With much sadness, we have to announce that Rob Grant, co-creator of Red Dwarf, passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 25th February 2026), a great loss to his family, friends and comedy fans across the world.
Considering the novel is already up for pre-order and has a publication date of July 16th, chances are the book is already mostly complete. Hopefully Andrew Marshall can finish it in time, maybe with help from Doug.
Doug? Seriously? After the last 33 years of torture, let Robs work rest. Doug has proven he cannot write comedy. RIP Rob. I though you were invincible after surviving the traumatic experience that must have been watching series 7.
♪ Lying in the silken ground one day I shall sense the buggies wriggle as they eat me away Singing, I believe in bugs I truly believe in bugs ♫ - Ivor Cutler ' I Believe in Bugs'
Oh fuck, now this one genuinely hurts. I had the great privilege to meet Rob many a year ago, he was just wonderful. And the co-creator of one of THE finest shows of all time. Such memories of watching this. RIP Rob.
This makes me so very sad. Red Dwarf was a huge part of my teen years in the 90s. I had just started watching the new episodes and dug out my old novels and have them waiting on the bedside table this very moment. Right before I came to check this reddit today, I was thinking: "How could I have forgotten how much I loved Red Dwarf??" And now Rob Grant is gone...
That said:
The Welcome Back Rob Grant reception is about to begin in the refectory.
We're all gathered here today to pay our last respects to Rob Grant. Rob was an excellent writer and as good of a friend as anyone could ever hope to have. And he'll be missed more deeply and more completely than he could ever know. And now I commend his ashes to the stars he loves so much.
He's left an incredible legacy that has brought laughs and so much more to thousands upon thousands of people over the years. What a loss. Rest in peace, Rob Grant.
I wish I could have told him how much the show has shaped my life and I would not be the same without it. Red Dwarf will forever hold a special place in my heart a special piece of music for Rob
It's one of the very few things my dad and I bonded over. He introduced me to it when I was 11 (in the early 90's) and I've been a huge fan ever since.
Yeah my dad and I weren't so close, especially when I was a kid, but he did have a good sense of humour and loved Red Dwarf so watching the show and laughing with him is a particularly treasured memory for me.
Like you, the show also defined a lot of my adult personality, especially my humour, so your comment reminded me of that!
Sorry you didn't have that with your family, but you're right that any dwarfers are immediately friends!!
I’m genuinely wounded. Red dwarf is my favourite comedy show, even above only fools, and it holds a special place in my heart that cannot be replaced. And to hear that Rob Grant has passed away has…. Absolutely demolished me. It will take me a long time to get over this. I’ve only just rebinged it, but I tell you now it’s getting rewatched now, with a different perspective. I’m distraught right now 😭
Edit; I need to add: thank you Rob… my life would not be the same nor my life values if you did not create this show. I am eternally grateful
It's fair to say those who know me know that I love Red Dwarf, to the point where I quote the show religiously, the entire show is a crazy comfort blanket when life gets hard.
To see a co-creator of the show pass hits hard, it reminds me that not everyone is invincible and everything has a finite end. Smeg!
A genuine loss, I was very excited at the prospect of his new book, I hope he was close to finishing it or Doug Naylor will pick this up in his absence.
RIP Rob, - I will be smoking you a kipper tonight.
Really sad to hear.... :( Titan now becomes his swansong. We can all treasure this book even more now. Condolences to his family and all who knew him.
As a Red Dwarf fan you really do feel like you've known these guys personally, grown up with them. It's almost like hearing of a family member passing...ah crap. :( RIP Rob.
Bet Dave / BBC are kicking themselves for not taking his special now.
Rip Rob thanks for the laughs, you created something beautiful, something that has been one of the biggest joys in life since my dad used to put on episodes when I was a newborn to help me sleep
Ah Jesus, that's incredibly sad, especially after just announcing the new book too. At least we're left with one last RD outing from Rob to look forward to.
Holly: Loneliness weighs heavily on us all. Personally, the only thing that keeps me going is the thought that we are over 60 billion miles away from the nearest Berni Inn.
Oh, man ☹️ such an incredibly intelligent, sharp writer. Not just Red Dwarf, but Incompetence is one of my favourite comedy novels - and Quanderhorn got me through some tough months in the pandemic!
Until I watched the RD commentaries he did with Paul and Ed, I also had no idea how much of Lister was directly taken from Rob’s life. Rest In Peace.
Don't worry, he's just around the U-bend. One of us will stuff food down there and magazines for him to read. Just don't get caught with your head down the bowl reading him the football results.
"I’m deeply saddened to hear of Rob Grant’s passing yesterday. It’s hard to take in the loss of someone who was such a significant part of my life for so many years.
I first met Rob when we were nine years old. We went to Chetham's School of Music and later Liverpool University. We grew up making each other laugh long before there was an audience, and eventually found ourselves building something that neither of us could have imagined when we were schoolboys.
Spitting Image and later Red Dwarf went on to become two of the most loved comedy series in Britain. I'll always treasure those years of writing together and laughing so hard it hurt.
Creative partnerships are intense, driven by passion, conviction and strong personalities. But at the heart of ours was a shared love of comedy and a desire to make people laugh and we did, on a scale neither of us could have predicted.
My thoughts are with Rob's wife Kath, and all his family and friends. I will always be grateful for my time working with Rob and what we created together. RIP Smeghead! X"
I discovered Red Dwarf when I was going through a very low period with it being one of the few things that brought me happiness. Thanks for the memories Rob, this show will forever be an important part of my life
Awww shit. Rip, your comedy sensibilities informed my own and red dwarf has given me thousands of hours of happiness, from small child to now approaching elderly woman.
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u/Dr_Mijory_Marjorie Feb 26 '26
He'd just announced the first Red Dwarf novel in 30 years - Red Dwarf: Titan.
Rest in peace, Rob. Thanks for the memories.