Which amazing comedians do we have for you in series 4? When’s it launching? And what are our hopes and dreams for the newly announced 2025 Red Dwarf miniseries?

All these questions are answered in this series 4 preview. Plus: some brilliant listener emails on all sorts of stuff – from pottery, saxophones and adolescent tears, to the answer you’ve all been waiting for… just what was the British sci-fi sitcom Nick Doody couldn’t name in our Polymorph ep… and what does it have to do with Edgar Wright? Have a listen and find out.

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.

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.

It’s our second selection of choice off-cuts from series 3. Find out what else the wonderful Jonno and the incredible Dulcé Sloan had to say about the greatest British sci-fi sitcom of all time. Plus: listener emails about swearing and hidden lyrics in the Red Dwarf theme tune.

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?

See and hear those hidden lyrics in the Red Dwarf theme tune for yourself!

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.

Keep yourself warm between series with this selection of juicy off-cuts from recent episodes. Find out what Vix Layton, Kirsty Newton, Nick Doody and Tom Price said that you didn’t get to hear before. Plus: a listener shares a tale of youthful fandom cringe.

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.

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.

That’s right. Dulcé Sloan off The Daily Show is a lifelong Red Dwarf fan! She and her family have loved the show since she was a kid, when it first aired in the USA on PBS. Dulcé has great insights all over the place - from why the US remake was doomed to fail, to the genius of Backwards. Which member of the crew did she have a crush on? Is continuity even a thing in Red Dwarf? And is Robert Llewellyn really doing a Canadian accent? We tackle it all.

Unpicking series 3 episode 6, The Last Day, Dulcé shows us how it’s done…Planned obsolescence. Master-servant dynamics. Crises of faith. What to do when you’ve got a day left to live. And the implied bleak history of mechanoid rebellion…Turns out this ep is incredibly rich in thematic content! Listen to the end for a very dark graphic novel idea, free to any artistic listener who’s unconcerned about copyright infringement.

Smoke us a kipper, we’ll be back soon with series 4.

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, videos, podcasts and much more, visit the official Dulcé Sloan website.

Grab Dulcé’s new book, Hello, Friends! wherever you buy books. Trevor Noah calls it, “A heartfelt story of joy, sorrow, and unbelievable resilience” - so, what are you waiting for?!

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.

Jonno is here and he’s geeking out! He’s never missed a Gazpacho Soup Day, and we’re talking comprehensive rankings of eps and seasons. As a TV comedy writer and member of powerhouse sketch trio Sheeps, his fandom has evolved along with his experience as a crafter of comedy. Expect insights into what the show tells us about what’s wrong with Rimmer, how the 2020 lockdown helped Jonno understand Lister’s experience as the last human, and why regret is a recurring theme of the show.

Series 3 episode 5, Timeslides, is an episode Jonno thought about a lot during lockdown. He tells us why - and it may break your heart a little. We lovingly unpack the brilliance of the ep - from the throwaway cruelty of Rimmer’s fate, to what the show tells us about luck and money. Jonno’s tales of problem solving in TV writers’ rooms will have you appreciating the genius of the tension sheet as a plot device. As a bonus, you’ll find out why Thanks For The Memory is Jonno’s favourite piece of TV, ever.

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?

Agree or disagree with Jonno’s takes on Red Dwarf? Geek out with him @thisisjonno on Instagram. And follow @sheepsofcomedy on X for the chance to see him on stage.

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.

Red Dwarf changed Tom Price’s comedy DNA. The multitalented actor, radio presenter and podcaster shares his fan story - from being Talky Toaster at school, to bonding with his future wife over their shared love of the show, all the way to what happened when Tom did studio warm-up for a Dave-era Red Dwarf taping. His insights are plentiful, especially when it comes to appreciating why Chris Barrie is so fantastic as Rimmer.

Turning our attention to series 3 episode 4, Bodyswap, we talk about all the good stuff - of which there’s lots. Like Chris and Craig impersonating each other. Danny’s exquisitely timed tea drop. And, of course, the smegging crash scene. But we also consider what doesn’t quite work… and what might have made it even better… Do any of our alternate versions of the plot strike you as better than the original? Email in or let us know on social media.

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?

Follow Tom Price on Instagram @thepricetom

Watch Tom’s brilliant Amazon purchase history podcast, My Mate Bought A Toaster, on YouTube or find the audio version on your podcast app.

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.

Ep 15 - POLYMORPH

It’s our first ever two guest spectacular! Musical comedy virtuoso Kirsty Newton and phenomenal standup Nick Doody are joyful company as they share their love of Red Dwarf - from the mighty theme tune’s spacey vibes, to taking comfort in the company of misfits. You’ll find out which one of them has a groinal socket. And Kirsty and Nick’s individual links to Rob Grant will have you asking: what’s your RD Number?

Tackling the chaotic brilliance of series 3 episode 3, Polymorph, head-on, we talk blatant Alien references, ponder the mutant’s knowledge of 1980s household objects, and mull quite how much chilli powder there is onboard the Dwarf. Plus: Stupidity! Special effects! Sad home movies! And much more.

Trigger warning: this episode of the podcast contains way too many fish puns and most of them are genuinely awful. On reflection, we probably should have cut them trout in the edit.

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?

Find Kirsty at https://www.kirstynewton.com/

Find Nick at http://www.nickdoody.com/

Follow Nick on X @NickDoody

Check out ‘Chess With Comedians’ on Twitch (and YouTube) to see Nick Doody give chess lessons to the one and only Josie Long - live!

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.

Craig Charles called Will Duggan a “wazzock” on BBC radio - in this ep, he tells us why! Will came to Red Dwarf at a random episode of series 8 (that’s not why Craig dissed him on 6 Music). Over several years, he caught episodes out of sequence, before finally learning the backstory of this “workplace sitcom that happens to be set 3 million years in the future.”

Crashing into series 3 episode 2, Marooned, Will declares it a classic from the opening scene onwards. We can’t argue with him. Together we examine Rimmer’s Richard III. Moral quandaries. How Marooned’s original working title sheds light on the character dynamics. Theories about why this (mainly) two-hander was the 2nd ep of the newly expanded series. Why the original opening scene was cut. And… a Time Lord aboard the Dwarf!

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?

Find and follow @willduggan on X and/or @will_dug on Instagram.

Check out the National Treasures podcast archive, to hear Will’s adventures in UK tourism.

And get yourself to the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2024 for Will’s show, ‘Can Duggan, Should Duggan, Will Duggan’.

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.