Pre-production on the two new series of Red Dwarf is most definitely underway, with cast and crew having convened in Pinewood Studios on Monday for the first script readthrough. Thanks to the fact that we’re living in the future, this crucial and fascinating first step has been well documented on the popular social media service Twitter. Three quarters of the cast and one half of the production companies involved posted photos, which you’ve probably all seen by now. But there are some intriguing details that you may have missed. Let’s indulge ourselves…
Firstly, this picture from Robert reveals the names of some of the crew members present:
We’re ready to stumble. pic.twitter.com/sX72mWpxPw
— Robert Llewellyn (@bobbyllew) October 12, 2015
So Richard Naylor, Linda Glover and Ed Moore are all back, which isn’t a surprise. You can also glimpse the flowing grey locks of documentarian Nathan Cubitt in the top left of frame, standing behind Doug. This suggests that proceedings were being filmed, which hopefully means we’ll be getting the customary DVD and/or online behind-the-scenes coverage. Matt Bell is a name that’s new to Red Dwarf as far as we can tell, but luckily one of Craig Funkandsoul’s photos shows that particular place-setting a little more clearly:
Boys from the dwarf getting help to remember who we are pic.twitter.com/DVzdIhuCdP
— Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) October 12, 2015
It’s still hard to make out, but if you zoom right in you can just about see that he’s the 1st Assistant Director. Presumably then, it’s this guy, who’s followed on Twitter by Doug, Richard and DoP Ed Moore. Nothing like a bit of friendly stalking to welcome someone to the team, eh? Also, what’s that stack of full colour printouts underneath Robert’s name plate? Concept art for new set designs? Photos from location recces? Or just something Bobby brought in from home, probably related to electric cars or some shit? You decide.
Another minor thing to note is the wording of the caption to this amusing picture from Baby Cow:
Red Dwarf day 1 script workshop, nothing to report… pic.twitter.com/WQVpvxlhTO
— babycow productions (@babycowLtd) October 12, 2015
A “script workshop”, rather than a “readthrough”? Probably nothing, but then there was also this bit of what seems to be knowing pedantry from Craig to Robert:
@bobbyllew it wasn't a read thru bobby
— Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) October 12, 2015
Could it be that the scripts are not yet in a state that’s considered ready for a proper readthrough, with the terminology being deliberately changed to reflect that? Or is it just that different people use different bits of jargon for the same thing, and that these occasions are always a collaborative exercise which naturally generates feedback from the production team that informs subsequent drafts anyway? Probably the latter.
But we’ve saved perhaps the most notable, and certainly the most alarming, details until last. For there are no less than four photos that show no less than three different cast members wearing what can only be described as Dibbley teeth.
Oh Sh*t …. pic.twitter.com/4NM5kPzu0f
— Danny John-Jules (@DannyJohnJules) October 12, 2015
Oh my!! pic.twitter.com/BhtgqBS9hx
— Danny John-Jules (@DannyJohnJules) October 12, 2015
No words ….. pic.twitter.com/hJAkXt0Nyl
— Danny John-Jules (@DannyJohnJules) October 12, 2015
Me and my dibbley teeth pic.twitter.com/rVajdmRDBg
— Craig Charles (@CCfunkandsoul) October 12, 2015
“Oh Sh*t” indeed, Danny. Now, before we all start setting fire to things, there is a distinct possibility that they’re deliberately having us on here. It almost seems more likely that this is just the cast pissing about, rather than the cast tweeting massive spoilers whilst in the same room as all their bosses. Plus, a similar thing has happened before, and that all turned out to be for an app that we can barely remember six years on. However, it seems that some effort has gone into this – there’s a bloke behind Craig with a tape measure, which could suggest that they cast are trying out props that have been custom built… if indeed that bloke and his tape measure are related to what’s happening in the foreground, rather than having being captured in the middle of doing something else.
But the thing is, if you look closely at the three sets of teeth, they are all slightly different. The colours vary, which could be down to subtle differences in lighting and composition of the photos, but they do seem to match the actors’ own gnashers. The shapes of the teeth are also clearly non-uniform – Craig’s are rounder than the others, Danny’s are straighter, and Robert’s stick out the furthest, especially the ones on the outside. So it’s looking very likely that these have been made for a specific purpose. As well as an episode where everyone’s Kryten, will there also be an occasion on which everyone’s Duane (or three quarters of them are, at least)? Because that didn’t go too well last time.
It’s worth bearing in mind that absolutely all of the above is based on very little, and we’ve been wrong hundreds of times before. Also, while many of us on G&T respond with great caution whenever the prospect of bringing back old characters is discussed, it’s worth noting that a lot of the reaction to the pictures on Twitter was that of excitement and positivity. It’s never a good idea to dismiss an idea before knowing how it’s going to be executed, but to be honest, the best thing I can bring myself to say is that at least they weren’t being unhygienic by sharing around the same set of salivia-drenched dentures.
si / October 13, 2015 at 4:37 pm / #
I was worrying about the Dibbley teeth all yesterday afternoon (sad, but true). However after a short discussion on Twitter today, have also come to the conclusion that it’s just the cast farting about.
Plus, it’s only the first fucking readthrough. Script Workshop. Whatever.
SoundableObject / October 13, 2015 at 4:55 pm / #
The teeth are probably the ones from Series VIII. Hence why Chris doesn’t have any.
Didn’t they take the piss by hinting about a Dibbley return during the filming of Series X?