Continuity mistake: When Rimmer and Lister leave their sleeping quarters, there are two pictures on the wall between the door and the window and a canister on the wall beside the beds. When they are next in the room the items are gone, and at The End of the episode they have all returned. (00:09:20 - 00:12:50)
Continuity mistake: At the start of the 'Welcome Back George McIntyre' reception scene, Lister, Chen and Selby are throwing things at Rimmer, then Rimmer looks around. In the next shot, Lister and Chen are looking round to their left, Selby is stabbing between his fingers, Rimmer is now looking straight forwards and Petersen has appeared from nowhere. (00:09:40)
Continuity mistake: When the Captain is making his speech for George McIntyre, he takes his hand out of his pocket and touches his glass. In the next shot, his hand is back in his pocket again. (00:10:35)
Continuity mistake: When George McIntye finishes his speech, he is standing. When the camera cuts back, he is sitting down. (00:11:55)
Visible crew/equipment: When Todhunter asks everyone to stand for the cutting of the cake, a red boom mic can be seen in the top left corner of the screen. (00:12:05)
Continuity mistake: In George's memorial service, the extras are totally different in the shots from George's point of view to the shots from the back of the room. Look for the woman with brunette hair and orange overalls - she's there in the forward shots but missing in the reverses. The chairs, tables, props, costumes and character placements are all completely discontinuous. (00:12:15)
Continuity mistake: When Rimmer stresses out while preparing for his exam, he puts his hands on his face, and screams whilst starting to bend over. In the next shot, Lister wakes up, and Rimmer is suddenly standing upright. (00:13:20)
Continuity mistake: When Lister takes the milk from his locker, keep an eye on his duvet. In the next shot when he pours the milk, it has moved and is hanging down from his bunk. The red mug on the table also moves from near the magazines to near the ashtray on the other side of the table. (00:14:35)
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