Red Dwarf legend Craig Charles was forced to pull out of the London Film and Comic-Con over the weekend (5–6 July 2025) after being “violently ill for hours,” leaving fans stunned and disappointed.
The 59-year-old actor had been set to appear alongside co-stars Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn and Hattie Hayridge at the star-studded fan event, but things took a turn when he was suddenly struck by a severe stomach illness.
Initially, organisers were told there was a “family emergency” and that Craig would arrive late. But after multiple failed attempts to reach him at his hotel, his fellow Red Dwarf castmates eventually got through to him — and it was confirmed that Charles was too ill to attend.
A since-deleted Facebook statement from organisers read:
“We contacted Craig at 9am… At 11:30am we spent 20 minutes knocking on his hotel room door. No answer. His Red Dwarf colleagues reached him at 12:30, where he confirmed he was ill and unable to attend.”
Fans who bought tickets for the group photo op were offered automatic £60 refunds, though the photo session continued with Danny, Robert and Hattie.
Craig later addressed the situation himself via X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“I made it to the hotel but woke up at 3 this morning with stomach pains. I then proceeded to be violently ill for hours. Not a pretty sight.”
He added that he made the decision to cancel at 10am and returned to Manchester.
“I’m feeling slightly better now and drinking lots of water and electrolytes. Sorry again.”
To make matters worse for fans, another Red Dwarf icon, Chris Barrie, also dropped out — citing a private medical issue.
Posting a statement on his website, Chris wrote:
“Over the last week I have been dealing with a medical situation which I am only just beginning to get my head around. I shall be attending no more events over the summer and into the autumn.”
He confirmed just one exception — an appearance at Scarborough Unleashed Comic-Con on November 9.
With two major cast members sidelined, the Comic-Con weekend wasn’t what Red Dwarf fans had hoped for, but health clearly took priority. Both actors have received an outpouring of support online, with fans wishing them a speedy recovery.
