Stoke Me a Clipper
Encyclopedia
"Stoke Me a Clipper" is the second episode of science fiction
sit-com Red Dwarf
Series VII and the 38th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British
television channel BBC2 on 24 January 1997. Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor
and directed by Ed Bye
. It was the first episode to involve a writer other than co-creator/writers Grant
or Naylor.
's (Chris Barrie
) better looking heroic alternate being, from Dimension Jump
and Emohawk: Polymorph II
makes a rescue attempt on a captured princess. Although he succeeds in rescuing her, Ace takes a fatal bullet hit. Meanwhile on Starbug, Lister
(Craig Charles
) is tired of taking cold showers, nearly using all the water supplies in the process, so he goes into the artificial reality
machine with his book of cheats. He challenges the King's best knight so he can win the honour of spending a day and a night with the Queen of Camelot. Using his cheat codes he defeats the knight, claims his prize and with one last cheat the Queen's chastity belt
falls freely to the ground. Lister and the Queen then proceed to make love, with an interruption by Lister asking for whipped cream from the astounded crowd and King.
Ace transports into Starbugs dimension and reveals that he is dying and wants Rimmer to replace him as Ace. He also tells Rimmer of the Ace secret — the fact that alternate versions of Rimmer from countless dimensions have all taken the reins to be Ace. Now Ace must train Rimmer to succeed him and keep the legend going. After encouragement from Lister, Rimmer decides to accept the offer and begins his training. With the help of Lister, Cat
(Danny John-Jules
) and Kryten
(Robert Llewellyn
) , Rimmer succeeds with his training and when Ace dies, he dons Ace's outfit and says his goodbye to the crew before leaving Starbug.
writing regular, was the first one to help out. This was a new situation to Naylor having previously had control over every script. He would however re-write and edit each script to make them fit into the Red Dwarfs creative pedigree.
This episode featured a large number of famous guest actors. Scottish-born Hollywood movie veteran Brian Cox played the Medieval English King. British comedy actress Sarah Alexander
portrayed the French Queen. English actor Ken Morley
portrayed the German commander Captain Voorhese. British television actress Alison Senior portrayed Princess Bonjella. A German television comedy duo, Kai Maurer and Stephan Grothgar, portrayed the Wehrmacht soldiers who get hit on the head by the crocodile. Andy Gell also appeared as a Soldier.
Chris Barrie had decided to leave the series at this point, and had committed to four more episodes, but was written out in the second episode anyway, allowing more time to develop Kochanski
's character, who would be arriving in the next episode. This episode marks the original Rimmer hologram's final 'real' appearance in the series, with his other appearances taking the forms of flashbacks and dream sequences. In Series VIII Chris Barrie would portray a resurrected human form of Rimmer. In Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
he would return as a new hologram version (though with some of the original hologram's memories, such as of the despair squid).
known as "Interior Crocodile Alligator", which is derived from a very bizzare line in freestyle song by rap artist Chip Da Ripper
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
sit-com Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
Series VII and the 38th in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television channel BBC2 on 24 January 1997. Written by Paul Alexander & Doug Naylor
Doug Naylor
Douglas R. Naylor is a British comedy writer, science fiction writer, director and television producer.Naylor was born in Manchester, England and studied at the University of Liverpool. In the mid-1980s, Naylor wrote two regular comedy sketch shows for BBC Radio 4 entitled Cliché and Son of Cliché...
and directed by Ed Bye
Ed Bye
Edward Richard Morrison Bye is a British film and TV producer and director. He is best known for his work with Grant Naylor, Harry Enfield and Jasper Carrott, and has worked with many of British TV's best known comedians and comedy actors...
. It was the first episode to involve a writer other than co-creator/writers Grant
Rob Grant
Robert Grant is a British comedy writer and television producer, who was born in Salford and studied Psychology at Liverpool University for two years....
or Naylor.
Plot
Ace Rimmer, RimmerArnold Rimmer
Arnold Judas Rimmer is a fictional character in the science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf, played by Chris Barrie. He is unpopular with his crew mates, and is often the target of insults or pranks...
's (Chris Barrie
Chris Barrie
Chris Barrie is a British actor. He first achieved success as a vocal impressionist, notably in the ITV sketch show Spitting Image...
) better looking heroic alternate being, from Dimension Jump
Dimension Jump (Red Dwarf)
"Dimension Jump" is the fifth episode of science fiction sit-com Red Dwarf Series IV and the twenty-third episode in the series run. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 March 1991, written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye...
and Emohawk: Polymorph II
Emohawk: Polymorph II
"Emohawk: Polymorph II" is the fourth episode of the British science fiction sitcom TV show Red Dwarf VI and the 34th in the series run. It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 28 October 1993. Written by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor and directed by Andy de Emmony, the episode features the crew again being...
makes a rescue attempt on a captured princess. Although he succeeds in rescuing her, Ace takes a fatal bullet hit. Meanwhile on Starbug, Lister
Dave Lister
David "Dave" Lister, commonly referred to simply as Lister, is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf, portrayed by Craig Charles...
