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{{Infobox Object
{{retitle|''Roland Rat: The Series Series 1, Episode Two'' (TV story)}}
|name         = ''Doctor Who''
{{real world}}
|image         = 2016 BBC Christmas ident.jpg
{{ImageLink|Untitled 1986 TV story}}
|type          = [[Science fiction]]/[[drama]] [[television]] series
{{Infobox Story SMW
|origin       = [[England]]
|name                 = ''Roland Rat: The Series''
|made by      =
|image                 = Roland Rat continuity announcement.jpg
|first        = Lady Penelope Investigates the stars of the Sensational new film Dr. Who and the Daleks! (short story)
|season number        = Series 1 (Roland Rat: The Series)
|appearances  = {{Il|[[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Bafflement and Devotion (short story)|Bafflement and Devotion]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Fanboys (short story)|Fanboys]]''|[[WC]]: ''[[Monster Escape (webcast)|Monster Escape]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Appears (TV story)|The Doctor Appears]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[In the Forest of the Night (TV story)|In the Forest of the Night]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[2016 BBC Christmas ident]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Verity (short story)|Verity]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[The Terror of the Umpty Ums (short story)|The Terror of the Umpty Ums]]''|[[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]''|[[WC]]: ''[[U.N.I.T. On Call (webcast)|U.N.I.T. On Call]]''}}
|series episode number = 2
|clip          = BBC One Christmas Advert 2016
|main character       = [[Roland Rat]]
|clip2        = Doctor Who LOCKDOWN The Zygon Isolation
|featuring            = [[Sixth Doctor]], [[Ron Rat]]
|clip3        = Doctor Who LOCKDOWN! U.N.I.T. On Call
|setting              = [[The Ratcave]], [[King's Cross station]], [[1986]]
|writer                = David Claridge, Colin Bostock-Smith, John Cangoon, Sean Carton, David Tomlinson
|director              = [[Marcus Mortimer]]
|producer              = [[Marcus Mortimer]]
|broadcast date        = 13 September 1986
|format                = 1x25 minute episode
|genre                = Comedy
|fullvid              =
|series                = [[Roland Rat: The Series (series)|''Roland Rat'': ''The Series'']]
}}
}}
{{Dab page|Doctor Who (disambiguation)}}
The '''second episode'''{{note|Documentation of the series is scarce online, with the appearance of the Sixth Doctor not even being noted on many television listing pages. This Wiki has instead found that the performance of [[Curiosity Killed The Cat]] within this episode is attributed to episode 2 by several sources, so the Wiki has identified the episode as such.}} of the [[Series 1 (Roland Rat: The Series)|first series]] of [[Roland Rat: The Series (series)|''Roland Rat'': ''The Series'']] produced by the [[BBC]],<ref name="bbcgenome">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_one_london/1986-09-13 Programme Index 13/09/1986 on genome.ch.bbc.co.uk]</ref><ref name="TVDB">[https://www.thetvdb.com/series/roland-rat-the-series/allseasons/official ''Roland Rat: The Series - Aired Order'' on TVDB]</ref> sometimes mistakenly identified as the third,<ref name="Qsulis">[http://www.qsulis.org.uk/Website_Louise_Gold/Roland_Rat.htm ''Roland Rat'' on Qsulis]</ref> was broadcast on [[13 September (releases)|13 September]] [[1986 (releases)|1986]].<ref name="bbcgenome" /><ref name="TVDB" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211005034053/https://millenniumeffect.co.uk/index.php/from-the-vaults-colin-baker-era/ ''From the Vaults: Colin Baker Era'' on millenniumeffect.co.uk]</ref> The episode was notable for being a [[crossover]] with ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]''; it starred [[Colin Baker]] as the [[Sixth Doctor]] presenting continuity announcements for the [[Roland Rat: The Series|in-universe series]], as the series was shown to be a show-within-a-show.
'''''Doctor Who''''' was a [[BBC]] [[science fiction]]/[[drama]] [[TV series (Remembrance of the Daleks)|series]] that premiered in late [[1963]], ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', ''[[Stop, Thief! (short story)|Stop, Thief!]]'', et al.) though according to one account, it aired in the [[2060s]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Lady Penelope Investigates the stars of the Sensational new film Dr. Who and the Daleks! (short story)|Lady Penelope Investigates the stars of the Sensational new film Dr. Who and the Daleks!]]'')


The series oriented around the adventures of the eponymous time traveller, commonly referred to as "the Doctor".
==Plot==
The [[Sixth Doctor]] disdainfully introduces an episode of [[BBC3]]'s ''[[Roland Rat: The Series]]'', and then proceeds to inanely cry out "Yeeeaaah!" — Roland Rat's catchphrase.


== History ==
Entering [[the Ratcave]], [[Roland Rat]] enquires to [[Maureen (Roland Rat: The Series)|Maureen]] if there have been any [[telephone]] calls. Maureen answers in the positive, but when asked if she had written it down, it is revealed that she only wrote the number of telephone calls down, not the actual substance of the calls.


