Doug Naylor's Definitive Dwarf
The co-creator's history-shaping choices on iTunes.
18 June, 2010
Among the series playlists on the Red Dwarf iTunes Store you'll find an interesting new addition: Doug Naylor's Definitive Dwarf. A nine-episode collection, hand-selected by Red Dwarf's co-creator, is available as a single 'series' for £6.99.
This special playlist may differ from expectations because, as the title implies, it focusses on episodes that helped define the show. The shows that made Red Dwarf Red Dwarf.
While staples like the Emmy award-winning Gunmen of the Apocalypse and repeated fan poll-winner Back to Reality were to be expected - and The End is far too important to ignore! - it's interesting to see Thanks for the Memory, Backwards and Camille representing Series II, III and IV respectively.
Long-term fans of the show (or owners of the now-rare Six of the Best VHS box set) might have expected Queeg, Polymorph and Dimension Jump in those slots - but that's what makes these choices extra-interesting. Each is accompanied by Doug's personal comments on why each episode represents a significant point in the show's twisty-turny history...
The End
Pilot show, without it, no series. Mostly written in a week in Wales of round the clock writing, drinking and more drinking and the occasional meal. Took three years to sell. If only we'd drunk more.
Future Echoes
We were told 'Don't write any science fiction, no-one likes science fiction'. We waited till no-one was looking then wrote this. Rehearsals were a shambles. But the cast and crew stayed with it. Suddenly we were up and running.
Thanks for the Memory
First show we got out of the studio, science fiction, mystery, this was what we'd been trying to sell for all those years; character-based, science fiction, comedy.
Backwards
Because of its gimmick, the show that put us on the map as far as the newspapers were concerned. The prehistoric machines of the time blew up in the edit, they couldn't cope with playing footage backwards. Anyone with a laptop could do this in ten seconds now. Back then it was 'Quick, get a fire extinguisher!'
Camille
A love story and the first show of season four, which launched on Valentine's Day. Every newspaper had a piece on Camille. Apparently we were a hit show. Why now? Who knew.
Back to Reality
Best script of the series, directed by the writers, at last the lunatics were running the asylum.
Gunmen of the Apocalypse
The BBC said the show was impossible to shoot and to throw it away and write something sensible. Our producer said, 'Actually, we shot it yesterday.' The BBC said, 'Oh.' Won the Emmy.
Tikka to Ride
You're not supposed to do stories like this in a comedy series. We didn't know that then. Glad we didn't, too.
Cassandra
The biggest audience laughs we got from any show. Why didn't we use laughing gas more often?
If you're struggling to find the iTunes Red Dwarf page, it's in the TV section and listed in the 'TV Collections' menu. Or, since this is that newfangled internet thing, just click here.
Doug Naylor's Definitive Dwarf playlist on iTunes.
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