Highway Rat, The (BBC-1 2017, David Tennant, Rob Brydon)

Another BBC adaptation of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler picture book can only be a wonderful thing. Half hour animation The Highway Rat is about a Dick Turpin like rat Highwayman who spends his nights searching the highway looking for sweet things to steal. “Give me your pastries and puddings! Give me your chocolate and cake! For I am the Rat of the Highway, and whatever I want I take.”

First published in 2011 The Highway Rat marks the fifth adaptation by Magic Light Pictures of a Donaldson/Scheffler title. The most recent, Stick Man, premiered on BBC One on Christmas Day 2015 to achieve record ratings of 9.3 million viewers, with an overall 41 percent audience share, the fourth highest rated programme of the day. The film also won critical praise and a raft of global industry awards including the Annecy Crystal and a Bafta nomination. Previous adaptations have also been showered with awards including two Oscar nominations, a Bafta, an International Emmy and the Prix Jeunesse.

cast
David Tennant as The Highway Rat
Rob Brydon as The Narrator
Nina Sosanya as The Duck
Tom Hollander as The Squirrel
Frances de la Tour as The Rabbit

crew details
Original Author: Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
Director: Jeroen Jaspaert
Producers: Michael Rose, Martin Pope
Music: René Aubry

production details
Country: UK
Network and Production Companies: BBC One – Magic Light Pictures
Duration: 1×30 minute episode
Aired From: In production