Craig/Chris rivalry

[Rimmer]

Ok, so they made no secret of the fact that they didn't get on to begin with. And didn't get on up until series V. So, how then did they pull off such a fantastic chemistry and why didn't they like each other?

Suggestions people? Few ideas to start it off.


Like I said on the C3BS, I recon it's because there's such a difference in upbringing. Chris is middle class and Craig is working class. I think maybe craig felt slightly defensive and maybe even a bit patronised. Not that chris is patronising or stuck up but initially it might have been a bit cool between them. You know, a working class kid having to comete for laughs with a poshly spoken love god, er, I mean poshly spoken and talented impressionist. Craig comes across as being very much the centre of things so maybe Chris wanted a share of the 'starring' role?

Also, like it says in the series 5 commentary, Chris got a lot of fan mail, and after he got his kit of for holoship and terrorform it expanded considerably. Craig got his kit off in series 3's body swap but not much os heard about him receiving much female attention. Jealousy?

So why then, after series 5 did they put their differences behind them and get on with it? Did they just mature, or grow in their roles or think "What the hell...we've both got solid fan bases, who cares about numbers?"


I don't know why, the above are just suggestions to get discussion oin a bit.

[red dwarf addict]

Intresting to say the least, maybe just clash of personalities? Craig is more....relaxed you might say, he smokes, swears and generally doesn't care, but Chris doesn't smoke, he may ocassionally swear but he's bringing up children, so he has to be a bit more 'daddyish', he may not have had children then, but no doubt he was with a partner, and Craig I guess was just young, he generally just mucked around with Danny didn't he?

Chris was also a bit more experienced, Craig was new to TV shows, maybe Chris just looked down on him? Then the 5th Series he matured a bit more and realised what he was doing was stupid, or maybe some other reason?

[Rimmer]

Chris got married at 27 to his first wife I believe. If you listen to the commentary Craig mentions asking his wife about something related to the show in the first series. Craig also had kids fairly young as by series II he had to leave the set cos his son was being born. But Chris didn't have kids til very recently with his second wife. So, Craig was generally more 'life exerienced' at the time with the whole kids thing but yeah, it could be because Chris was/is more health orientated but craig is like "Screw health, live fast die young" kinda thing. Much more easy going whereas Chris maybe just wanted to get on with it.

[red dwarf addict]

Ah yes, dumb old me, how could I forget that?

[katerulz86]

Maybe it was a mixture of things. Their personalities might have clashed because of their difference in age. I think Danny was closer to Craigs age? During the commentry it wasnt mentioned often that Chris went out drinking with Danny and Craig much, so perhaps he had already gotten over their faze and thought them both a little immature? LOL ;D

I think Chris had also had a few other jobs in acting before Red Dwarf and Craig hadnt had any. Maybe when Craig got older, he had his wife and kids and started arriving on set at on time and just generally settled down abit, which probably helped them both get on better?

I'm only guessing, probably completely wrong

[red dwarf addict]

Yeah Chris had worked with Rob and Doug on other stuff before Red Dwarf, like Spitting Image (?) and the radio show thing. He's an impressionist, while Craig was a poet and it was the first time he ever acted.

[Rimmer]

Criag...a poet? Was he?!

[red dwarf addict]

Yeah. Interesting fact ay? He was on the Terry Wogan show reading poetry.

[katerulz86]

LOL I dunno why but it's hard to picture Craig as a poet!! ;D No offence to Mr Craig Charles!