=== Development ===
[[Kevin the Gerbil]] enters and asks if Roland has the [[ratings]] for [[Roland Rat: The Series Series 1 Episode 1|the previous episode]]. Roland asks Maureen to hand him the very important [[blue]] [[envelope]], but it is revealed that she has deposited it in the [[Bin|rubbish bin]]. It is revealed that [[7438000]] people were watching. It is further revealed that Kevin has, in fact, read out the [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]]'s [[telephone number]], and that the actual number of people watching was [[20000000 (number)|20 million]]. This fact is celebrated by all present, until Roland realises that 20 million viewers is actually a very small number, proclaiming that "even [[EastEnders]] got more than that!". Maureen says that she never misses an episode of EastEnders, to which Roland tells her to shut up. [[D'Arcy De Farcey]] says that "the whole world is obsessed with [[Soap opera|soap operas]]", at which Roland decides that they are now a soap opera.
After becoming too well recognised [[The Doctor in Earth history|in Earth history]], [[the Doctor]] presumably had retconned themselves into [[The Doctor in popular culture and mythology#On Earth|popular culture]]; ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Afterword (short story)|Afterword]]'') subsequently, on the [[26 March|26th of March]], [[1963]], [[Winston Churchill]] sent a letter a [[Newman (Stop, Thief!)|Mr Newman]], to pitch the concept of a show about Churchill's old friend, the Doctor. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Stop, Thief! (short story)|Stop, Thief!]]'')


A young woman, [[Verity Lambert (Verity)|Verity]], went to the [[BBC]], and became the [[producer]] of the show, despite the protests of the "[[Men Who Knew What To Do]]". By standing her ground against their blatant [[sexism]], she helped the ''Doctor Who'' series flourish with her creative ideas. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Verity (short story)|Verity]]'')
D'Arcy De Farcey, who is [[boo|booed]] by [[Audience (Roland Rat: The Series)|the crowd]] as he walks on stage, then proceeds to introduce Roland Rat (whom he wrongly calls Raynard), and Roland comes on stage. He welcomes them to [[the Ratcave]], and a [[train]] goes overhead, as they are underneath [[King's Cross station]]. He then says what's going to happen later on in the show, and introduces [[Cooking with a moron|their cooking slot]], presented by Maureen.  


=== In the 20th century ===
[[File:Secrets of the World's Greatest Chefs.jpg|thumb|D'Arcy De Farcy's book.]]
[[File:Remembrance Who.jpg|thumb|The series on [[Mrs Smith]]'s television. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'')]]
Maureen begins to introduce the slot, but is interrupted by D'Arcy De Farcey, who wants to promote his new book, [[D'Arcy De Farcey's Secrets of the World's Greatest Chefs]]. He manages to sell several copies, before it is revealed that the book is in fact, completely blank. Maureen believes that it is entirely blank because they're secrets. Maureen says that what she is cooking is a surprise, then is surprised by a [[custard pie]] in the face from [[Ron Rat]], aimed at [[Errol the Hamster]].
A BBC science fiction series beginning ''Doc-'' was first broadcast on [[BBC television|television]] at 5:15 [[PM|pm]] on [[Saturday]] [[30 November|30th of November]], 1963. ([[TV]]: ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'')


Early on, there was a novel called ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks]]'', which, by the [[Eighth Doctor]]'s opinion, contradicted another [[An Unearthly Child (book)|book]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Bafflement and Devotion (short story)|Bafflement and Devotion]]'') This book was later illicitly shared around on [[Gallifrey]] during [[The War]], albeit with its title partially censored for security reasons. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Taking of Planet 5 (novel)|The Taking of Planet 5]]'')
Roland Rat then proceeds to introduce [[Curiosity Killed the Cat (in-universe)|Curiosity Killed the Cat]], who play their song [[Misfit]].  


Early on in the series, there were [[Tribe of Gum|Cavemen]], [[Dalek]]s, [[Aztec]]s and [[Marco Polo]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Verity (short story)|Verity]]'')
Kevin then informs Roland that there are more ratings, and that [[4 (number)|four]] out of [[5 (number)|five]] people in [[China]] watch the show. A supposed "special message of thanks and support" in Chinese, as arranged by Kevin, goes up on the screen. It is then revealed that they have accidentally ordered [[Chinese (food)|Chinese takeaway]].


Sometime in the [[1970s]], [[Terrance Dicks (Bafflement and Devotion)|Terrance Dicks]] listened in to a conversation a [[Doctor Who fan (U.N.I.T. On Call)|''Doctor Who'' fan]] from the [[2020|future]], who was asking [[UNIT]] for help regarding [[COVID-19]]. He would join in on the conversation a few minutes later, where he came up with a name for a ''Doctor Who'' story, "who's for a brew". He wrote it down, intending to share it with [[Barry Letts (U.N.I.T. On Call)|Barry]], before disconnecting from the call. ([[WC]]: ''[[U.N.I.T. On Call (webcast)|U.N.I.T. On Call]]'')
[[Iris Rat|Iris]] and [[Freddy Rat|Freddy]], Roland's parents, sit on [[Bench (Roland Rat: The Series Series One Episode Two)|a bench]] in [[Park (Roland Rat the Series Series One Episode Two)|a park]]. Iris and Freddie then complain about Roland Rat going "Yeeeeaaah!" all the time. Iris wonders where he gets it from, then realises that Freddy does it as well. Freddy then protests that he does not, in fact go "Yeeeaaah!" but instead "Yay". Iris then wonders why Roland Rat is a [[superstar]], because he doesn't dance or sing or juggle or anything else that could conceivably be construed as things that a superstar would do. She then goes on to conclude that Roland is a superstar because he goes "Yeeeaaah!", and that Freddy too can be a superstar if he goes "Yeeeaaah!". He attempts to go "Yeeeaaah!" but fails, and Iris tells him disappointedly that he isn't a superstar.  


