Rob Grant, the co-creator of the British science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf, has died, his family announced on Wednesday. He was 70 years old.
The news was first reported by the fan site Ganymede and Titan, and subsequently confirmed by multiple news outlets. Grant’s family stated they were “with great sadness” to announce his sudden death the previous afternoon, describing it as “a great loss for family, friends and comedy fans around the world.”
Craig Charles, who played the character of Lister in Red Dwarf, expressed his shock and grief on X (formerly Twitter). “I am in total shock. Rob was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. A visionary,” Charles wrote. “My heart goes out to his family and friends. The impact he and Doug had on the course of my life is immeasurable. RIP ROB.”
Born in Salford, Lancashire, Grant began his career in radio in the mid-1980s with the comedy program Son of Cliché. He transitioned to television, working on the satirical puppet show Spitting Image. However, he is best known for his work on Red Dwarf, which he co-wrote with Doug Naylor for the show’s first six series, from 1988 to 1993. The series, known for its distinctive blend of science fiction and British humor, gained a cult following and remains popular today.
According to Wikipedia, Grant and Naylor too collaborated on radio programs “Cliché” and “Son of Cliché,” as well as television shows “The 10 Percenters” and various projects with comedian Jasper Carrott.
While contributing to the show’s signature cynical wit and dialogue, Grant left Red Dwarf in the mid-1990s, citing his own creative ambitions. He subsequently focused on writing novels, including Backwards, a continuation of the Red Dwarf storyline published in 1996. He also authored other science fiction works, including Colony and Incompetence, the latter of which satirizes a future European Union where incompetence is not a barrier to employment.
As of February 26, 2026, the cause of Grant’s death remains unknown.