Bodysnatcher
Encyclopedia
Bodysnatcher was a partly finished script that was written but unused for the first series of the BBC sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf
. It was said to involve the now intangible Rimmer attempting to construct a body of his own using components of Lister's—such as dandruff and fingernail clippings—before going mad and attempting to steal entire limbs.
that he read on the train bound for BBC London
. Alfred Molina
and Alan Rickman
, who were auditioning for Rimmer and Lister respectively, performed their audition from this script. One of Cat's lines:
...was originally in this episode's script, but was moved to Confidence and Paranoia
when the original script was dropped.
does not speak to anyone but himself. The characters underwent minor development and back story elements were changed throughout Series I, and so the unnamed script would have had to undergo major changes to fit in with the rest of the series and the canon
in general.
. The original series finale involved Lister resurrecting Kochanski's hologram from the projection disc he found with Confidence.
However, when the unnamed script was dropped Me²
was written to compensate for the missing episode and the ending of Confidence and Paranoia
was similarly changed, so the disc in Kochanski's box was in fact Rimmer's.
on DVD in the Autumn, the same audio story board process used in recreating the lost episode of Series VII, Identity Within
, has been used to create the Bodysnatcher episode. When the script was retrieved from the vaults of Grant Naylor
offices, it was found to be without an ending. The writers Rob Grant
and Doug Naylor
, who went their separate ways during pre-production on the ITV series The 10%ers in 1996, collaborated on bringing the script into line with the series' continuity and giving it an end.
Bodysnatcher became the title feature of the DVD release, due in part to its name and the potentially misleading quality of the "remastered" moniker (as the remastering was done in 1998, not 2007). The DVD set was then entitled "Red Dwarf: The Bodysnatcher Collection".
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...
. It was said to involve the now intangible Rimmer attempting to construct a body of his own using components of Lister's—such as dandruff and fingernail clippings—before going mad and attempting to steal entire limbs.
History
Bodysnatcher was one of the scripts to be handed around during the interview process for the main casting, although at this point it was unnamed. It was allegedly this script that caught the attention of Peter Ridsdale-Scott, the commissioner for BBC ManchesterBBC Manchester
BBC Manchester is the British Broadcasting Corporation regional headquarters for the North West, the largest BBC region in the UK. BBC Manchester also forms a key part of BBC North....
that he read on the train bound for BBC London
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...
. Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina
Alfred Molina is a British-born American actor. He first came to public attention in the UK for his supporting role in the 1987 film Prick Up Your Ears...
and Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman is an English actor and theatre director. He is a renowned stage actor in modern and classical productions and a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, who were auditioning for Rimmer and Lister respectively, performed their audition from this script. One of Cat's lines:
"I've eaten five times, I've slept six times, and I've made a lot of things mine. Tomorrow, I'm gonna see if I can have sex with something!"
...was originally in this episode's script, but was moved to Confidence and Paranoia
Confidence and Paranoia
"Confidence and Paranoia" is the fifth episode from series one of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 March 1988...
when the original script was dropped.
Inconsistencies
Because this script was conceptualised and part-written at a very early stage of development, many areas of the script do not gel with the other episodes of Series I. For example, the CatCat (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...
does not speak to anyone but himself. The characters underwent minor development and back story elements were changed throughout Series I, and so the unnamed script would have had to undergo major changes to fit in with the rest of the series and the canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
in general.
Deletion
The unnamed and unfinished script was dropped in favour of Me²Me²
"Me²" is the sixth and final episode from series one of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, which was first broadcast on BBC2 on 21 March 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. The script was written, as a late addition to the series, following an electrician's strike...
. The original series finale involved Lister resurrecting Kochanski's hologram from the projection disc he found with Confidence.
However, when the unnamed script was dropped Me²
Me²
"Me²" is the sixth and final episode from series one of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf, which was first broadcast on BBC2 on 21 March 1988. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, and directed by Ed Bye. The script was written, as a late addition to the series, following an electrician's strike...
was written to compensate for the missing episode and the ending of Confidence and Paranoia
Confidence and Paranoia
"Confidence and Paranoia" is the fifth episode from series one of the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf. It was first broadcast on the British television channel BBC2 on 14 March 1988...
was similarly changed, so the disc in Kochanski's box was in fact Rimmer's.
DVD release
To headline the release of Red Dwarf RemasteredRed Dwarf Remastered
Red Dwarf Remastered was an attempt in the mid-1990s to bring the first three series of the BBC's cult sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf up to date. A collaborative effort between BBC Worldwide and Grant Naylor Productions, it was hoped that remastered versions of the episodes would prove more appealing to...
on DVD in the Autumn, the same audio story board process used in recreating the lost episode of Series VII, Identity Within
Identity Within
"Identity Within" is described as a 'lost episode' of the British science fiction comedy television series Red Dwarf.-A 'lost episode':"Identity Within" was originally the supposed second episode in the seventh series...
, has been used to create the Bodysnatcher episode. When the script was retrieved from the vaults of Grant Naylor
Grant Naylor
Grant Naylor was the collective name used by writers Rob Grant and Doug Naylor for their collaborative work, particularly the television series Red Dwarf. Grant and Naylor themselves called this pseudonym a "gestalt entity" Grant Naylor was the collective name used by writers Rob Grant and Doug...
offices, it was found to be without an ending. The writers Rob 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....
and 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...
, who went their separate ways during pre-production on the ITV series The 10%ers in 1996, collaborated on bringing the script into line with the series' continuity and giving it an end.
Bodysnatcher became the title feature of the DVD release, due in part to its name and the potentially misleading quality of the "remastered" moniker (as the remastering was done in 1998, not 2007). The DVD set was then entitled "Red Dwarf: The Bodysnatcher Collection".