In [[1971]], the serial ''[[The Claws of Axos]]'' aired. There was, at least according to [[Claudia Winkleman]] in [[2013]], an "alien [[duplication unit]]", present in the story. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Appears (TV story)|The Doctor Appears]]'')
Roland Rat, back in the Ratcave, concludes that his parents are slightly embarrassing, and says that it's time for the new soap opera. Acting as their [[Official soap adviser]] is [[Wendy Richard (in-universe)|Wendy Richard]] from [[EastEnders]], who knows all about soap through working in a laundrette, whom Roland interviews.  


In [[1974]], an episode of the series aired, portraying the regeneration of [[Third Doctor]] into his next incarnation, the [[Fourth Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fanboys (short story)|Fanboys]]'')
[[File:RatEnders title card.jpg|thumb|RatEnders.]]
The new soap opera, [[RatEnders]], starts. Roland Rat asks [[Glenys the Guinea Pig]] to try and speak with a cockney accent, which she fails to do. In character, she then tells Roland that he is a mean and dreadful husband, as he is always looking at other guinea pigs. He, again in-character, replies that he is very cruel and ruthless, but fails to confirm that he looks at other guinea pigs, saying instead that other guinea pigs look at him because he is so handsome. He then tells Glenys to have a drink on the house, which [[Little Reggie]] misinterprets, and sprays drinks all over everyone. Errol then enters, asking if he's in it. Roland replies that he is, because they ''have'' to have customers. Errol notes that there aren't many in at the moment, to which Roland replies that they can't afford the extras, and that Errol will have to play a grumpy old man. Errol is worried that he won't be able to play a grumpy old man, at which Roland replies that he has great faith in Errol's acting abilities, and tells him that he'll have to have a [[cockney]] accent, which Errol tries and fails to do. Maureen, playing [[Glenda Jackson]], notes that she can do a good cockney accent, at which the others object that she can't act. She says she can, and that she could play one of Roland's girlfriends, at which Roland objects, saying she isn't pretty enough, and says that she can play the beermat. Little Reggie, at Roland's behest, then sprays her with beer. Kevin then objects to playing a pregnant woman, at which Roland notes that somebody has to be pregnant, and [[Colin the Flea]] assures Kevin that he thinks that he's very attractive. Errol notes that it's very boring, and asks if anything ever happens in the soap opera, at which Roland notes that nothing ever happens in any of the others. Roland tells Glenys to have another nag at him, which she does. She tells him that she's fed up of him looking at other women, at which Roland, in-character objects that he doesn't even know any other women, at which several young women enter the pub. Glenys, still in-character, tells Dirty Roland that she is leaving him. Errol, somewhat bored, leaves as well. Kevin partially in-character, says that he'd better go off to have his baby. Little Reggie then sprays the young girls, and RatEnders ends.


In [[1978]], [[Iris Wildthyme#Jane Fonda Iris|Iris Wildthyme]] was sent by [[The Ministry (Femme Fatale)|the Ministry]] to investigate [[Geoff Love]] as the Ministry suspected him of secreting in subliminal messages into his reworkings of TV sci-fi themes. Iris helped Geoff develop the [[Doctor Who theme (Bafflement and Devotion)|''Doctor Who'' theme]] while proving that the Ministry was indeed correct with their suspicions. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Bafflement and Devotion (short story)|Bafflement and Devotion]]'')
Roland asks Wendy Richard what she thought of his acting ability, and, when she gives it a "0", he threatens her, so she changes it to a "10". Roland then says that it's the end of the show, thanks Richards, and the audience cheers.  


Prior to [[1981]], serials known as ''[[The Seeds of Doom]]'', ''[[State of Decay]]'', ''[[Planet of the Spiders]]'', and and unnamed serial aired, the latter of which depicted the Fourth Doctor's regeneration into the [[Fifth Doctor]], who was set to return in the following season. By this time, the [[Wirrn]], [[Zarbi]], [[Sontaran]]s, [[Krynoid]]s, [[Zygon]]s, [[Mechanoid]]s, [[Yeti]], and the [[Brain]] of [[Morbius]] all had been featured in the show, serving the role of the villains.
After the credits, Roland notes that it was a brilliant show, and that RatEnders was a great idea of his. He imagines that the ratings will have gone right up, at which D'Arcy De Farcy reveals that, according to the [[preliminary audience reaction]], everybody but one viewer had switched off, at which the solitary viewer switches off. Roland Rat notes that the reason RatEnders was a failure was due to everyone's bad acting. Kevin the Gerbil is then carried out by some [[paramedic]]s, who believe that he is actually having a [[baby]].


By early 1981, [[David Taylor (Imaginary Boys)|David]] and [[Chris (Fanboys)|Chris]] were major fans of the series. They obsessed over the series, and when they went to [[Darlington]] on a semi-regular basis, they would be treated by their parents, who took them into [[WHSmith]]'s to buy [[Target Books (Bafflement and Devotion)|Target novelisations]] of ''Doctor Who'' stories. On one such occasion, they bought copies of ''[[State of Decay (book)|State of Decay]]'' and ''[[Planet of the Spiders (book)|Planet of the Spiders]]''. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Fanboys (short story)|Fanboys]]'')
[[File:Sixth Doctor is prodded with a pole.jpg|thumb|The Sixth Doctor is rudely awakened.]]
After the episode finishes, the Doctor is [[sleep|awoken]] by the prodding of a [[pole]]. He recaps the audience on what they had been watching, and then excitedly tells them to switch over to [[BBC television|BBC1]] to watch ''[[Doctor Who (N-Space)|Doctor Who]]'', which he refers to as "''the'' series". [[Ron Rat]] jumps up, calling ''Doctor Who'' "rubbish" — an act for which the Doctor attempts to murder Ron, using a ray-gun he just happens to have on his person. Fortunately for Ron, the Doctor is a lousy shot.


