Better Than Life: A Red Dwarf Podcast

Our tribute to Rob Grant, co-creator of Red Dwarf, who passed away on 25 February 2026. We talk about the impact of his work, the very prescient themes of his writing, and the time we met him to chat about this podcast. We also look forward to his forthcoming novel, Red Dwarf: Titan, which is available for pre-order now from all the places books are sold. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected]  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final batch of listener emails in this series cover more great character moments and recasting suggestions/heresies. An important question about Starbug is answered. An important question about polymorphs and holograms is also answered. And an important question about space weevils is raised. Another listener plays detective over that Simpsons comic featuring Rimmer. And we hear lots of opinions about whether or not we should be looking forward to watching series 7 onwards. Speaking of which, fear not listener – no matter how long it takes, we’ll be back for more Better Than Life tackling series 7 and beyond! SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?For the unedited Music of Red Dwarf podcast we mentioned, sign up to Jamie Lenman’s Patreon. Check out the pilot episode of Boldly Going Nowhere. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back to our bulging email inbox for more brilliant listener emails. Starting with a big challenge: what are the best bits of acting by each of the Boys From The Dwarf, across the whole series? This week, our listeners have been doing some impressive detective work – from tracking down the pilot of an American sci fi sitcom set on a familiar “rock collecting spaceship”, through to finding pictorial evidence of a Red Dwarf character in the world of The Simpsons. Plus, the mystery of Ace Rimmer’s disappearing wig may have been solved by a former guest of the pod! SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We open a fresh batch of your emails and dig into everything from cat paws, to the iconic design of Starbug, to fancying Lister. We get into a spirited defence of being a nerd, a mini rant about a Late Late Show host who hasn’t been on Red Dwarf, and a little look ahead to series 7 and 8. Plus: a beautiful account of four decades of Red Dwarf fandom, a great question about a Red Dwarf movie, and the best gym music playlist recommendation of all time. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2026 can’t properly begin until we’ve answered emails from listeners old and new. Here’s the first of a few bonus eps from our inbox. Topics this time include cardio maths, sanity and socialising, ageing punks, the art of the bleep, and Frankenstein. Of course, we also discuss a whole bunch of Red Dwarf episodes…happy new year!SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuck into a delicious special all about food in Red Dwarf, featuring food journalist and author Andrew Webb. As both a big fan of the show and an expert on cuisine, Andrew is the perfect guest to guide us through the Dwarf’s gastronomic delights. It’s all here: vending machines, dog food, curry, triple fried egg chill chutney sandwiches and a glass of chilled Sancerre.We explore the British food scene in the 80s and 90s, Grant and Naylor’s knack for lists, Mimosian banquets and – of course – Can’t Smeg Won’t Smeg. What’s more, Andrew has prepared not one but two Red Dwarf taster menus for your delectation - bon appetit!SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?Christmas is coming – why not buy one of Andrew Webb’s books for the food lover or aspiring chef in your life? Links below – other book vendors are available! Food Britannia – Guild of Food Writers’ Book of the Year.Haynes Manuals: Pies, Baking, Meat. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer-songwriter Jamie Lenman is a hero to noughties alt-rock kids for fronting the band Reuben, and a hero to sci-fi fans for his Doctor Who Magazine illustrations. As a big Dwarf fan, he’s the ideal guest for this special ep about the musical magic of our favourite sci-fi sitcom. We ask why there’s such a crossover between fans of Red Dwarf, Doctor Who and rock music (especially Queen). We go big on the genius of Howard Goodall: perfect pastiche, crazy guitar, and unexpected yet perfect cues. And we dive very deeply indeed into the wonders of Goodall’s classic Red Dwarf theme tune. Plus: the boys from the Dwarf as the archetype of a band, including a comparison of Dave-era Red Dwarf and the current spate of band reunions. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?Go follow @jamielenman on Instagram. Get all your Jamie Lenman links and music at http://www.jamielenman.com/.Don’t forget to sign up to https://www.patreon.com/thejamielenmanfanclub for your special Red Dwarf fan reward, as instructed in this episode! WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More smegstra content from series 6. Gemma Arrowsmith and Guy Kelly have more to say about Rimmerworld, Out Of Time and series 6 in general – from Rimmer’s concubines, to the tragedy of Grant-Naylor’s split. Plus: how come Cat never gets his own episode? And when the chat is done, we reveal next week’s exciting bonus episode, guesting a cult hero of the UK music scene! SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?Follow Guy Kelly on BlueSky and/or Twitch @BrainmageGuy’s photography, making the familiar strange - and strangely beautiful.Go to gemmaarrowsmith.com for all your Gemma Arrowsmith links and info. Follow @mmaarrow on Instagram and/or Bluesky.WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Smegstra content from three of our amazing series 6 guests. These clips might be offcuts from the episodes we released – but don’t think they don’t taste great. They’re delicious. First, enjoy a banquet of extra Ellis! Taskmaster star Phil talks product non-placement, Red Dwarf series 7, and those salads you get with a curry. Next, we present more Jessica Knappett to feast your ears on – from space jargon, to David Letterman, to how Red Dwarf influenced her writing. Last but not least, it’s time for Andy Farrant 2: Not Emohawk! We discuss Rob Grant’s Red Dwarf prequel, rabbis, and Space Corps directives.SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?See what Phil Ellis is up to on Instagram @philelliscomedy - watch him on Taskmaster and find his upcoming tour dates at philelliscomedy.com Follow Jessica Knappett @jessicaknappett on Instagram and listen to Jessica’s awesome interview podcast, Perfect Day. Catch up with Andy Farrant on social media platforms @farrantula and check out OutsideXbox and Oxventure on YouTube.WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time to put a bow on the first six series of Red Dwarf. So we sit down with Gemma Arrowsmith to discuss our favourite episodes from across the classic Grant-Naylor era. It’s a great big celebration of just how brilliant the show and its people are. Then Fergus pits John against Tom Neenan and Guy Kelly in a Red Dwarf quiz that’s alright for you listening, you’ll probably think it was easy, but actually it was really tough, okay? Sigh. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted and produced by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Huge thanks to Alex Watson for invaluable help in making this podcast a thing. FANCY SOME LINKS?Follow Gemma Arrowsmith on Instagram and/or Bluesky @mmaarrow Go to gemmaarrowsmith.com for all your Gemma Arrowsmith links and info. Follow Tom Neenan on Bluesky @tpneenan.bsky.socialBuy Tom’s awesome art at tomneenanart.bigcartel.com Follow Guy Kelly on BlueSky and/or Twitch @BrainmageGuy’s photography, making the familiar strange - and strangely beautiful.WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.