Red Dwarf Creator Rob Grant Bequeaths Six-Figure Fortune to Wife Following Unexpected Passing at 70
RED Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant left his wife a fortune worth more than £930,000 after his sudden death aged 70, probate records reveal. The writer, who , left a...
RED Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant left his wife a fortune worth more than £930,000 after his sudden death aged 70, probate records reveal.
The writer, who , left a net estate in the UK valued at £932,534 after debts and expenses were settled.
Grant was co-creator of the hit science fiction comedy sitcom Red Dwarf Credit: BBC
The comedy writer left a net estate in the UK valued at £932,534 Credit: PA
His will, signed in November 2015, left everything to his wife of many years, Kathryn Grant.
Kathryn was also appointed to administer his estate on her own.
The probate document covers Grant’s assets outside , where he also owned property being dealt with separately under another will.
Grant died suddenly on February 25, leaving his family, friends and comedy fans around the world mourning.
Tributes flooded in for the ‘visionary’ in the wake of his death Credit: Handout
Red Dwarf aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 before multiple returns on Dave in the following years Credit: Alamy
His family announced his death in a statement the following day, describing it as a “great loss”.
The statement said: “With much sadness, we have to announce that Rob Grant, co-creator of Red Dwarf, passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon (Wednesday February 25, 2026), a great loss to his family, friends and comedy fans across the world.”
Grant was born in in 1955 and met writing partner Doug Naylor at Chetham’s School in Manchester.
The pair went on to create the cult sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, which first aired on Two in 1988.
The series followed technician Dave Lister, played by , who wakes from suspended animation three million years into the future.
He discovers he is the last surviving human and is stranded aboard the ship Red Dwarf.
Lister is joined by a hologram, a cat-like lifeform, sanitation droid Kryten and the ship’s computer.
The show ran on until 1999 before returning several times, including on Dave.
It went on to become one of Britain’s best-loved fiction comedies, attracting more than eight million viewers at its peak.
An episode from its sixth series, Gunmen of the , won an International Emmy Award in 1994.
The same year, Red Dwarf was named Best BBC Comedy Series at the British Comedy Awards.
Grant also worked on a string of other comedy shows, including Spitting Image, Carrott’s Lib, The 10 Percenters and Dark Ages.
He and Naylor worked as script editors on Spitting Image during its early years, helping shape the satirical series.
Following Grant’s death, Craig Charles paid tribute to his former collaborator and friend.
He wrote on X: “Earlier today I was informed of the passing of @realrobgrant. I am in total shock.
“He was one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. A visionary.
“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.”
Actor Cameron Yarde also described Grant’s career as a “legacy”, while producer Alan Nixon hailed his “great comic writing talent”.
Grant had continued working until shortly before his death and had recently announced a new Red Dwarf prequel novel, Titan, with fellow writer Andrew Marshall.
The book, set before the events of the TV series, follows the Red Dwarf gang as they take shore leave on Titan.
Grant had also spoken about the possibility of Red Dwarf returning to screens, although he suggested any prequel adaptation would require a new cast.
A planned one-off Red Dwarf special was announced in 2023 but was later scrapped after broadcaster Dave said it was no longer commissioning scripted comedy.