Craig Charles

Craig Charles first gained widespread recognition through his portrayal of Dave Lister in the enduring BBC sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf. Beyond acting, he has built a parallel reputation as a tireless advocate for rare soul and funk recordings, showcased through his long-running radio programs and a string of compilation releases that includes the 2020 collection The Craig Charles Trunk of Funk, Vol. 1.

Liverpool-born in 1964, Charles initially concentrated on poetry, delivering his verses with a sharp, offbeat sensibility. An early-1980s meeting with Julian Cope’s the Teardrop Explodes led to several support slots with the group and further openings for other cult acts on the independent circuit. Branching into music on his own terms, he taped two sessions for John Peel in 1983 and 1984, after which he shifted focus to stand-up comedy. Years of touring clubs preceded his breakthrough acting role as Dave Lister in Red Dwarf, which aired from 1988 to 1999 and cemented his status as a familiar television face while attaining cult status.

During the early 1990s he also entered broadcasting, hosting the breakfast show on London’s former pirate station Kiss FM. Once Red Dwarf concluded, presenting duties followed on Robot Wars and Takeshi’s Castle, yet he soon returned to radio with the launch of The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6music in 2002. Through that platform he has consistently promoted lesser-known soul and funk material, unearthing original pressings and assembling albums such as 2012’s The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club together with its many successors. In tandem with these broadcasts he has maintained a presence on screen, continued acting, and led his Fantasy Funk Band at events including Glastonbury and the BBC’s Proms in the Park.