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Roland was born in a sewer under King's Cross railway station in
London. From an early age he knew his destiny was to be famous and
entertain the masses. He began his televisual career on breakfast TV
station, TV-am. It was well documented that the station's ratings
had fallen, and something needed to be done to get viewers back.
Michael Parkinson introduced Roland's first broadcast, on the 19th
of March, 1983, from a shed on the top of the TV-am studios in
London. The response was immediate. Roland was given his own series,
Rat On The Road, in which he toured the UK in his pink Ford Anglia,
the Ratmobile. Kevin
bought the car for just £85, and unfortunately, it always broke
down. And it was pink.
TV-am's ratings went up, thanks to Roland. A trip to Switzerland
followed for Christmas, 1983, then Roland went to Hong Kong to make
a film - Enter The Rodent. Sadly, the film didn't get made, and
Roland, Kevin, and
Little Reggie - who
appeared in Roland's luggage, had to travel home by working as air
stewards! Rat On The Road II was made during the summer of 1984, and
then during October, Roland and the gang rescued a guinea pig called
Glenis from Harrod's
pet department, in a daring series of attempts called Operation
F.O.G.I. (Free Our Glen Immediately). Numerous other specials
followed, but Roland fancied a change, so in October, 1985, he moved
channels to the BBC. More of his friends appeared, including
Fergie, the DIY
ferret, Colin,
Roland's pet flea, and even
Iris and Freddy
made TV appearances.
Roland made a
Christmas special, plus two series of Roland Rat: The Series, the
first of which was broadcast on a Saturday night prime-time slot. In
1987, super-hero status was assured, when Roland and the gang became
crime fighters. Roland became Ratman,
Kevin was Pink Bucket
Man, and Errol was
Leekman. Little Reggie
was, obviously Wind Man, and the odd-job ferret,
Fergie became
Kiltman. Roland appeared on other top TV shows, including Wogan,
Blankety Blank, and the Children's Royal Variety Performance.
Roland then
left the BBC, and ventured off to America, to Los Angeles and made
several programs called LA Rat, which were broadcast on Channel 5 in
the UK. Roland also tried his magic on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast
in an attempt to boost viewing figures. Sadly, this time around it
didn't work, and the TV show was axed.
Rol and the gang now divide their
time between the UK and Los Angeles. They live in a custom built
sewer under the Hollywood sign, and you will be able to keep up with
their adventures on this very site!
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