Are you perhaps thinking of Babylon 5?

But yes, the low budget is part of the formula for success. Without a ton of money, they had to rely on wit and creativity. Most shows now have comparatively gargantuan budgets, and it goes on big sets, big effects and big names, but the things that actually make a show good (compelling story, enjoyable writing) are unbottleable magic that you can’t just buy.

I definitely meant Red Dwarf but another person pointed out that the show originally didn't use VFX.

Red Dwarf used practical effects in the era when VideoToasters were a thing. For some reason the BBC replaced the lovely miniature shots of space ships with crap CG in a mid-2000s remaster.

VideoToasters were a thing but they didn’t work with PAL, at at least not the original version.

I agree that the models looked better IMHO.

They did it with models. They then rereleased some of the earlier shows with CGI, demonstrating how much better it was with models.

Would anyone like some toast? Muffin? Teacake? Buns? Baps? Baguette? Bagel? Crumpet? Pancake? Flapjack? Waffle?