Hattie Hayridge and Norman Lovett are both best known for the same role, having both played Holly the computer in Red Dwarf. They’ve pulled this show together to mark the 20th anniversary since the show started.

I was excited, although some were dubious. “It’s two out of work actors wondering how to make a few quid,” my friend scoffed. Pah. He has clearly never known the timeless allure of the ‘Dwarf. Although in one way he may even be right, that’s not the point. Cynical little bugger.

Hayridge’s dotty and seemingly tipsy demeanour belies a cool and collected comic mind and once she got going her 25 minute set was great fun. Totally at ease in front of the audience, she plays on the theme of her criminal mind throughout her set. “I’m a good person, because I walk into a place and think ‘what would I nick’, and then I never nick anything. People who never think of stealing have never been tested. It doesn’t make them good people,” she reasons.

Lovett’s set struck me as a bit odd, but seemed to go down better. At first he seemed totally unprepared, rambling away about the exit signs and pulling an old Subway bag out of his pocket and ruminating on it. However, he has so many other random bits and bobs in his pockets – a pair of socks, more bags, and a sheet of bubble wrap (Red Dwarf fans start yelling “tension sheet” in excitement to this, in reference to an invention in the series. I’m not that bad) – that you realise there would have to be some method in his madness.

His doddery character has charm and the act is cute and impossible to dislike but not especially funny – more like performance than stand up.

For the last ten minutes the pair come out and answer questions about the show and then happily move out to the foyer to sign things, pose for pics and chat some more.

“I wonder if I should ask what happened to plans for the Red Dwarf film?” I think to myself.

“What happened to plans for the Red Dwarf film?” someone asks.

Lovett doubles over in mock indignation. “We get this every time. I hate that question!"

Oh...

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