Aftermath

The near five-million (at peak) viewers may well have been concerned by the warning that preceded Polymorph ("This week's Red Dwarf is not suitable for younger viewers, or those of a nervous disposition - you have been warned"), but this was actually just a ploy on the part of the programme makers to up the ante. The word "week's" was removed from the video edition.

The video release of Red Dwarf was begun with series III. In order for the second tape to have a better title (it being BBC custom to name the tape after its first episode), Timeslides was placed in front of Bodyswap on the tape.

Outside of the television, much stranger things were happening. With three seasons and a novel available, one Nic Farey approached Grant Naylor with plans for a Red Dwarf Fan Club. The writers agreed, and The Official Red Dwarf Fan Club was launched... from Nic's house, with the help of his mates.

Rob and Doug wrote and published the second Dwarf novel 'Better Than Life' between seasons III and IV. It featured parts of Marooned and Polymorph and would heavily influence White Hole. Once again, though, it was also awash with new ideas - Earth was discovered, albeit now in use as Garbage World, and Lister and co finally escaped from Better Than Life in spectacular fashion. The novel ended on a world based on the series III opener, Backwards.