BBCDVD 1215)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)

Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor
Directed by Ed Bye

Synopsis

The Red Dwarf crew return to Earth to find Time is running backwards. With some brilliant trick photography and ingenious stunts, this now-classic episode heralds the arrival of the new-look Red Dwarf.

Cast

Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Hattie Hayridge (Holly), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Maria Friedman (Waitress), Tony Hawks (Compere), Anna Palmer (Customer in Cafe), Arthur Smith (Pub Manager)

Did You Know?

The Star Wars-style text crawl that bridges the gap between Series II and III was conceived after an episode that would have actually dealt with Lister's post-Parallel Universe pregnancy, Dad, was scrapped in the early writing stages.

Guest star Arthur Smith is actually an accomplished backwards-talker, and taught the cast and crew the phrase "erskib" as a genuine reversal of "bitter". He also speaks backwards when briefly arguing with Rimmer and Kryten, although his main scene was recorded forwards - leading to a rare example of a behind-the-scenes easter egg when the original version was included on the Smeg Outs video release.

Co-writer Rob Grant cameos in this episode as "Man smoking cigarette" during Rimmer and Kryten's arrival on Earth - shot on the streets of Manchester, around the BBC Oxford Road studios.

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