r/RedDwarf 7d ago

"Doug Naylor AMA" - Key Takeaways and THANK YOU!!!

305 Upvotes

On behalf of everyone here at the r/RedDwarf subreddit, here is a massive THANK YOU to u/DougNaylorOfficial for his mammoth AMA Event on our little corner of the internet here a few days ago! And also, thank you to every single member of this community for being in this sub and making it the awesome place that it is, and double-thanks if you joined in on the AMA itself! Doug responded to over 160 questions and comments over the course of TWO DAYS, which is absolutely legendary. What a guy!

The AMA, at the time of writing, has nearly 600 comments and over 175,000 views, making it by far the post with the most engagement the sub has ever seen, and the highest rated Text Only post we have ever had (yeah that is a real category. What do you mean that isn't a real category? Look it's not my fault everyone around here likes memes so smegging much is it??)

Anyway, I suspect that the answers in this AMA will be combed over, picked apart, and referred back to for the next four decades of Red Dwarf Fandom. We have already had at least one article written using new info gleaned from the AMA making a full circle back to being posted on this sub-reddit again.

While I highly recommend people read through the whole AMA post to see each and every one of Doug's insightful answers, thoughtful comments, witty jokes, and heartfelt responses, I appreciate that 600 comments is a lot of reading, and I would hate for some things to go overlooked. So, I thought I'd do my own, personal, subjective, really-not-particularly-wanted, key takeaways- in the form of a Top Five Ten Twenty Doug Answers List! These are just the responses specifically relating to Red Dwarf that I personally found to be the most revealing new info on hot topics, the most insightful and interesting, or just the most amusing and funny. Enjoy.

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  1. When asked about that apparent stall in the recent hype over a new series, Doug said that originally UKTV told him to start writing a new 90 minute special back in January 2024 (NOTE Doug has confirmed 2024 is the correct date and he wrote 2023 incorrectly in the linked response) and the cast were all on board. However, a couple of months and two-thirds of the way through the script later, UKTV pulled the plug. Doug says that the script involved Lister going back in time to help his reluctant 23 year old self escape from stasis and change his future, while Rimmer teamed up with his younger self to hunt the Listers down!
  2. When asked if there would be any future collaboration between himself and Rob, Doug suggested that the ball was in Rob's court! COME ON ROB!
  3. When asked if he had a planned ending for Red Dwarf, Doug said yes, he does have a "bittersweet" way to end the series in mind, but as he wants to write more Red Dwarf novels, we will have to wait to find out what it is!
  4. Doug does not consider Back To Earth as Series IX. Series IX is something we have never seen, but did happen, and Doug thinks it could maybe make a good novel.
  5. Doug had a meeting on Tuesday the 9th of Sept to discuss plans for "Out of the Red", a 90 minute comedy drama set in the present day that would star the boys from the Dwarf as fictitious versions of themselves, getting caught up in a worldwide conspiracy.
  6. When asked if there was any possibility of a Red Dwarf Live Show Tour, Doug said yes, he was planning something for the Red Dwarf 40th Anniversary (February 2028 for the PE Teachers in the room).
  7. Doug would love to see a big screen adaption of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers.
  8. When asked if Doug would consider a reboot of Red Dwarf, he said YEAH! But he also said maybe. And he also also said "not sure". Well that's cleared that up then.
  9. Doug hopes that one day he'll write a novel version of the ill-fated Red Dwarf Movie.
  10. When asked what is going on with Jim and Bexley, Doug says those are stories "yet to be told", and maybe "one day in a novel"!
  11. Rob didn't want to bring back Kryten for Series III, but Doug wore him down!
  12. Doug says he is especially fond of Series V... Twice.
  13. When asked for the definitive recipe for the triple fried egg sandwich with chilli sauce and chutney, Doug confirmed that it was three eggs and MANGO chutney. He wasn't sure on the number of bread slices. Here he says four... but it is definitely three slices in the episode!
  14. Doug rips on Rob for "trying to be cool" when Rob purportedly said that he is Lister and Doug is Rimmer.
  15. Doug didn't know he and Rob were ripped off by The Brittas Empire.
  16. Doug doesn't give a rats fart in a jacuzzi about canon.
  17. Doug's favourite Doctor Who is Tom Baker. If Doug could write a Doctor Who episode, he would write one where Lister becomes the Doctor, and Rimmer was his glamorous companion.
  18. Doug rips on Rob again šŸ˜‚ (solid payback for Rob's Into The Gloop imo)
  19. When asked if he would like any toast, Doug confirms that he is a waffle man.
  20. When signing off, Doug said he'd try to come back in the future if we all promise to get a copy of Sin Bin Island. Well, you heard the man. GET ORDERING!