In the late [[1990s]], an unspecified incarnation of the character was portrayed by [[Paul McGann (Hospitality)|Paul McGann]] in the [[Doctor Who TV movie|''Doctor Who'' TV movie]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Hospitality (short story)|Hospitality]]'')
== Cast==
*[[Sixth Doctor]] - [[Colin Baker]]
*[[Maureen (Roland Rat: The Series)|Maureen]] - [[Anna Karen]]
*[[D'Arcy De Farcey]] - [[James Saxon]]
*[[Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot (in-universe)|Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot]] - [[Ben Volpeliere-Pierrot|himself]]
*[[Julian Godfrey Brookhouse (in-universe)|Julian Godfrey Brookhouse]] - [[Julian Godfrey Brookhouse|himself]]
*[[Nick Thorpe (in-universe)|Nick Thorpe]] - [[Nick Thorpe|himself]]
*[[Migi Drummond (in-universe)|Migi Drummond]] - [[Migi Drummond|himself]]
*[[Wendy Richard (in-universe)|Wendy Richard]] - [[Wendy Richard|herself]]
*Voice of [[Roland Rat]], [[Ron Rat]], [[Kevin the Gerbil]], [[Errol the Hamster]], [[Little Reggie]], [[Fergie the Ferret]], [[Glenis the Guinea Pig]], [[Colin the Flea]], [[Iris Rat|Iris]] and [[Freddy Rat|Freddy]] - [[David Claridge]] {{fact}}


=== In the 21st century ===
==Crew==
Around the early [[2000s]], [[Paul Magrs (Bafflement and Devotion)|Paul Magrs]] wrote in a short [[Prose piece (Bafflement and Devotion)|piece of prose]] about his books and inspritations. In this piece, he stated that the [[Second Doctor|second]] and [[Fourth Doctor|fourth]] incarnations of the Doctor resembled [[Patrick Troughton (Bafflement and Devotion)|Patrick Troughton]] and [[Tom Baker (Bafflement and Devotion)|Tom Baker]], respectively, and that his collection of all [[150 (number)|150]] [[Target Books (Bafflement and Devotion)|Target novels]] written by Terrance Dicks had been [[theft|stolen]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Bafflement and Devotion (short story)|Bafflement and Devotion]]'')
*[[Puppeteer]]s - [[Louise Gold]], [[Anne Prior]], [[Leslie Herbert]], [[Maggie Danylewycz]], [[Darryl Worbey]], [[John Blundall]]
*[[Writer]] - [[David Claridge]], [[Colin Bostock-Smith]], [[John Cangoon]], [[Sean Carton]], [[David Tomlinson]]
*[[Director]] - [[Marcus Mortimer]] {{fact}}
*[[Producer]] - [[Marcus Mortimer]] {{fact}}
*[[Music]] - [[Matt Aitken]], [[Mike Stock]], [[Pete Waterman]]
*[[Cameraman]] - [[Dave Grey]]
*[[Sound recordist]] - [[Doug Mawson]]
*[[Film editor]] - [[Nick Hutchings]]
*[[Properties buyer]] - [[Bob Warans]]
*[[Graphic design]] - [[Iain Greenway]], [[Simon Everson]]
*[[Vision effects designer]] - [[Malcolm James]]
*[[Camera supervisor]] - [[Spencer Payne]]
*[[Technical co-ordinator|Technical Co-ordinators]] - [[Jeff Jeffery]], [[Terry Wild]]
*[[Vision mixer|Vision Mixer]] - [[Angela Beveridge]]
*[[Videotape editor|VT Editors]] - [[Peter Bird]], [[Mykola Pawlock]]
*[[Make-up designer]] - [[Cecile Hay-Arthur]]
*[[Costume designer]] - [[Ken Trew]]
*[[Production assistant]] - [[Claire Sharp]]
*[[Assistant floor manager]] - [[Simon Spencer]]
*[[Sound department|Sound]] - [[Bob Foley]], [[Len Shorey]]
*[[Lighting]] - [[Henry Barber]], [[Graham Aimmington]]
*[[Production manager]] - [[Nick Fiveash]]
*[[Designer]] - [[Grenville Horner]], [[Donal Woods]]
*[[Executive producer]] - [[Michael Hurll]]


By the [[21st century]], [[Cybermen]], [[Weeping Angel]]s, [[Sontaran]]s and [[Slitheen family|Slitheen]] had appeared. [[David Karpagnon]], an [[orphan]] with [[dissociative personality disorder]], watched the show around this time. The Doctor helped him with his problems from inside his head. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Terror of the Umpty Ums (short story)|The Terror of the Umpty Ums]]'') In the early [[2010s]], [[Matt Smith (The Doctor Appears)|Matt Smith]] was an actor in the series. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Drops In (TV story)|The Doctor Drops In]]'', ''[[The Doctor Appears (TV story)|The Doctor Appears]]'')
==References==
*The Doctor compares the [[Dalek]], [[Cybermen]], and even "[[Terry Wogan (Roland Rat: The Series)|Wogan]] from the planet [[Shepherd's Bush (planet)|Shepherd's Bush]]" and [[green slimy things]] to ''Roland Rat: The Series''.
*According to [[Kevin the Gerbil]], there are [[4684356738 (number)|4,684,356,738]] people in the world.
*[[D'Arcy De Farcey]] considers [[Roland Rat]] to be "a legend in his own lifetime", and one of the most caring, sensitive [[performer]]s he knows, apart from [[Bob Monkhouse]].
*[[Wendy Richard (in-universe)|Wendy Richard]] believes that the secret to a good [[soap opera]] is having someone like her in it.
*Roland Rat never misses an episode of [[EastEnders]].  
*[[Fergie the Ferret]] cannot stand a cheap [[opening title sequence]].
*According to several individuals, nothing ever happens in EastEnders.


