
Visible crew/equipment: When the crew are in their sleeping quarters, and Rimmer is talking to the others, a blue boom mic can be seen hovering over his head (you can see this if you watch the dvd on your pc, as some tv's can cut off the edge of the picture) (00:03:10)
Answer: The cello is a large four-stringed instrument, which, when it is played, stands vertically on the floor between the player's legs (assuming they are seated). If it is to grow as large as the other instuments mentioned will, it would require a rather unseemly lack of femininity to be able to encompass it with the legs.
Rooster of Doom