Happy 30th birthday, smegheads!

Goldfish shoals nibbling at their toes not pictured

It’s a remarkable three decades since science fiction comedy Red Dwarf lifted off on BBC Two.

Since then, it’s four main characters have intermittently careered across the universe, and our screens, in twelve series of the show named after it’s inhabitants’ space ship.

Dave Lister - the last surviving, slobby, member of the human race. Arnold Rimmer - the cowardly, irritating, hologram. Kryten – a deranged service mechanoid who really wants to be human. Cat – a vain, self-obsessed creature descended from a kitty smuggled onboard.

Brilliant performances from the actors involved, and top notch comedic writing by creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, landed the show an International Emmy Award in 1994, along with the accolade of being crowned “Best BBC Comedy Series”.

A ten year gap between 1999 and 2009 was followed by a switch to digital TV channel Dave, giving them some of the highest ratings achieved by a non-Public Service Broadcasting commission, and more awards, including being voted “Comedy of the Year” by readers of the British Comedy Guide in 2016.

Whilst the often-mooted movie has never materialised, Red Dwarf XII, which aired last year, saw the show re-visit some original characters and stories, and once again brighten up our lives with six more episodes with our favourite ‘boys from the Dwarf’, and their calamitous adventures. Long may the Fun Fun Fun continue.

I have a sudden thirst for some fresh mango juice.

This post first appeared as the second piece in my column/page in The Mail and the News & Star, on the 23rd of February 2018, where it was re-titled as "Long may the Fun Fun Fun continue", with my original title used as the first line instead. 2 pictures from the show were included - this piece was a little under the 250 words.

I bloody love Red Dwarf. Reluctantly, I've just binned two VHS tapes of "Smeg Ups" and "Smeg Outs" in a clear out. Even the bits that went wrong were hilarious.

(CD A-Z: ULLAdubULLA II - The Remix Album, from Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds.)

Malaysian Grand Prix - Vettel hot, but not bothered

Malaysia. It's always hot, and it always rains. Except the 2nd part is no longer true (unless you count the drizzly bit around lap 14). Saturday's qualifying session had highlighted the fact that Red Bull and McLaren seemed well matched on pace, but also that Ferrari were struggling. Whilst Vettel bagged another pole, followed by Hamilton, Webber and Button, Alonso was only 5th, and Massa 7th, with Nick Heidfeld an excellent 6th on the grid between the two red cars. At this point, I would like to break momentarily for a small rant: How many times do I have to say Heidfeld is good? Why wasn't he given a top drive years ago? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! ARE YOU BLIND!!!?? Ahem. The Hispanias somehow managed to a) turn up b) remember to bring cars c) get both of them on the track d) actually get both of them within 107%. Pretty remarkable really. Oh, and it didn't rain. Race day looked a more likely candidate for a drop of the wet stuff. The start was exciting, with

I know I'll regret this...

For @Feisty_Onion @BroughtonLass @LizWestmorland Me... before the grumpiness set in. Have a great weekend.

Senna bags Willy drive?

The great thing about F1 rumours is that they change every 5 minutes. Just last week it was looking like Barrichello might be back in at Williams, as new engines, tech staff and a general reshuffle would mean they needed someone who actually knew what they were doing in an F1 car. Which rules out Maldonado, obviously. Now it looks like Senna might be about to get a seat with the team where his Uncle lost his life. I'm sure Bruno's mum must be delighted. I don't hold with all this superstitious mumbo-jumbo though, and with the extraordinary level of safety in modern F1 cars, Bruno should be pretty safe. There is one significant problem with Williams signing him though - and this is going to be a bit unpopular I suspect - Bruno isn't very good. Yes, he put in a couple of reasonable performances with Renault, but Nick Heidfeld (ah... Nick and his lovely beard...) would have been able to do likewise, has he not been dropped. And then they dropped Senna too. Thi

grumpyf1

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