Other mistake: When the meteor hits Starbug, there are no stars outside the front of the ship at all. (00:07:20)
Visible crew/equipment: If you look closely when the camera follows Lister (in the scene just before the meteor crashes onto Starbug) you can actually see the edge of the set and some studio lights. (00:04:10)
Continuity mistake: When Lister is telling Rimmer that he is going to die and that Rimmer doesn't need food, there is snow over his face, hair and coat collar, but a few seconds later, the snow has mostly disappeared. (00:09:35)
Answer: It's Queen Victoria, someone any Englishman would recognize, and needed no introduction.