CRAIG CHARLES

Perhaps best known for his role as Dave Lister in the long-running British comedy series Red Dwarf, Craig Charles has also spent his time as a champion of underground and obscure soul and funk with his radio shows and compilations series such as 2020's The Craig Charles Trunk of Funk, Vol. 1. Born in 1964 and raised in Liverpool, Charles started out in poetry, delivering his work with a witty and alternative edge. An encounter with Julian Cope's the Teardrop Explodes in the early 1980s saw Charles eventually opening for the band for several gigs before going on to support other alternative acts on the underground scene. He branched out on his own, recording two sessions for the legendary John Peel in 1983 and 1984, before eventually moving into stand-up comedy. After years of touring the standup scene, Charles found his first acting job, taking on the role of Dave Lister in the BBC comedy show Red Dwarf. Running from 1988 to 1999, the show became a cult classic and made Charles a household name. In the early '90s, he also started his foray into radio, presenting the breakfast show on London's former pirate radio station Kiss FM. After the end of Red Dwarf, Charles moved into presenting, fronting shows such as Robot Wars and Takeshi's Castle before returning to radio, where he put together The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC 6music in 2002. Over the years he has championed underground soul and funk, crate-digging for obscure originals, and has compiled albums such as 2012's The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club and its numerous follow-ups, including 2020's The Craig Charles Trunk of Funk, Vol. 1. Alongside his radio show he has also continued to present, act, and play in his own Fantasy Funk Band at festivals such as Glastonbury and the BBC's Proms in the Park. ~ Rich Wilson