Red Dwarf

An original puppet used in the production of the BBC science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf.

This shark puppet can be seen used in the Series VIII episode Back in the Red Part 3 during the memorable sequence where the crew appear in claymation for a brief stop motion animation sequence in which Lister is eaten by a shark.

This shark puppet was built by Mattes and Miniatures visual effects at Bray Studios, it is constructed in foam rubber around plastic tubing with an affixed rod used to control it for the shot. The shark head is detailed with gill slits and head fins with an eye ball attached with a pin to the side to be seen on screen, the interior mouth area is finished in red and sports several foam teeth. The effect after the shark spits lister out was likely achieved with a tongue on a separate rig operated through the interior tube as there is no evidence of a tongue having been present.

The shark puppet remains largely supple and soft to the touch with some hardening to its extremities such as the head fins and also the teeth, some of which have gone missing since its use on production, otherwise the puppet remains in fine screen used condition. The shark head measures approximately 9" long and 7" high with the rod measuring a further 7".

A displayable artefact from a memorable scene of this cult television series.