I Was a Rat

Last updated

I Was a Rat
Also known asCinderella and Me
Genre Children's
Drama
Fantasy
Based on
Written by Richard Carpenter
Philip Pullman
Directed by Laurie Lynd
Starring Calum Worthy
Brenda Fricker
Tom Conti
Ned Beatty
Stephen Ouimette
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Canada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes3
Production
ProducerAndy Rowley
Running time55 minutes
Original release
Network BBC One
Release9 December (2001-12-09) 
23 December 2001 (2001-12-23)

I Was a Rat, also known as Cinderella and Me, is a children's drama television series broadcast on BBC One from 9 to 23 December 2001, based on the popular 1999 children's novel I Was a Rat! or The Scarlet Slippers by Philip Pullman, in turn based on the folk tale Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper by Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, to which it serves as a stand-alone sequel. [1] It was aired in the Sunday tea-time slot which traditionally accommodates a children's drama series in the run-up to Christmas. The series was produced by Andy Rowley and starred Calum Worthy in the leading role, alongside Tom Conti and Brenda Fricker. It was adapted by Richard Carpenter, who won a BAFTA award for the work. [2]

Contents

Synopsis

The series is set in the early 1920s, telling the tale of a young boy with a mysterious past who claims to be a rat. [3] He is taken in off the streets by elderly couple Bob (Conti) and Joan (Fricker) who name him Roger and it soon becomes obvious that he is no ordinary child.

Cast and characters

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Pullman</span> English author

Sir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945". In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the eleventh most influential person in British culture. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Collins</span> English actress and writer (born 1933)

Dame Joan Henrietta Collins is an English actress, author and columnist. With a career spanning nearly 8 decades, Collins is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. She is one of the last surviving actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. In 1983, Collins was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has been recognised for her philanthropy, particularly her advocacy towards causes relating to children, which has earned her many honours. In 2015, she was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for her charitable services, presented to her by the then Prince of Wales, Charles III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Howard</span> American filmmaker and actor

Ronald William Howard is an American director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Howard started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films. Over his six decade career, Howard has received two Academy Awards, four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Grammy Award. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2003 and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013. Howard has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions in film and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Curtis</span> British filmmaker (born 1956)

Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis is a British screenwriter, producer and film director. One of Britain's most successful comedy screenwriters, he is known primarily for romantic comedy films, among them Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Notting Hill (1999), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Love Actually (2003), Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), About Time (2013), and Yesterday (2019). He is also known for the drama War Horse (2011) and for having co-written the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and The Vicar of Dibley. His early career saw him write material for the BBC's Not the Nine O'Clock News and ITV's Spitting Image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Courtenay</span> British actor

Sir Thomas Daniel Courtenay is an English actor. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he achieved prominence in the 1960s as part of actors of the British New Wave. Courtenay received numerous accolades including three BAFTA Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Silver Bear, and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor as well as nominations for two Academy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Emmy Award. He was knighted for his services to cinema and theatre in the 2001 New Year Honours.

Annette Crosbie is a Scottish actress. She is best known for her role as Margaret Meldrew in the BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000). She twice won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress, for The Six Wives of Henry VIII in 1971 and in 1976 for Edward the Seventh. Also in 1976, she was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 1976 film The Slipper and the Rose and she won the award for Best Actress at the Evening Standard British Film Awards for the same role. Her other film appearances include The Pope Must Die (1991), Shooting Fish (1997), The Debt Collector (1999), Calendar Girls (2003) and Into the Woods (2014).

<i>The Slipper and the Rose</i> 1976 British film

The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella is a 1976 British musical retelling the classic fairy tale of Cinderella. The film was chosen as the Royal Command Performance motion picture selection for 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Fricker</span> Irish actress

Brenda Fricker is an Irish actress, whose career has spanned six decades on stage and screen. She has appeared in more than 30 films and television roles. In 1990, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, earning the award for Best Supporting Actress for the biopic My Left Foot (1989). She also appeared in films such as The Field (1990), Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993), Angels in the Outfield (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Veronica Guerin (2003), Inside I'm Dancing (2004) and Albert Nobbs (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Blethyn</span> British actress (born 1946)

Brenda Blethyn is an English actress. Known for her character work and versatility, she is the recipient of various accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Cannes Film Festival Award, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and two Primetime Emmys. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama in 2003.