On [[21 June]], [[2012]], a live news broadcast was filmed outside the [[Doctor Who Experience|''Doctor Who'' Experience]], when the exhibits (a [[Cyberman (Monster Escape)|Cybermen]], a [[Animated scarecrow (Monster Escape)|Scarecrow]], an [[Ood (Monster Escape)|Ood]], a [[Silent (Monster Escape)|Silent]] and the [[Eternal Dalek]]) turned out to be the real deal, and they burst through the wall of the experience, terrorising the public. ([[WC]]: ''[[Monster Escape (webcast)|Monster Escape]]'')
==Notes==
* The story was broadcast in conjunction with ''[[The Trial of a Time Lord (TV story)|The Trial of a Time Lord]]'', with the Doctor wearing his stripy waistcoat and yellow star-speckled necktie from ''[[Terror of the Vervoids (TV story)|Terror of the Vervoids]]''.
*The entirety of the episode takes place in a then-fictional [[BBC Three (in-universe)|BBC Three]], despite the series actually airing on BBC One.  
*[[RatEnders]] is a parody of [[EastEnders]].


On [[Red Nose Day]] [[2013]], [[Dermot O'Leary (The Doctor Appears)|Dermot O'Leary]] surprised his co-presenter [[Claudia Winkleman (The Doctor Appears)|Claudia Winkleman]] with a guest appearance of the [[Eleventh Doctor]]. At the event, an [[The Snowmen|episode]] of ''Doctor Who'' played on a screen behind them, and Claudia chases the Doctor around. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Appears (TV story)|The Doctor Appears]]'') Later that year, ''[[The Day of the Doctor]]'' was broadcast in [[3D]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Doctor Appears (TV story)|The Doctor Appears]]'', [[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')
==Continuity==
*This story is not the first to depict the ''Doctor Who'' series [[Doctor Who (in-universe)|existing in-universe]], having been depicted in [[Doctor Who (in-universe)/Appearances|in many sources]] released both before and after this episode.


[[File:Doctor Who bus.jpg|thumb|A poster on a [[double decker bus]] in [[2014]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[In the Forest of the Night (TV story)|In the Forest of the Night]]'')|left]]
==Footnotes==
In [[November]] [[2014]], ([[PROSE]]: "[[The Time Lord Letters (novel)|Assessing the Risk]]") when the [[Earth]] became overgrown with [[tree]]s, a [[double decker bus]] had an [[advertisement]] on its side, depicting [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] and individuals closely resembling the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and [[Clara Oswald]]. An unknown source rated the show four stars out of five commenting "A-MAZE-ING ENTERTAINMENT!". ([[TV]]: ''[[In the Forest of the Night (TV story)|In the Forest of the Night]]'')
===Notes===
{{Notelist}}


Around [[October]] of [[2015]], the [[Doctor Who Series 9|ninth series]] of the show was broadcast on [[BBC One#In the DWU|BBC One]], starring another unspecified incarnation, who travelled with a companion called [[Clara Oswald#Legacy|Clara]]; the [[Twelfth Doctor|twelfth incarnation]] of the Doctor bore a great similarity to this fictional depiction, and the same could be said about [[Clara Oswald]]. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')
===Sources===
{{reflist}}
{{DWU Doctor Who stories}}


By sometime prior to Christmas [[2016]], ([[TV]]: ''[[2016 BBC Christmas ident]]'') the [[Doctor Who Series 9|ninth series]] aired, which consisted of the episodes ''[[The Magician's Apprentice]]'', ''[[The Witch's Familiar]]'', ''[[Under the Lake]]'', ''[[Before the Flood]]'', ''[[The Girl Who Died]]'', ''[[The Woman Who Lived]]'', ''[[The Zygon Invasion]]'', ''[[The Zygon Inversion]]'', ''[[Sleep No More]]'', ''[[Face the Raven]]'', and ''[[Heaven Sent]]''. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')
[[:Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series]]
 
[[:Category:1986 television stories]]
[[File:Osgood's desktop.jpg|thumb|Osgood's desktop. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')]]
[[:Category:Sixth Doctor television stories]]
By [[May]] [[2020]], the show had 12 series and 167 episodes that were available on [[BBC iPlayer]]. There also a periodical called ''[[Doctor Who Magazine (periodical)|Doctor Who Magazine]]''. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'') Also by this time, the Doctor was portrayed by a [[Jodie Whittaker (The Terror of the Umpty Ums)|female actress]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Terror of the Umpty Ums (short story)|The Terror of the Umpty Ums]]'', [[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')
[[:Category:Stories about Doctor Who]]
 
On [[10 May]], 2020, the two [[Osgood]]s conversed over [[Zoom]]. Afterwards, one of the duo went onto [[BBC iPlayer]] after ending the chat, scrolling past several episodes of ''Doctor Who'' from series nine, until she decided to watch ''The Zygon Invasion''. ([[WC]]: ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'')
 
In late 2020, after a [[Doctor Who fan (U.N.I.T. On Call)|fan]] finished watching an [[Turn Left|episode]], she rang UNIT in the 1970s, asking for help from the real Third Doctor, Jo, and the Brigadier, and they told her to remain positive despite the hardships. They disconnected, and Terrance Dicks then applauded the trio, and told the fan a tea break was deserved. He then came up with an idea for the name of a story, and then too disconnected. The fan then drank a [[TARDIS mug|cup]] of tea while watching an older episode of ''Doctor Who''. ([[WC]]: ''[[U.N.I.T. On Call (webcast)|U.N.I.T. On Call]]'')
 
