Why Red Dwarf's Gunmen of the Apocalypse episode is a comedy classic

It may seem hard to believe, but cult TV favourite Red Dwarf celebrates its 30th anniversary today.

Thanks to creators Rob Grant and Doug Naylor's sharp, witty writing, and the consistent charisma of its stars, the sci-fi sitcom became one of the most widely loved comedies in history.

There have been numerous great episodes of course, from 'Backwards' to 'Polymorph'.

But few instalments of any comedy show have had the enduring, universally-loved appeal of 'Gunmen Of The Apocalypse'. A Wild West caper in space, with the swagger to match.

Fistful of Dollars meets The Matrix

First broadcast in 1993 as part of series six, and celebrating its own 25th anniversary this year, 'Gunmen' manages to be a hilarious sitcom episode, a nail-biting sci-fi thriller and a love-letter to classic Hollywood westerns - all in one half-hour of television.

Red Dwarf is often at its best when seizing on an inspired set-up from the near infinite possibilities of its space-faring, alien-marauding universe. And 'Gunmen' has one of the most tantalising.

After barely surviving a run-in with a ship of merciless, human-hating AIs known as Simulants, the crew's own vessel, 'Starbug', is infected with the formidable Armageddon virus.

Android Kryten begins fighting a losing virtual battle with the virus; represented as a Wild West nightmare in which his town is besieged by the titular horsemen: Death, War, Famine and Pestilence.

Realising they need to intervene to help him, Cat, Lister and Rimmer enter Kryten's dream state with the aid of a handy VR video game machine.

It's Fistful of Dollars meets The Matrix (six years before the latter film's release).

Cowboys and comedy

Serving up a genuine slice of cinematic tension alongside the comedy, what follows is a race-against-time to save the ship and its crew, and an opportunity to parody any number of Western clichés.

There's the bar fight (taking place, appropriately enough, in 'The Last Chance Saloon'). The washed-up, over-the-hill Sheriff who must raise his courage to face down one last threat.

And the Red Dwarf crew re-imagined as a deadly posse of cowboys. Something of a Magnificent Three, at least until they lose their special gaming abilities.

So we get to witness the wonderful spectacle of layabout Lister nonchalantly flicking an apple into a thug's open mouth, the usually cowardly Rimmer duking it out with his fists, and - best of all - Cat showing off his full flamboyant flair as The Riviera Kid (cue guitar flourish); shooting a gunslinger's bullets clean out of the air and, in a moment of great visual comedy, ricocheting a bullet off various surfaces in order to incapacitate Kryten.