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 - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus. And there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected]

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 @Brainmage

Guy’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 - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected]

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Smegstra content from three of our amazing series 6 guests. These clips might be offcuts from the episodes we released – but don’t think they don’t taste great. They’re delicious. 

First, enjoy a banquet of extra Ellis! Taskmaster star Phil talks product non-placement, Red Dwarf series 7, and those salads you get with a curry. 

Next, we present more Jessica Knappett to feast your ears on – from space jargon, to David Letterman, to how Red Dwarf influenced her writing. 

Last but not least, it’s time for Andy Farrant 2: Not Emohawk! We discuss Rob Grant’s Red Dwarf prequel, rabbis, and Space Corps directives.

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?

See what Phil Ellis is up to on Instagram @philelliscomedy - watch him on Taskmaster and find his upcoming tour dates at philelliscomedy.com 

Follow Jessica Knappett @jessicaknappett on Instagram and listen to Jessica’s awesome interview podcast, Perfect Day. 

Catch up with Andy Farrant on social media platforms @farrantula and check out OutsideXbox and Oxventure on YouTube.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have a word on our socials: 

X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time to put a bow on the first six series of Red Dwarf. So we sit down with Gemma Arrowsmith to discuss our favourite episodes from across the classic Grant-Naylor era. It’s a great big celebration of just how brilliant the show and its people are. 

Then Fergus pits John against Tom Neenan and Guy Kelly in a Red Dwarf quiz that’s alright for you listening, you’ll probably think it was easy, but actually it was really tough, okay? Sigh. 

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 Gemma Arrowsmith on Instagram and/or Bluesky @mmaarrow 

Go to gemmaarrowsmith.com for all your Gemma Arrowsmith links and info. 

Follow Tom Neenan on Bluesky @tpneenan.bsky.social

Buy Tom’s awesome art at tomneenanart.bigcartel.com 

Follow Guy Kelly on BlueSky and/or Twitch @Brainmage

Guy’s photography, making the familiar strange - and strangely beautiful.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have a word on our socials: 

X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To close out the Grant-Naylor era of Red Dwarf, the genius Gemma Arrowsmith returns. We explore why these glory days came to an end, and ponder if the show’s creators could ever return. Gemma will be back in a near-future episode to give an overview of the first six series of Britain’s best loved sci-fi sitcom – because this week, we’ve got more than enough to explore!

It turns out we can fill a whole episode rabbiting about series 6 episode 6, Out of Time. Gemma is a fount of knowledge about the production and troubled genesis of this strangest of episodes. And, as you’d expect if you’ve heard her previous appearance (Thanks For The Memory) she is full of fascinating insights into the themes and craft behind this epic series finale. 

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 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 - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raise a glass of chilled Sancerre for the return of Guy Kelly! We discuss catchphrases, competence and the swagger of series 6 – what does success mean for an underdog show? Obviously there’s some book chat. And Guy shares his brilliant theory about the one change that would have made Lister and Rimmer grow into completely different, happier adults. 

Then we raise our many collective eyebrows at series 6 episode 5, Rimmerworld. We explore the horrifying prospect of our own worlds of self-clones. Then ask some typically over-thought questions, like: Why Romans? Who makes the breastplates? And what’s up with that ending? Also: Do Grant and Naylor throw away ideas too casually – or is that their best feature? 

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?

Guy’s photography, making the familiar strange - and strangely beautiful.

To get more Kelly in your life, follow the Guy on BlueSky and/or Twitch @Brainmage

If you enjoy podcasts about Garfield that aren’t about Garfield, subscribe to I Don’t Like Mondays on your podcast app of choice. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have a word on our socials: 

X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From hosting OutsideXbox and the Mom Can’t Cook! podcast, to winning awards for his horror writing, Andy Farrant is a renaissance man of geekery. He tells tales of how his parents used to bribe him with Red Dwarf videos, and the lines of Dwarf dialogue that live in his head. We also chat about how the show has aged, and explore the idea of series 1 and 2 as prequel. 

Then it’s time to discuss series 6 episode 4, Emohawk: Polymorph II. Is it a crime against continuity? A missed opportunity? Or a delicious plate of sugary treats? Plus: psycho Ace, Lister doing his job, the genius of Robert Llewellyn, and the worst people for every situation. We also attempt to answer the most important question: Why Ainsley Harriot? 

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?

Catch up with Andy on social media platforms @farrantula 

Check out OutsideXbox and Oxventure on YouTube.

Read Andy’s spooky stories at his UH OH Substack. 

Listen to Mom Can’t Cook! wherever you like to hear podcasts.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have a word on our socials: 

X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’ll know comedian, actor and writer Jessica Knappett from her sitcoms Drifters and Avoidance, Taskmaster, and from The Inbetweeners Movie. Red Dwarf is a childhood favourite and her comfort watch to this day. She talks about fancying Lister in her youth, the show’s lack of pretension, and the weird day when she was cast in the revived Red Dwarf on Dave! 

We take a steady aim at series 6 episode 3, the Emmy Award-winning Gunmen of the Apocalypse. But don’t worry, our guns contain no bullets. We celebrate film noir, Vindaloorians, impeccable Western comedy shenanigans – and how the show anticipates Black Mirror. Plus: find out which line from this episode became a bizarre catchphrase in Jess’ house growing up.

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 @jessicaknappett on Instagram. 

Check out Jessica’s awesome interview podcast, Perfect Day. 

Learn more about Jessica at jessknappett.com 

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Have a word on our socials: 

X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod

EMAIL US

We’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: [email protected] 

ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?

That’s John and Fergus, and there’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.