=== Other accounts ===
{{Section stub|Info about ''[[The Time Surgeon]]'', ''[[Doctor X]]'', ''[[Professor X]]'', ''[[Doctor Omega]]'', and ''[[Comic Relief spectacular]]'' needs to be added.}}
Other accounts of [[The Doctor in popular culture and mythology|the Doctor appearing in Earth fiction]], sometimes as a [[Doctor Who (Salvation)|character called "Doctor Who"]], suggested that some of the movies [[The Doctor in popular culture and mythology#On television|and TV programmes]] about the character were based on records and testimonies of the real Doctor. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Stop, Thief! (short story)|Stop, Thief!]]'', ''[[Salvation (novel)|Salvation]]'', ''[[The Day of the Doctor (novelisation)|The Day of the Doctor]]'') It has been suggested that when the Doctor's existence has become too noticeable to a world, they have a favorite "panic button", going back in time and introducing themselves as a fictional character in that world's mythology. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Afterword (short story)|Afterword]]'')
 
=== Parallel timelines ===
In [[Godfrey Porter's World|one reality]], where the Doctor did not appear to ever have existed as a real individual, from [[19 September]] to [[24 October]] [[1964]], a six-part story entitled ''[[The Outlaws]]'' was first broadcast, starring actor [[William Hartnell (The Thief of Sherwood)|William Hartnell]] as a version of the [[First Doctor]]. The six episodes were titled: "The Deserted Castle", "The Thief of Sherwood", "The Alchemist", "Errand of Mercy", "Ransom" and "A Guest For the Gallows". Episodes 3 and 5 were missing but still existed as off-air recordings. It had the production code "I".
 
The guest cast for "The Deserted Castle" included [[William Russell (The Thief of Sherwood)|William Russell]] in a dual role also as [[Robin Hood (The Thief of Sherwood)|Robin Hood]], [[Archie Duncan]] as [[Little John (The Thief of Sherwood)|Little John]], [[Ronald Hines]] as [[Will Scarlet (The Thief of Sherwood)|Will Scarlet]], [[Frank Thornton (The Thief of Sherwood)|Frank Thornton]] as the [[Sheriff of Nottingham (The Thief of Sherwood)|Sheriff of Nottingham]], [[Anneke Wills (The Thief of Sherwood)|Anneke Wills]] as [[Maid Marion (The Thief of Sherwood)|Maid Marion]], [[Milton Johns (The Thief of Sherwood)|Milton Johns]] as the [[Peddler (The Thief of Sherwood)|peddler]], [[Carl Bernard]] as a [[Villager (The Thief of Sherwood)|villager]] and [[Ivor Colin]] as a [[Man-at-arms (The Thief of Sherwood)|man-at-arms]]. The [[writer]] was [[Godfrey Porter]], the [[title music]] was by [[Ron Grainer (The Thief of Sherwood)|Ron Grainer]] with the [[BBC Radiophonic Workshop (The Thief of Sherwood)|BBC Radiophonic Workshop]], the [[incidental music]] was composed and conducted by [[Harper C Bassett]], the [[story editor]] was [[David Whitaker (The Thief of Sherwood)|David Whitaker]], the [[designer]] was [[Barry Newbery (The Thief of Sherwood)|Barry Newbery]], the [[associate producer]] was [[Mervyn Pinfield (The Thief of Sherwood)|Mervyn Pinfield]], the [[producer]] was [[Verity Lambert (The Thief of Sherwood)|Verity Lambert]] and the [[director]] was [[Patrick Whitfield]].
 
While doing an [[alchemy]] demonstration for the Sheriff in Episode 3, the Doctor nearly blows himself up while mixing chemicals, leaving him absent for two episodes while Hartnell recovered from a short illness.
 
The [[Dalek (The Thief of Sherwood)|Daleks]] appeared in one of the first eight stories of this version of ''Doctor Who''; the tenth story was titled ''[[Planet of Giants]]'' and followed on from a [[cliffhanger]] in which the [[Fault locator (The Thief of Sherwood)|fault locator]] warned of a build-up of pressure within [[The Doctor's TARDIS (The Thief of Sherwood)|the TARDIS]].
 
In [[1986]], Godfrey Porter wrote a [[novelisation]] of ''The Outlaws'' entitled ''[[The Thief of Sherwood]]'' for [[Target Books (Bafflement and Devotion)|Target Books]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Thief of Sherwood (short story)|The Thief of Sherwood]]'')
 
The [[Eighth Doctor]] encountered a [[Doctor Who (TV Action!)|version of the ''Doctor Who'' TV series]] in [[Parallel universe (Deadline)|a parallel universe]] where he realised that he did not exist as a real individual; instead, he encountered the actor [[Tom Baker (TV Action!)|Tom Baker]], who resembled the Doctor's [[Fourth Doctor|fourth self]]. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[TV Action! (comic story)|TV Action!]]'')
 
