The incredible Alice Fraser goes all-in on what makes Red Dwarf awesome. Cleverness! Silliness! Heart! Toast! An amazing parliament-based metaphor (don’t worry, not political). A very cool comparison with a Pixar classic. And a traumatic memory of Rimmerworld that lives forever in a dark corner of Alice’s mind.

Onto series 4 episode 4, White Hole, and it’s all going on. Alice shines a light on the different types of humour Grant and Naylor flit between, and how this keeps the show dynamic and engaging for the viewer. We unpack ‘British university comedy writing’, trade favourite lines from the ep (so many!) and explore why they’re so great. We celebrate Hattie Hayridge.

And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes. And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes. And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes.

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 by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan).

Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson.

FANCY SOME LINKS?

Visit patreon.com/alicefraser for everything Alice, including writing masterclasses (free trial!).

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com

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.

Smashing comedian and lead writer of The Mash Report, Tom Neenan brings his giant comedy brain to bear on Red Dwarf. Unsurprisingly for such a seasoned comedy writer, he is super insightful on the special ingredients that make Red Dwarf so great - from its vivid nature, to Grant and Naylor’s knack for smuggling in psychology. Plus: the lessons kids can learn from the characters. And what’s the best episode to show a friend who’s never seen Red Dwarf before?

We are right into Tom’s favourite era of the show. Series 4 episode 3, Justice, is a classic among classics - and we discover why. Among many, many other things, we assess how the narrative structure brings three disparate story elements together. How Ed Bye does a masterful job of directing. How Robert Llewelyn nails Grant and Naylor’s brilliant defence speech.

And when we take Tom into Overthinking Corner, he really rises to the futile challenge. So, listen now and find out which bits make Tom’s inner comedy writer applaud!

Follow @tpneenan on Instagram - where you can see his brilliant paintings.

If you love Doctor Who, you should check out Tom Neenan’s gleefully silly pod, A Wheezing Groaning Sound.

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

Acclaimed standup Garrett Millerick came to Red Dwarf aged 11, with series 6. He quickly became an obsessive collector of the VHS collections, falling in love with both classic ‘eras’ (series 1-2 and series 3-6). He even had an Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers t-shirt custom printed.

As we unravel series 4 episode 2, DNA, Garrett reveals an interesting take on how the story might have been treated differently in series 1 or 2. We celebrate the joys of seeing Robert Llewellyn in the flesh. The time Garrett fanboyed all over Craig Charles seconds before he stepped on stage for a festival DJ set. And why despite (or because of?) the occasional scatological humour, this show is so great for kids… and families!

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 by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan).

Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson.

FANCY SOME LINKS?

For tour dates and much more, check out https://www.garrettmillerick.com/

To connect with Garrett on X or Insta, follow @millerickcomedy

And keep an eye out for Garrett’s new BBC Radio 4 sitcom, Do Gooders, out on BBC Radio 4 on July 23rd 2024!

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: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com

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.