Rob Grant: Red Dwarf’s ‘visionary’ co-creator dies aged 70

rob grant, the comedy writer best known as co-creator of the long-running sitcom Red Dwarf, has died at the age of 70. The news has prompted immediate tributes from colleagues, fans and a family message shared on a dedicated fan site; a cause of death has not been made public.

Rob Grant’s death and initial confirmation

A family message posted on a Red Dwarf fan site said Rob Grant "passed away suddenly" on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The same fan site briefly went offline, presumably because of heavy traffic as fans sought information. The family statement described the loss as a great one for family, friends and comedy fans across the world.

Public reactions and tributes

Craig Charles, who starred as Dave Lister, posted on social media on Thursday afternoon (February 26) expressing shock and calling Grant "one of the funniest people" he had met and a "visionary, " while sending condolences to Grant’s family and friends. Actor Cameron Yarde paid tribute by highlighting Grant’s legacy as co-creator of Red Dwarf with Doug Naylor and his early writing on Spitting Image, citing work such as The Chicken Song and contributions to Jasper Carrot’s show Carrot's Lib.

Fans responded in large numbers to Craig Charles’s post. Commenters used phrases such as "Incredibly sad news, " "Oh no, condolences to all of the Red Dwarf folks, " and "This was totally unexpected, condolences to his family and to you and your colleagues. " Other responses thanked Grant for the laughter and expressed sorrow at the unexpected loss.

Rob Grant’s career highlights

Grant was best known as co-creator of the sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, which began life from a sketch on the radio show Son of Cliche and launched in 1988. The series made stars of Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, Robert Llewellyn and Danny John-Jules, alongside Hattie Hayridge and Norman Lovett. Grant was also one of the main writers on Spitting Image for many years, working regularly with Doug Naylor, and contributed to other television projects including The Strangerers and Dark Ages.

Earlier in his career, one of Grant’s first jobs was writing for Jasper Carrot’s show Carrot's Lib. He also authored several novels and was credited with a succession of comedic and narrative projects across television and print.

Legacy of Red Dwarf and its cultural reach

Red Dwarf followed the character Dave’s adventures as the last living human aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf after awakening three million years after suspended animation. The show grew into a huge cult following over multiple seasons and specials, running across 12 seasons and two specials named Back to Earth and the Promised Land. A later revival in 2009 helped sustain and expand its devoted audience.

Upcoming projects and final works

Grant’s first Red Dwarf novel in thirty years, titled Titan and co-credited to Andrew Marshall, had recently been announced and is due to be published in July. That announcement came within days of his sudden passing, a detail many fans described as a particularly cruel twist given the timing.

Personal recollection and next steps

An author who worked with Rob Grant and Doug Naylor on The Official Red Dwarf Companion recalled them as a great double act, devoted to making people laugh and excellent company. This remains a developing story; more details and tributes are expected to follow as the community and colleagues reflect on Grant’s life and work.

Note: a cause of death has not been made public. This is a breaking story; more will follow.