Complete Guide
Krytie TV
Series VIII, Episode 5
Recorded: 16.11.1998, Shepperton Studios
First Broadcast: 18.03.1999 (BBC 2)
VHS Release: 24.01.2000 (BBCV 6843)
DVD Release: 27.03.2006 (BBCDVD 1693)
Blu-ray Release: 14.01.2019 (BBCBD 0441)
Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor
Directed by Ed Bye
Synopsis
Kryten starts his own pirate TV station to entertain the prisoners.
Cast
Chris Barrie (Rimmer), Craig Charles (Lister), Danny John-Jules (Cat), Robert Llewellyn (Kryten), Chloe Annett (Kochanski), Norman Lovett (Holly), Jake Wood (Kill Crazy), Graham McTavish (Ackerman), Mark Caven (Man in Film), Sarah Wateridge (Woman in Film), Clifford Barry (Guard), Jake Wood (Kill Crazy), Graham McTavish (Ackerman), Mark Caven (Man in Film), Sarah Wateridge (Woman in Film), Clifford Barry (Guard)
Did You Know?
This episode was the main one to draw on Craig Charles' experience of spending time at Her Majesty's Pleasure. Doug Naylor had sought his advice on whether inmates would be allowed to have their guitars, with Craig pointing out that they probably wouldn't be given the strings. That planned script, originally titled No Strings Attached, was then combined with material from another episode draft from Paul Alexander, titled Phwoaarr.
The prison guards seen in this episode wore helmets manufactured from the same mould as that of Hudzen 10, all the way back in Series III.
The "have you heard the news" scene between Kryten and Lister was a rare example of the cast being allowed to improvise their dialogue - due to Robert Llewellyn being unable to remember the lines!
"Stand By Your Man", the song that opens the episode, was a famous 1968 hit for Tammy Wynette, and is one of the most recorded country songs of all time.
