Editing Craig Charles (section)

=== ''Red Dwarf'' ===
[[File:Craig Charles (03).jpg|thumb|190px|Craig Charles in 2009]]
Charles' first television acting role was the Liverpudlian slob [[Dave Lister]] in science fiction comedy series ''[[Red Dwarf]]'' starting in 1988. He was introduced to the show by ''Saturday Live'' and ''Red Dwarf'' producer [[Paul Jackson (producer)|Paul Jackson]], who wanted his opinion on whether the black character [[Cat (Red Dwarf)|Cat]] was a racist stereotype.<ref name=how>{{cite news |last=Pelley |first=Rich |title=How we made Red Dwarf |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/05/how-we-made-red-dwarf-doug-naylor-craig-charles-bbc |access-date=15 October 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=5 March 2019}}</ref> Charles, who like all of the eventual main cast had no acting experience, was eventually offered an audition after begging Jackson.<ref name="how"/>

Charles has appeared in all twelve series, as well as ''[[Red Dwarf: The Promised Land]]'' (2020). Charles' younger brother, Emile Charles, guest-starred in the third-series episode "[[Timeslides]]", and the songs "Bad News" and "Cash" in this episode were written by Charles and performed by his band.<ref>Ellard, Andrew. ''Red Dwarf series III DVD boxset Collector's Booklet'', Grant Naylor Productions, 2003, pp. 8</ref> The role has involved Charles playing a variety of alternative characters, including a gangster, a cowboy and angelic and evil versions of Lister,<ref>Cantor, Carrie. "Red Dwarf Interview: Lager Lout Lister", ''TV Zone'', November 1993, pp. 8–11</ref> and in him carrying out a wide range of stunts, and acting involving special effects. All series, except 7 and 9, were recorded in front of a studio audience. Along with [[Danny John-Jules]] (Cat), Charles is one of only two cast members to appear in every episode of ''Red Dwarf'' to date.

Charles reads the audiobook editions of both the ''Red Dwarf'' novel ''[[Last Human]]'' and his book ''The Log: A Dwarfer's Guide to Everything'', and he regularly attends sci-fi, comedy and memorabilia conventions in connection with the ''Red Dwarf'' franchise. During ''[[Red Dwarf: Back to Earth|Back to Earth]]'', Lister visits the set of ''Coronation Street'', where he meets the actor Craig Charles.<ref>James York & Richard Luck. [http://blokely.com/entertainment/craig-charles-interview-red-dwarf-x "Craig Charles: Funk & Soul x Sci-fi"], ''Blokely'', 7 November 2012, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112004207/http://blokely.com/entertainment/craig-charles-interview-red-dwarf-x/|date=12 November 2012}}</ref>