Better Than Life: A Red Dwarf Podcast

Discover why improv comic and playwright David Reed is nostalgic for the days when series continuity wasn’t all that important. Hear his take on the boys from the Dwarf as characters from Winnie The Pooh. And shudder at the memory of David’s wife breaking Starbug.  As we pull apart series 2 episode 4, Stasis Leak, David helps us celebrate the brilliance of Morwenna Banks and the joys of playi...

Acclaimed comedy writer and actor Gemma Arrowsmith joins us, sporting an awesome Mugs Murphy t-shirt. Her combo of megafandom and top-tier scriptwriting insight makes for a wide-ranging, illuminating conversation – from Grant and Naylor assuming the viewer’s intelligence, through to how unlikely it is that a sitcom driven by relative unknowns would be made today.  Taking a close look at serie...

Human hurricane John Robertson talks about inspiring some of Norman Lovett’s standup, having a Twitter misunderstanding with Robert Llewelyn, Hattie Hayridge’s s**t stirring mate, and an embarrassing encounter with Chris Barrie. As we immerse ourselves in series 2 episode 2, the creator of live action videogame The Dark Room tells us why he would be sure to have a good time in Better Than Life. We...

BAFTA-nominated film maker, author and comedian Nat Luurtsema explains why Rimmer really doesn’t deserve nice things. We talk grubby, grotty losers and reassuring lessons about growing up. You’ll also get to hear the moment Nat wins Red Dwarf.  Analysing series 2 episode 1, Kryten, we discuss the theatrical roots of our favourite mechanoid’s name, the innately tragic quality of fictional butl...

Which awesome comedy guests will join us to celebrate series 2 of Red Dwarf? How’s our sacrilegious recasting game going? What do our listeners make of it all? And… The Muppets Take Red Dwarf! Please enjoy this pithy palette cleanser before series 2 kicks off.  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...

“The Nation’s Favourite Uncle”, comedy titan Nick Helm, closes our series 1 discussion. A massive collection of Red Dwarf t-shirts! Watching every episode four times a day! Turning the hell of teeth straightening appointments into the heaven of Red Dwarf video shopping! That’s all stuff we talk about! From the challenges of making two Rimmers work, to the ruination of a soup, we give “sitcom 2001”...

Comedian, musician and podcaster Matt Blair joins us to chat about continuity (or lack thereof) in Red Dwarf, being hooked as a kid by its naughtiness… and what it was like when Matt shared a flat with Norman Lovett. Our amateur psychoanalysis of Rimmer continues, and we return to the burning question: is Lister cool? Chewing over series 1 episode 5, Confidence and Paranoia, we cover all the essen...

Paul Foxcroft is both a comedian and a renowned dungeon master. His experience leading epic fantasy games is perfect prep for exploring the lore of Red Dwarf’s feline civilisation. Interrogating series 1 episode 4, Waiting For God, we learn why Paul thinks Cat is a psycho. Why a book made of scents is a bad idea. And why it’s more cost effective to land on lava planets than water planets.  As...

Sooz Kempner joins us to dig into all manner of Red Dwarfery. Want to know if it has the perfect pilot? Why Chris Barrie should’ve been born American? And which series Sooz thinks has never been bettered? Then get listening to our chat about series 1 episode 3, Balance of Power.  In a world exclusive, Sooz tells us about meeting the unsung hero who sings the theme song. We also explore the ge...

Bec Hill shares her Red Dwarf journey: Manipulating the public library system to get hold of box sets. Reviving Duane Dibbley as a paper puppet. And doing stand-up comedy with her time travelling future self. That’s dedication.  We cover all the important stuff about series 1 episode 2, ‘Future Echoes’, including: Kids’ spongy brains and the Theory of Relativity. Low-tech backstage shenanigan...

Welcome to the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. Guy Kelly is our wonderfully warm and witty guest for series 1 episode 1, The End. You’ll find out why he was terrified the first time he watched Red Dwarf. Where the stains on his novelisations come from. And how it feels to gig with Norman Lovett.  We cover all the important stuff – from th...

Trailer for Better Than Life: a podcast for fans of beloved sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf - and fans of comedy in general. In each instalment we interview a funny person about why they love Red Dwarf, and then we do a deep dive into a classic episode. Series 1 features interviews with Nick Helm, Bec Hill, Sooz Kempner, Paul Foxcroft, Matt Blair and Guy Kelly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...