Advent Calendar 2020 Day 1: Roland's Winter Wonderland

Roland Rat didn't save TV-am by himself - Greg Dyke arrived offscreen just after he had onscreen at the start of April and gave the whole thing an immediate reboot - but there's no doubting the Superstar's infectious otherness pulled in increasing numbers, especially with the summer's Rat On The Road travelogue attracting attention to the new star and his/its offhanded manner. As finances were still precarious David Claridge and a crew were sent to Switzerland for a series of vignettes that were stretched across three weeks of the Christmas 1983 and new year 1984 period to make the still empty coffers go that little bit further. As a result, Good Morning Britain went from registering 200,000 viewers around early spring to more than two million for the 22nd December instalment. Shortly afterwards the company put the best of Roland, Kevin and Errol's adventures in culture clash and locals insulting out on video.

RUN TV, ERROL: We've been to the Ratcave below King's Cross Station before on the WDYT? Advent Calendar for a double header of Roland's Yuletide Binge and Roland Rat: The Series Christmas Special as he took the Beeb shilling only to do a Reverse Thames.