The [[Eleventh Doctor]] also found himself stranded in a "[[meta-fictional]]" [[Parallel universe (The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who)|Parallel universe]] where [[Doctor Who (The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who)|''Doctor Who'']] existed as a TV programme with a long and storied history; to his surprise, all of the series' episodes matched events in his past exactly. ([[COMIC]]: ''[[The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who (comic story)|The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who]]'')
 
[[Parallel universe (Deadline)|Another universe]] existed where ''[[Doctor Who (Deadline)|Doctor Who]]'' was the failed creation of [[Martin Bannister]]; in the original timeline, it was extremely popular, but excessive [[time travel]] caused the programme to be effectively replaced by ''[[Juliet Bravo]]''. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Deadline (audio story)|Deadline]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[All Our Christmases (short story)|All Our Christmases]]'')
 
== Behind the scenes ==
=== History of the concept ===
The existence of the TV series ''[[Doctor Who]]'' within the [[Doctor Who universe|''Doctor Who'' universe]] is a metafictional gimmick with a long and storied history within licensed ''Doctor Who'' fiction. The show itself stopped just shy of confirming the existence of a series called ''Doctor Who'' within its universe on two occasion; the first was in ''[[Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)|Remembrance of the Daleks]]'', where a [[TV series (Remembrance of the Daleks)|TV series]] whose title began with "Doc…", and which debuted on the same date as the real-life ''Doctor Who'', was briefly mentioned — only for the characters (and viewers) to miss the full name of the programme. Many years later, a poster featuring the [[Twelfth Doctor]], [[Clara Oswald]] and [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] was glimpsed in the background of the [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|Series 8]] episode ''[[In the Forest of the Night (TV story)|In the Forest of the Night]]'', but with no title visible.
 
As a significant part of [[The Doctor in popular culture and mythology|popular culture]] of [[The Doctor in Earth history|Earth history]] in their own universe, [[television]] programmes and [[book]]s based upon the Doctor have also been referenced in other in-universe sources; some, like [[Sarah Jane Smith]]'s [[Doctor (series)|''Doctor'' series]], were reminiscent but distinct from real-life ''Doctor Who'' productions, while others, such as the mention of the two [[Peter Cushing]] movies in [[Steven Moffat]]'s [[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|''Day of the Doctor'' novelisation]], intentionally matched pieces of real-life ''Doctor Who'' fiction. However, though instances such as the short story ''[[Stop, Thief! (short story)|Stop, Thief!]]'' (where [[Winston Churchill]] commissions a "BBC TV programme about the Doctor's life") push the implication as far as it may be pushed, no story deemed [[Tardis:Valid sources|valid]] by this Wiki has yet directly posited an in-universe TV series called ''Doctor Who'' as existing in [[N-Space|the Doctor's own universe]] ''and'' being based in some obvious causal manner on the Doctor's "real" exploits. The [[2020 (releases)|2020]] webcast ''[[The Zygon Isolation (webcast)|The Zygon Isolation]]'' came closest, but still did not explicitly spell out that its account of an in-universe ''Doctor Who'' was causally based on the real Doctor's adventures.
 
As an in-universe concept, ''Doctor Who'' has been more consistently used in [[Meta-fiction universe|parallel universes]] — where the logically thorny implications of the series known to the viewer simultaneously being a true account of a time-traveller's life, ''and'' a piece of fiction which the same individual could theoretically watch, would be lessened. The [[Eighth Doctor]] discovered the existence of ''[[Doctor Who (TV Action!)|Doctor Who]]'' in ''[[TV Action! (comic story)|TV Action!]]'' while the [[Eleventh Doctor]] dealt with chapters of his life being chronicled as [[episode]]s of a [[Doctor Who (The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who)|television programme]] in ''[[The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who (comic story)|The Girl Who Loved Doctor Who]]''. The articles from ''[[The Thief of Sherwood (short story)|The Thief of Sherwood]]'', which depict an adventure with the [[First Doctor]], [[Susan Foreman|Susan]], [[Ian Chesterton|Ian]] and [[Barbara Campbell|Barbara]] where they meet [[Robin Hood]], is placed in "an alternate version of our world", belonging to [[the Doctor]]'s [[multiverse]], by authorial intent.
 
== External links ==
{{Lockx}}
{{Doctor Who}}
[[:Category:Doctor Who (N-Space)| ]]
[[:Category:Television series from the real world]]
[[:Category:BBC]]

Latest revision as of 22:16, 25 February 2024

RealWorld.png

The second episode[nb 1] of the first series of Roland Rat: The Series produced by the BBC,[1][2] sometimes mistakenly identified as the third,[3] was broadcast on 13 September 1986.[1][2][4] The episode was notable for being a crossover with Doctor Who; it starred Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor presenting continuity announcements for the in-universe series, as the series was shown to be a show-within-a-show.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Sixth Doctor disdainfully introduces an episode of BBC3's Roland Rat: The Series, and then proceeds to inanely cry out "Yeeeaaah!" — Roland Rat's catchphrase.

Entering the Ratcave, Roland Rat enquires to Maureen if there have been any telephone calls. Maureen answers in the positive, but when asked if she had written it down, it is revealed that she only wrote the number of telephone calls down, not the actual substance of the calls.

Kevin the Gerbil enters and asks if Roland has the ratings for the previous episode. Roland asks Maureen to hand him the very important blue envelope, but it is revealed that she has deposited it in the rubbish bin. It is revealed that 7438000 people were watching. It is further revealed that Kevin has, in fact, read out the BBC's telephone number, and that the actual number of people watching was 20 million. This fact is celebrated by all present, until Roland realises that 20 million viewers is actually a very small number, proclaiming that "even EastEnders got more than that!". Maureen says that she never misses an episode of EastEnders, to which Roland tells her to shut up. D'Arcy De Farcey says that "the whole world is obsessed with soap operas", at which Roland decides that they are now a soap opera.

