Better Than Life: A Red Dwarf Podcast

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com