Grant Naylor
Encyclopedia
Grant Naylor was the collective name
used by writers Rob Grant
and Doug Naylor
for their collaborative work, particularly the television series Red Dwarf
. Grant and Naylor themselves called this pseudonym a "gestalt entity" (i.e. something which is greater than the sum of its parts).
The collaboration began in the mid-1980s when the duo co-wrote BBC Radio 4
programmes such as Cliché and its sequel Son Of Cliché
, and television programmes such as Spitting Image
, The 10 Percenters
, and various Jasper Carrott
projects. The pair are also credited with writing the lyrics to "The Chicken Song
" and a number of other musical parodies for the British
satirical
television show, Spitting Image
.
The "Grant Naylor" collaboration, as it had become known, was best known for the creation of the cult science-fiction comedy series, Red Dwarf
. (Rob Grant appeared uncredited in the third series episode "Backwards
" (1989), as a man who 'un-smoked' a cigarette). Later episodes of Red Dwarf were made by a company named after this pseudonym, Grant Naylor Productions.
At some point in the mid to late nineties, after the success of Series VI of Red Dwarf, the "Grant Naylor" collaboration ended leaving Naylor with all the writing duties for the show. When Doug Naylor was apparently left with control of Red Dwarf, Rob Grant cited creative differences as the reason for his departure. His main reason however, he said, was that he "wished to have more on his 'tombstone' than Red Dwarf."
Doug Naylor
went on to write series seven and eight of Red Dwarf in collaboration with other writers.
In 1999 and 2000, Rob Grant independently wrote two television series, Dark Ages
and The Strangerers
, and script edited the series Stressed Eric
. In the past few years he has written four solo books and is rumoured to be working on an animated series entitled Cruel Aliens.
, Grant Naylor Productions under Doug Naylor is primarily focused on the production of the DVD
releases of Red Dwarf and the return of Red Dwarf in the three part special Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
. Back to Earth received record ratings for freeview channel Dave.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
used by writers Rob Grant
Rob Grant
Robert Grant is a British comedy writer and television producer, who was born in Salford and studied Psychology at Liverpool University for two years....
and Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Douglas R. Naylor is a British comedy writer, science fiction writer, director and television producer.Naylor was born in Manchester, England and studied at the University of Liverpool. In the mid-1980s, Naylor wrote two regular comedy sketch shows for BBC Radio 4 entitled Cliché and Son of Cliché...
for their collaborative work, particularly the television series Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
. Grant and Naylor themselves called this pseudonym a "gestalt entity" (i.e. something which is greater than the sum of its parts).
The collaboration began in the mid-1980s when the duo co-wrote BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
programmes such as Cliché and its sequel Son Of Cliché
Son of Cliché
Son Of Cliché was a comedy sketch show that ran for two series on BBC Radio 4 between 23 August 1983 and 29 December 1984.The sketches were written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and were performed by Chris Barrie, Nick Maloney and Nick Wilton....
, and television programmes such as Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
, The 10 Percenters
The 10 Percenters
The Ten Percenters was a British television comedy series, broadcast on ITV, which began as a pilot in 1993 , and was followed by two series which were shown in 1994 and 1996...
, and various Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
projects. The pair are also credited with writing the lyrics to "The Chicken Song
The Chicken Song
-12" vinyl:-Chart performance:...
" and a number of other musical parodies for the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
television show, Spitting Image
Spitting Image
Spitting Image is a British satirical puppet show that aired on the ITV network from 1984 to 1996. It was produced by Spitting Image Productions for Central Television. The series was nominated for 10 BAFTA Awards, winning one for editing in 1989....
.
The "Grant Naylor" collaboration, as it had become known, was best known for the creation of the cult science-fiction comedy series, Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
. (Rob Grant appeared uncredited in the third series episode "Backwards
Backwards (Red Dwarf episode)
"Backwards" is the first episode of science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf Series III, and the thirteenth in the series run. It premiered on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 November 1989...
" (1989), as a man who 'un-smoked' a cigarette). Later episodes of Red Dwarf were made by a company named after this pseudonym, Grant Naylor Productions.
At some point in the mid to late nineties, after the success of Series VI of Red Dwarf, the "Grant Naylor" collaboration ended leaving Naylor with all the writing duties for the show. When Doug Naylor was apparently left with control of Red Dwarf, Rob Grant cited creative differences as the reason for his departure. His main reason however, he said, was that he "wished to have more on his 'tombstone' than Red Dwarf."
Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Douglas R. Naylor is a British comedy writer, science fiction writer, director and television producer.Naylor was born in Manchester, England and studied at the University of Liverpool. In the mid-1980s, Naylor wrote two regular comedy sketch shows for BBC Radio 4 entitled Cliché and Son of Cliché...
went on to write series seven and eight of Red Dwarf in collaboration with other writers.
In 1999 and 2000, Rob Grant independently wrote two television series, Dark Ages
Dark Ages (TV series)
Dark Ages is a British television sitcom, first broadcast as five thirty-minute episodes on ITV in December 1999. It portrayed medieval English villagers fearful of the turn of the new millennium in the year 999 AD, and parodied contemporary fears at the turn of the third millennium in 1999...
and The Strangerers
The Strangerers
The Strangerers is a British television science fiction comedy drama serial written by Rob Grant and was broadcast on Sky One between February and April 2000....
, and script edited the series Stressed Eric
Stressed Eric
Stressed Eric is a British/American/New Zealand cartoon series that was produced by Absolutely Productions for the BBC Two television channel in the United Kingdom and the Television New Zealand. The series revolves around Eric Feeble, a middle class man who is always stressed, because of his...
. In the past few years he has written four solo books and is rumoured to be working on an animated series entitled Cruel Aliens.
, Grant Naylor Productions under Doug Naylor is primarily focused on the production of the DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
releases of Red Dwarf and the return of Red Dwarf in the three part special Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth is a three part TV miniseries continuation of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, broadcast on the British television channel Dave between 10 April and 12 April 2009 and subsequently released on DVD on 15 June 2009 & on Blu-ray on 31 August 2009. It was the first...
. Back to Earth received record ratings for freeview channel Dave.