D'Arcy De Farcey, who is booed by the crowd as he walks on stage, then proceeds to introduce Roland Rat (whom he wrongly calls Raynard), and Roland comes on stage. He welcomes them to the Ratcave, and a train goes overhead, as they are underneath King's Cross station. He then says what's going to happen later on in the show, and introduces their cooking slot, presented by Maureen.

D'Arcy De Farcy's book.

Maureen begins to introduce the slot, but is interrupted by D'Arcy De Farcey, who wants to promote his new book, D'Arcy De Farcey's Secrets of the World's Greatest Chefs. He manages to sell several copies, before it is revealed that the book is in fact, completely blank. Maureen believes that it is entirely blank because they're secrets. Maureen says that what she is cooking is a surprise, then is surprised by a custard pie in the face from Ron Rat, aimed at Errol the Hamster.

Roland Rat then proceeds to introduce Curiosity Killed the Cat, who play their song Misfit.

Kevin then informs Roland that there are more ratings, and that four out of five people in China watch the show. A supposed "special message of thanks and support" in Chinese, as arranged by Kevin, goes up on the screen. It is then revealed that they have accidentally ordered Chinese takeaway.

Iris and Freddy, Roland's parents, sit on a bench in a park. Iris and Freddie then complain about Roland Rat going "Yeeeeaaah!" all the time. Iris wonders where he gets it from, then realises that Freddy does it as well. Freddy then protests that he does not, in fact go "Yeeeaaah!" but instead "Yay". Iris then wonders why Roland Rat is a superstar, because he doesn't dance or sing or juggle or anything else that could conceivably be construed as things that a superstar would do. She then goes on to conclude that Roland is a superstar because he goes "Yeeeaaah!", and that Freddy too can be a superstar if he goes "Yeeeaaah!". He attempts to go "Yeeeaaah!" but fails, and Iris tells him disappointedly that he isn't a superstar.

Roland Rat, back in the Ratcave, concludes that his parents are slightly embarrassing, and says that it's time for the new soap opera. Acting as their Official soap adviser is Wendy Richard from EastEnders, who knows all about soap through working in a laundrette, whom Roland interviews.

RatEnders.

The new soap opera, RatEnders, starts. Roland Rat asks Glenys the Guinea Pig to try and speak with a cockney accent, which she fails to do. In character, she then tells Roland that he is a mean and dreadful husband, as he is always looking at other guinea pigs. He, again in-character, replies that he is very cruel and ruthless, but fails to confirm that he looks at other guinea pigs, saying instead that other guinea pigs look at him because he is so handsome. He then tells Glenys to have a drink on the house, which Little Reggie misinterprets, and sprays drinks all over everyone. Errol then enters, asking if he's in it. Roland replies that he is, because they have to have customers. Errol notes that there aren't many in at the moment, to which Roland replies that they can't afford the extras, and that Errol will have to play a grumpy old man. Errol is worried that he won't be able to play a grumpy old man, at which Roland replies that he has great faith in Errol's acting abilities, and tells him that he'll have to have a cockney accent, which Errol tries and fails to do. Maureen, playing Glenda Jackson, notes that she can do a good cockney accent, at which the others object that she can't act. She says she can, and that she could play one of Roland's girlfriends, at which Roland objects, saying she isn't pretty enough, and says that she can play the beermat. Little Reggie, at Roland's behest, then sprays her with beer. Kevin then objects to playing a pregnant woman, at which Roland notes that somebody has to be pregnant, and Colin the Flea assures Kevin that he thinks that he's very attractive. Errol notes that it's very boring, and asks if anything ever happens in the soap opera, at which Roland notes that nothing ever happens in any of the others. Roland tells Glenys to have another nag at him, which she does. She tells him that she's fed up of him looking at other women, at which Roland, in-character objects that he doesn't even know any other women, at which several young women enter the pub. Glenys, still in-character, tells Dirty Roland that she is leaving him. Errol, somewhat bored, leaves as well. Kevin partially in-character, says that he'd better go off to have his baby. Little Reggie then sprays the young girls, and RatEnders ends.

Roland asks Wendy Richard what she thought of his acting ability, and, when she gives it a "0", he threatens her, so she changes it to a "10". Roland then says that it's the end of the show, thanks Richards, and the audience cheers.

After the credits, Roland notes that it was a brilliant show, and that RatEnders was a great idea of his. He imagines that the ratings will have gone right up, at which D'Arcy De Farcy reveals that, according to the preliminary audience reaction, everybody but one viewer had switched off, at which the solitary viewer switches off. Roland Rat notes that the reason RatEnders was a failure was due to everyone's bad acting. Kevin the Gerbil is then carried out by some paramedics, who believe that he is actually having a baby.

The Sixth Doctor is rudely awakened.

After the episode finishes, the Doctor is awoken by the prodding of a pole. He recaps the audience on what they had been watching, and then excitedly tells them to switch over to BBC1 to watch Doctor Who, which he refers to as "the series". Ron Rat jumps up, calling Doctor Who "rubbish" — an act for which the Doctor attempts to murder Ron, using a ray-gun he just happens to have on his person. Fortunately for Ron, the Doctor is a lousy shot.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

References[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Documentation of the series is scarce online, with the appearance of the Sixth Doctor not even being noted on many television listing pages. This Wiki has instead found that the performance of Curiosity Killed The Cat within this episode is attributed to episode 2 by several sources, so the Wiki has identified the episode as such.

Sources[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Programme Index 13/09/1986 on genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Roland Rat: The Series - Aired Order on TVDB
  3. ↑ Roland Rat on Qsulis
  4. ↑ From the Vaults: Colin Baker Era on millenniumeffect.co.uk
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