Back in the Red
Encyclopedia
"Back in the Red" is a three-part episode of science fiction
sit-com Red Dwarf
Series VIII. Part I was first broadcast on the British
television channel BBC2 on 18 February 1999 while Parts II and III were broadcast on 25 February and 4 March respectively.
The plot involves the re-introduction of Red Dwarf as nanobots have rebuilt the ship and the original crew are resurrected. The three parts were written by Doug Naylor
and directed by Ed Bye
. This was the first appearance of the Red Dwarf ship since series V and the first proper appearance of the ship's crew since series I.
's nanobots have rebuilt the ship
, but done so far too large. As the crew are sucked into a gigantic air vent the ship begins to shrink to normal size all around them. Although the crew are able to escape being crushed, Starbug is destroyed by the shrinking corridors and crash lands in the cargo bay. Not only has Red Dwarf been reconstructed, but the entire crew have been resurrected too along with Rimmer, who is also a lot less dead. Lister, Kochanski, Kryten and Cat quickly find themselves on trial for various crimes. Lister needs the help of Rimmer to escape and hunt down the nanobots and in return he promises to help Rimmer earn his long-coveted promotion with the crew's confidential files. Shifting through the remains of Starbug, Rimmer finds the disk containing the reports, but also finds the positive viruses containing luck and sexual magnitisim the crew picked up years earlier. Rimmer decides to pocket the viruses for personal use.
of command. The sexual magnetism virus has the effect of making him attractive to all the female crew members which he finds has its ups and downs. Meanwhile, Kryten has been restored to his factory settings which he does not like and Lister plans an escape plan with Kochanski and Cat using a famous face from the past.
" and "Epideme
" were well received, returned as script supervisor.
The inspiration for the new series came about during Naylor's work on the remastering of series I to III. The classic bunk setup and the character of Captain Hollister in those early episodes proved to be a deciding factor in reviving the crew.
The opening episode was originally planned as an hour-long special. This would give the show the opportunity to introduce the new setup. However the episode overran and the opener turned into a three-part story.
Having the crew revived meant having the original actors back. Mac McDonald
reprised his Captain Hollister character; Paul Bradley
and David Gillespie returned as Lister's drinking buddies. Andy Taylor played Counsellor McClaren, the ship's psychiatrist, Karl Glenn Stimpson played MP Thornton, and Kika Mirylees
appeared as CMO Karen Newton.
Red Dwarf, the ship itself, also returned, having not been seen since series V's finale, "Back to Reality". Seven years later meant advances in technology could create a totally CGI version of Red Dwarf for the first time. The original model was used as the template when designing the CGI version.
One of the most difficult scenes to film was the Blue Midget/Cat dance sequence. The entire dance sequence was filmed first with green screen backdrop. It was then edited with no effects. Then the Midget would be added to match the movements of the scene. The scene marked the return of Blue Midget after last being seen in series III's "Bodyswap
". In terms of true-series continuity, this marks the first appearance of the new CGI re-design of the ship.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
sit-com Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
Series VIII. Part I was first broadcast on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television channel BBC2 on 18 February 1999 while Parts II and III were broadcast on 25 February and 4 March respectively.
The plot involves the re-introduction of Red Dwarf as nanobots have rebuilt the ship and the original crew are resurrected. The three parts were written by Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Douglas R. Naylor is a British comedy writer, science fiction writer, director and television producer.Naylor was born in Manchester, England and studied at the University of Liverpool. In the mid-1980s, Naylor wrote two regular comedy sketch shows for BBC Radio 4 entitled Cliché and Son of Cliché...
and directed by Ed Bye
Ed Bye
Edward Richard Morrison Bye is a British film and TV producer and director. He is best known for his work with Grant Naylor, Harry Enfield and Jasper Carrott, and has worked with many of British TV's best known comedians and comedy actors...
. This was the first appearance of the Red Dwarf ship since series V and the first proper appearance of the ship's crew since series I.
Part 1
KrytenKryten
Kryten is a fictional character in the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kryten's registration code on Red Dwarf is "Kryten additional 001". The name Kryten is a reference to the head butler in the J.M...
's nanobots have rebuilt the ship
Nanarchy
"Nanarchy" is the eighth, and final, episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series VII and the 44th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 7 March 1997. Written by Paul Alexander, James Hendrie & Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye...