(Craig Charles
Craig Charles
Craig Joseph Charles is an English actor, stand-up comedian, author, poet, radio and television presenter, best known for playing Dave Lister in the British cult-favourite science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf...
) is tired of taking cold showers, nearly using all the water supplies in the process, so he goes into the artificial reality
Artificial reality
Artificial reality was the term Myron W. Krueger used to describe his interactive immersive environments, based on video recognition techniques, that put a user in full, unencumbered contact with the digital world. He started this work in the late 1960s and is considered to be a key figure in the...
machine with his book of cheats. He challenges the King's best knight so he can win the honour of spending a day and a night with the Queen of Camelot. Using his cheat codes he defeats the knight, claims his prize and with one last cheat the Queen's chastity belt
Chastity belt
A chastity belt is a locking item of clothing designed to prevent sexual intercourse. They may be used to protect the wearer from rape or temptation. Some devices have been designed with additional features to prevent masturbation...
falls freely to the ground. Lister and the Queen then proceed to make love, with an interruption by Lister asking for whipped cream from the astounded crowd and King.
Ace transports into Starbugs dimension and reveals that he is dying and wants Rimmer to replace him as Ace. He also tells Rimmer of the Ace secret — the fact that alternate versions of Rimmer from countless dimensions have all taken the reins to be Ace. Now Ace must train Rimmer to succeed him and keep the legend going. After encouragement from Lister, Rimmer decides to accept the offer and begins his training. With the help of Lister, Cat
Cat (Red Dwarf)
The Cat is a character in the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. He is played by Danny John-Jules.-Character development:According to Danny John-Jules, the character of Cat is based on a combination of Little Richard's look, James Brown's moves and Richard Pryor's facial...
(Danny John-Jules
Danny John-Jules
Daniel "Danny" John-Jules is a British actor, singer and dancer. John-Jules attended Rutherford Comprehensive School, Penfold Street, Marylebone, from 1972 to 1977. He is best known for portraying Cat in the television programme Red Dwarf.-Dance and song:John-Jules is a baritone...
) and Kryten
Kryten
Kryten is a fictional character in the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kryten's registration code on Red Dwarf is "Kryten additional 001". The name Kryten is a reference to the head butler in the J.M...
(Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn
Robert Llewellyn is an English actor, presenter, and writer. He is best known as the mechanoid Kryten in the hit sitcom Red Dwarf, and for his role as presenter of Scrapheap Challenge.-Early career:...
) , Rimmer succeeds with his training and when Ace dies, he dons Ace's outfit and says his goodbye to the crew before leaving Starbug.
Production
Going solo for Series VII had worried Doug Naylor. To help him with the writing duties he hired a small group of writers. Paul Alexander, a Jasper CarrottJasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
writing regular, was the first one to help out. This was a new situation to Naylor having previously had control over every script. He would however re-write and edit each script to make them fit into the Red Dwarfs creative pedigree.
This episode featured a large number of famous guest actors. Scottish-born Hollywood movie veteran Brian Cox played the Medieval English King. British comedy actress Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander is an English actress, known for her roles in various British comedy series such as Armstrong and Miller, Smack the Pony, Coupling, The Worst Week of My Life and Green Wing....
portrayed the French Queen. English actor Ken Morley
Ken Morley
Ken Morley is an English comedian and actor who is best known for his role as Reg Holdsworth in Coronation Street. He played the role from 1989 until quitting the show in 1995...
portrayed the German commander Captain Voorhese. British television actress Alison Senior portrayed Princess Bonjella. A German television comedy duo, Kai Maurer and Stephan Grothgar, portrayed the Wehrmacht soldiers who get hit on the head by the crocodile. Andy Gell also appeared as a Soldier.
Chris Barrie had decided to leave the series at this point, and had committed to four more episodes, but was written out in the second episode anyway, allowing more time to develop Kochanski
Kristine Kochanski
Kristine Z. Kochanski is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf. Kochanski was the first console officer in the navigation chamber on board the spaceship Red Dwarf...
's character, who would be arriving in the next episode. This episode marks the original Rimmer hologram's final 'real' appearance in the series, with his other appearances taking the forms of flashbacks and dream sequences. In Series VIII Chris Barrie would portray a resurrected human form of Rimmer. In Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth
Red Dwarf: Back to Earth is a three part TV miniseries continuation of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, broadcast on the British television channel Dave between 10 April and 12 April 2009 and subsequently released on DVD on 15 June 2009 & on Blu-ray on 31 August 2009. It was the first...
he would return as a new hologram version (though with some of the original hologram's memories, such as of the despair squid).
In popular culture
In years since, an animated gif image of Ace Rimmer riding the Crocodile out of the Nazi plane has become well associated with the online internet memeInternet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
known as "Interior Crocodile Alligator", which is derived from a very bizzare line in freestyle song by rap artist Chip Da Ripper