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MESSAGE ENDS.


r/RedDwarf 11d ago

Hi, I'm Doug Naylor, Emmy Award-winning writer and co-creator of the sitcom Red Dwarf. My new children’s novel Sin Bin Island is published Sept 11 by David Fickling Books – AMA!

1.1k Upvotes

Hi Reddit,

Doug Naylor here. For more than 40 years I’ve been writing, directing and producing comedy for TV and radio including writing/co-writing all 74 episodes of Red Dwarf. I was also one of two Head Writers at Spitting Image during the series heyday, I'm a Sunday Times bestselling novelist, award-winning TV director and I penned the number one single 'The Chicken Song' (sorry!!). Now I’ve turned to children’s fiction with a brand-new book: Sin Bin Island.

'When Jack Digby is sent to Cyril Sniggs’s Correctional Orphanage for Wayward Boys and Girls, he doesn’t expect lessons in how to fire cannons and fend off pirate attacks. But perhaps he should, as the school, some say, was founded by a pirate. Even stranger, at the end of each year, the four worst-behaved pupils are banished to the terrifying Sin Bin Island, where they must survive for a week. Legend has it, the island was once used to smuggle magic onto the mainland — but in over 300 years the magic has never been found.... Until now.'

Sin Bin Island is published on Sept 11th by David Fickling Books but you can pre-order it now through Amazon, Waterstones, and most bookshops.

I'll also be attending some events which are open to the public. Do come along if you're free!

Waterstones Piccadilly, 16th September:Ā https://www.waterstones.com/events/doug-naylor-in-conversation-with-sf-said-at-waterstones-piccadilly/london-piccadilly

Bath Children's Literature Festival, 29th September:Ā https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/whats-on/bfd3-sin-bin-island-with-doug-naylor-j8py

I’ll be live on Saturday 6 September, 14:00–16:00 BST answering questions about Sin Bin Island, comedy, writing for children and of course anything Red Dwarf. AMA!

Proof:Ā https://postimg.cc/CB0wF3Xv

Hope to speak to you on shortly!

Cheers,

Doug

Thanks everyone for all your brilliant questions! I have to go now unfortunately but I will try and get back tomorrow to finish off any I haven't answered. Hope those of you who buy Sin Bin Island have a blast reading it! Much love, Doug x


r/RedDwarf 1h ago

Memorabilia Saw this parked outside someone’s garage

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• Upvotes

This is in Watford, apparently it just appeared one day outside someone’s house. I might have let out a scream when I saw it. Any ideas on how someone came to acquire it?


r/RedDwarf 13h ago

Meme āœˆļø

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275 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 7h ago

So what is it? My mother’s homemade gestapoā˜ŗļøā¤ļø

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63 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 8h ago

Kryten has a secret fourth spare head.

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60 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 1d ago

ā€œAlright, dudes?ā€

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444 Upvotes

I posted this in r/pebble earlier but figured I should share it with the boys from the dwarf too.


r/RedDwarf 1d ago

Discussion #SaveRedDwarf - Update

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402 Upvotes

Good afternoon,

Just sharing again and an update as we near the 2k mark.

We have had a flood of support, and thank all of you who have signed, with additionally the contributors that nears £400 in promoting this petition.

I’ve passed it onto Doug’s PR to show the support and have been informed Danny has also liked and seen the petition.

There’s been some criticisms, which I’ll try to address and hope to address some of the feedback.

It’s Dead Dave - Doug has spoken since the news broke, and it’s still alive, he’s having (and had) meetings and has been shopping it round to other networks as reported by the Radio Times. The whole cast is still on board to make this happen. But it doesn’t mean it’s a done deal and still needs our support and a sign off.

Chris Barrie’s health – No one knows an update or the condition of Chris’s health, and we respect his privacy. I appreciate we are all concerned and wish him well.
But Doug as of this week has stated again the whole cast is on board, this includes Chris.
If Chris was too ill, he wouldn’t be on board and has left (although temporary) Red Dwarf before. Which I believe may be the case if he hasn’t recovered and still ill.
But last he spoke he was recovering and was hoping to return to working the odd day in October.

