Red Dwarf

With all the elections and referendums we have been having here on Earth, it was only a matter of time before writer Doug Naylor, who’s always had a keen satirical eye, turned it towards comedy’s favourite mining spaceship.

In another on-form episode, the poll for a machine president is required after all the ship’s devices go on strike, with Lister and Kryten pitted against Rimmer and the Cat (who has been blackmailed into supporting the Smeg-headed hologram). The sight of the crew being forced to work by candlelight may remind us of 1970s walkouts. But the blackmail, false claims and smearing? Sadly that seems very much a 2017-inspired phenomenon.