Doug Naylor: How Red Dwarf Made TV Better Than Life

Doug Naylor: How Red Dwarf Made TV Better Than Life Get ready for a sci-fi-soaked comedy ride as Steve Otis Gunn chats with writer and co-creator of Red Dwarf , Doug Naylor . From the early days of radio comedy and Spitting Image to building one of Britain’s most enduring cult TV shows, Doug brings thoughtful, funny stories from a lifetime in entertainment. They explore Doug’s path through sketch shows, number one singles, and the moment Red Dwarf finally became the show he’d imagined. Doug spills the beans on why the American remake went sideways, and how he'll never get used to the strange feeling of meeting fans who say the show helped them through tough times. They also touch on the big one: the ambitious new Red Dwarf project that was suddenly cancelled — and what Doug plans to do with it next. 🌟 Episode Highlights Writing The Chicken Song and deliberately topping the charts How Red Dwarf survived rejections, strikes, rewrites, and producing issues How Craig Charles pestered his way into Lister, and Danny John-Jules turned up as the perfect Cat. The bizarre financing story behind the unmade Red Dwarf movie This episode is perfect for anyone curious about how Red Dwarf found its staying power — or for those who can still fire off a Kryten line or a Lister rant without missing a beat. 🎭 About Doug Naylor Doug Naylor is a British writer, producer, and director best known as the co-creator of Red Dwarf , one of the UK’s best-loved comedies. After early work in radio and sketch shows, he wrote for Spitting Image , co-created a chart-topping single, and helped shape modern TV satire. His blend of character comedy and science fiction earned Red Dwarf generations of fans. Beyond TV, Doug has written novels, screenplays, and now children’s fiction. 🔗 Connect with Doug Instagram Facebook Get Sin Bin Island here: 📢 Follow the Podcast Stay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content: Instagram TikTok YouTube Podcast: Television Times with Steve Otis Gunn Host: Steve Otis Gunn Guests : Doug Naylor - Writer, Author & Co-Creator of Red Dwarf Duration : 55 minutes Release Date : December 18, 2025 Season : 4, Episode 31 All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis Gunn Please buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You , available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.