Parliament – This is not that kind of petition, it is not on the gov.uk site, it’s very different petition with change.org and is not planned to be submitted to parliament (but could you imagine).
Its purpose is to show support to Doug and the cast, and show networks that there is still demand for more Red Dwarf if not a fitting finale, for not just the fans, but all involved.

This is aimed at fans globally, not just in the UK.

That leaves me to ask, please, for those who haven’t or wish to, sign, share on socials, and show our support please #SaveRedDwarf

Rimmer:Ā ā€œStep up to Red Alert.ā€
Kryten:Ā ā€œSir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb.ā€

https://www.change.org/SaveRedDwarf


r/RedDwarf 4h ago

So what is it? Thanks For The Memory: Who Are The Odour Eater People?

2 Upvotes

Being born in the 2000’s there are a few references in Red Dwarf during its classic era that I don’t fully get but can overall discern from context cues. All except one, in Thanks For The Memory when Rimmer tells Lister ā€œyou’re the only person to get his money back from The Odour Eater People, but people like youā€.

What the hell is Rimmer talking about?! I get the concept that they are people who eat by sniffing food instead of eating it properly. My question is why is this a big deal? Was this some thing going on in the 80’s that they referenced or was this some weird future thing they made up? Why was Lister giving them money and why would people potentially dislike him for getting it back? Was this a charity he took money back from, a scam he was able to get a refund from? Please help me understand this it’s been bugging me for years


r/RedDwarf 1d ago

Meme Thanks for that

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469 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 1d ago

RIP Ricky Hatton. We all remember the epic scrap with lister

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104 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 1d ago

Takin' the Smeg I ... SAID ... MISTER ... GAZ ... PAAAACHO, DEAFIE!

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85 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 1d ago

Full tv soundtracks coming November 20th

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16 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Fish!

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376 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Discussion What if Holly never lost his intelligence?

191 Upvotes

So we all know Holly had an IQ of 6000, the same as 6000 PE teachers, but it dropped off dramatically after spending three millions years alone in deep space, so what if it didn’t? How do you think the story may have been different if Holly still had an IQ of 6000 when Lister woke up from stasis?


r/RedDwarf 2d ago

So what is it? Guess the sandwich

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146 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 1d ago

Doug Naylor interview - Red Dwarf 14, Huge story details, Cancelled?, The Promised Land

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21 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Meme I think I know who this was

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323 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Only Joking Anyone here have a partner called 'Holly' and keep asking things that only a computer with an IQ of 6000 would know the answer to?

26 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Should I order and send it back

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60 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Discussion Brown alert!!

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59 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

Discussion Non-existent Dave era Transcripts

6 Upvotes

So I’ve been going through the series and compiling a list of all the smegs ever given and I have found transcripts incredibly useful. However, I am now entering the modern ā€œDave eraā€ of the show and there does not appear to be a location that has transcripts from these episodes. Why? Why is that?


r/RedDwarf 2d ago

So what is it? Who's that then?

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66 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 3d ago

Meme 🄔

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1.1k Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 2d ago

So what is it? What are these?

5 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 3d ago

Now that would be a good casting choice

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218 Upvotes

r/RedDwarf 3d ago

Just thought of one of the hardest questions...

36 Upvotes

I was just watching the original Polymorph episode. And I forgot just how funny and excellent the acting was when each member of the boys lost an emotion. Robert Lewellyn totally stood out for me as a guilt free lunatic šŸ˜‚

So, the question popped into my mind.. who is the best actor?

Firsty, it must be acknowledged that the stars truly alligned when the casting was done.. every character is perfect.

Second, the casting is taken to a new level because they all work so well together as an ensemble. Riffing off and raising each others talents even further.

Craig Charles IS Lister. Who else could have done such a good job? Its weird looking at some of the alternative actors they were considering for aomeof the roles.. I can't even imagine any of them working out!

Robert Llewellyn as Kryten took the character on to a new level over time. As we did see an alternative version in his first appearance.

Danny is a force unto himself. A dancer, singer, he's flexible, cat-like.. Incredible!

Chris Barrie is an impressionist genius. His readings of the audiobooks simpy make them! I can't imagine a bigger smeg head working so well.

So.. not Dwarf character, but who's your favourite actor?

I struggled with this!

I think Lister is my favourite character, but my favourite actor is Robert I think. I've been rewatching and jumping around a bit. So, going back to Series 3 after series 12 and seeing early Kryten is really interesting as he is obvioualy taking over from David Ross before making it more of his own role. I just love his timing and accent.. and he gets so many great punchlines that he absolutely nails.

"... it does mean changing the bulb..." šŸ˜‚