02:12 of Paranoia

I always think of Lee Cornes more for Grange Hill than anything else.

You’re right though, Paranoia is one of those great little supporting roles that does a lot with relatively little, and really makes an impression. I like the episode a lot, not least because it’s a good way to give Lister and Rimmer more people to interact with in the quiet early days of the show, without making it feel any more populated in real terms.

I guess it’s a bit broad in places, particularly Confidence – I think it works though, given that these are meant to be exaggerated elements of Lister’s personality based on his own conscious conception of them.

It’s my least favourite episode of 1, but it’s still great. I didn’t realise Paranoia was on screen for such little time as that though! He’s utterly brilliant. I’d love to have come up with the yoghurt: it’s not an obvious prop, but it somehow sums him up perfectly. And perfect casting: Lee Cornes was born to play slimy, unlikeable people.

His words are interesting. It’s hard to know exactly what they were going for at such an early stage, but it’s easy to read things into it: deep down, Lister knows he’s actually better than Rimmer (“You’ve got brains, man! Brains you’ve never used), so being his subordinate, being looked down on by him, there must be a part of Lister’s mind thinking “Shit, am I REALLY worse than Rimmer? Is this really all I can be?” Again, possibly a bit deep for Rob & Doug in series 1, but it holds up well over the course of the series.

Rimmer’s dislike of the character is in some part disgust at seeing himself personified in such an honest way. Paranoia is who Rimmer is inside, and not the smart, upwardly mobile officer-in-waiting he tries to portray on the outside.

My favourite moment of the episode is Lister’s pause between “What are we waiting for, King?” and “Nothing.” A brief moment where he considers that maybe a balanced centre between the two extremes of his character might be the best option.

I think Rob and Doug always kind of saw Lister as capable but just slobby with no ambition outside of his Fiji farm.

True, but written in the same block as “what’s an iguana?” it’s hard to tell just how developed that underlying intelligence was at this stage.

Lee Cornes is very good in 15 Storeys High as well.

Oh God the cowboy poet. One of the most awkwardly hilarious things I’ve ever seen.

I met Lee Cornes at a Red Dwarf themed pub quiz in Kentish Town once. He was a lovely chap.

I met Paul Muller at a Red Dwarf themed pub quiz in Kentish Town once. He was a lovely chap.