, but done so far too large. As the crew are sucked into a gigantic air vent the ship begins to shrink to normal size all around them. Although the crew are able to escape being crushed, Starbug is destroyed by the shrinking corridors and crash lands in the cargo bay. Not only has Red Dwarf been reconstructed, but the entire crew have been resurrected too along with Rimmer, who is also a lot less dead. Lister, Kochanski, Kryten and Cat quickly find themselves on trial for various crimes. Lister needs the help of Rimmer to escape and hunt down the nanobots and in return he promises to help Rimmer earn his long-coveted promotion with the crew's confidential files. Shifting through the remains of Starbug, Rimmer finds the disk containing the reports, but also finds the positive viruses containing luck and sexual magnitisim the crew picked up years earlier. Rimmer decides to pocket the viruses for personal use.
Part 2
Using the luck virus, sexual magnetism virus and the confidential reports, Rimmer begins a scheme to get promotion by blackmailing his way up the zigguratZiggurat
Ziggurats were massive structures built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels.Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah, Iraq; the Ziggurat of Aqar Quf near...
of command. The sexual magnetism virus has the effect of making him attractive to all the female crew members which he finds has its ups and downs. Meanwhile, Kryten has been restored to his factory settings which he does not like and Lister plans an escape plan with Kochanski and Cat using a famous face from the past.
Part 3
The crew make their escape on Blue Midget and start their quest of finding Kryten's lost nanobots. Sadly, the reality is that they are trapped in an artificial reality program and their actions will be used as evidence against them in their trial by Captain Hollister. Holly admits to programming the nanobots to recreate the dead crew members. He did it to keep Lister calm but his plan went "tits up".Production
For series VIII Doug Naylor returned to Red Dwarfs roots and he would write the majority of the series himself. Paul Alexander, whose episodes "Stoke Me a ClipperStoke Me a Clipper
"Stoke Me a Clipper" is the second episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series VII and the 38th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 24 January 1997. Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye...
" and "Epideme
Epideme
"Epideme" is the seventh episode of science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf VII and the 43rd in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 28 February 1997. Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor and directed by Ed Bye...
" were well received, returned as script supervisor.
The inspiration for the new series came about during Naylor's work on the remastering of series I to III. The classic bunk setup and the character of Captain Hollister in those early episodes proved to be a deciding factor in reviving the crew.
The opening episode was originally planned as an hour-long special. This would give the show the opportunity to introduce the new setup. However the episode overran and the opener turned into a three-part story.
Having the crew revived meant having the original actors back. Mac McDonald
Mac McDonald
Mac McDonald is an American actor. He is best known for playing Captain Hollister on the BBC TV series Red Dwarf and frequently plays American characters in other British TV shows...
reprised his Captain Hollister character; Paul Bradley
Paul Bradley (actor)
Paul Bradley is an English actor. He is best known for playing Nigel Bates in the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders from 1992 to 1998 and Elliot Hope in the BBC medical drama series Holby City since 2005....
and David Gillespie returned as Lister's drinking buddies. Andy Taylor played Counsellor McClaren, the ship's psychiatrist, Karl Glenn Stimpson played MP Thornton, and Kika Mirylees
Kika Mirylees
Kika Mirylees is a South African-born British actress.-Biography:She has played Angela Snow in The Darling Buds of May, and Doc Newton in Red Dwarf....
appeared as CMO Karen Newton.
Red Dwarf, the ship itself, also returned, having not been seen since series V's finale, "Back to Reality". Seven years later meant advances in technology could create a totally CGI version of Red Dwarf for the first time. The original model was used as the template when designing the CGI version.
One of the most difficult scenes to film was the Blue Midget/Cat dance sequence. The entire dance sequence was filmed first with green screen backdrop. It was then edited with no effects. Then the Midget would be added to match the movements of the scene. The scene marked the return of Blue Midget after last being seen in series III's "Bodyswap
Bodyswap
"Bodyswap" is the fourth episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the sixteenth overall. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 5 December 1989. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. This was the first episode to be recorded without a live...
". In terms of true-series continuity, this marks the first appearance of the new CGI re-design of the ship.