<i>Ever After</i> 1998 American romantic drama film

Ever After is a 1998 American romantic period drama film inspired by the Charles Perrault fairy tale, "Cinderella". It is directed by Andy Tennant and stars Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Jeanne Moreau, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey, Patrick Godfrey, Lee Ingleby, Richard O'Brien, Timothy West, and Judy Parfitt. Tennant, Susannah Grant and Rick Parks wrote the screenplay. George Fenton composed the original music score. The film's closing theme song, "Put Your Arms Around Me", is performed by the rock band Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Redman</span> British actress (born 1957)

Amanda Jacqueline Redman, is an English actress, known for her roles as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman in the BBC One series New Tricks (2003–2013) and as Dr. Lydia Fonseca in The Good Karma Hospital (2017–2022). She gained BAFTA TV Award nominations for At Home with the Braithwaites (2000–2003) and Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This (2014). Her film roles include For Queen and Country (1988), Sexy Beast (2000) and Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Parfitt</span> British actress (born 1935)

Judy Catherine Claire Parfitt is an English theatre, film, and television actress. She made her film debut in the 1950s, followed by a supporting role in the BBC television serial David Copperfield (1966). She also appeared as Queen Gertrude in Tony Richardson's 1969 film adaptation of Hamlet.

Rita Gemma Craven born 1 June 1950) is an Irish actress. She is best known for her role as Joan Parker, the frigid wife of Arthur, in the BBC TV drama Pennies From Heaven (1978).

<i>Hey, Cinderella!</i> 1969 TV series or program

Hey, Cinderella! is a 1969 television special adaptation of the fairy tale Cinderella, produced by Muppets, Inc. in the United States and Robert Lawrence Productions in Canada, and featuring The Muppets created by Jim Henson, who also directed the special. It was written by Jon Stone and Tom Whedon, and scored by the music composer of Sesame Street, Joe Raposo. It featured Kermit in his first appearance as a frog, as well as Goshposh and Rufus and Splurge.

<i>I Was a Rat!: or, The Scarlet Slippers</i>

I Was a Rat! or The Scarlet Slippers is a children's novel written by British author Philip Pullman. Loosely based on the folk tale Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper, to which it serves as a stand-alone sequel, it was published in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonso Anozie</span> English actor (born 1978)

Nonso Anozie is an English actor. On television, he is known for his roles in the HBO series Game of Thrones (2012), the Sky series Dracula (2013), the CBS series Zoo (2015–2017), and the Netflix series Sweet Tooth (2021–). For the latter, he won a Children's and Family Emmy Award and was nominated for a BAFTA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calum Worthy</span> Canadian actor (born 1991)

Calum Worthy is a Canadian actor, writer, and producer, known for his roles as Dez on the Disney Channel series Austin & Ally, Alex Trimboli in the Netflix series American Vandal, Nicholas Godejohn in the Hulu series The Act, and himself in The Coppertop Flop Show. He has won two Young Artist Awards in the Leading Young Actor category for his performances in the comedy film National Lampoon's Thanksgiving Family Reunion (2003) and the science fiction television series Stormworld (2009). He also won the Leading Actor award at the 2010 Leo Awards for his performance in Stormworld.

Andy Rowley is a British television producer known for his children's dramas, including Jeopardy, which won a BAFTA Award for best children's drama in 2002, and Microsoap, Prix Jeunesse winner and BAFTA best children's drama award winner in 1999. Rowley was a BBC Production Manager who went on to produce the last TV script written by Malcolm Bradbury, "Foreign Bodies" for Dalziel and Pascoe and many memorable TV dramas including Loved Up, Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars, Uncle Max, I Was a Rat, and Scene, as well being a UK producer on the French feature film L'Isle Aux Tresors.

Deadly Advice is a 1994 British comedy drama film directed by Mandie Fletcher and starring Jane Horrocks, Brenda Fricker and Edward Woodward.

<i>The Great Train Robbery</i> (2013 TV series) British television miniseries

The Great Train Robbery is a two-part British television miniseries, written by Chris Chibnall, that was first broadcast on BBC One on 18 and 19 December 2013. The series is distributed worldwide by Kew Media.

References

  1. Anne, Heidi (28 March 2011). "SurLaLune Fairy Tales Blog: I Was a Rat". Surlalunefairytales.blogspot.com. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  2. "Explore the Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  3. "I was a Rat by Philip Pullman: book review". Readingmatters.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. "I was a Rat – review". Headliners. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2013.