King Rollo

KING ROLLO
Made by: Filmfair
Shown on: BBC?
Years shown: 1983?

David McKee had created the enigmatic Mr Benn, but now he turned his attention to royalty, in this Ray Brooks-narrated animation. King Rollo was some kind of man-child, or perhaps he was intellectually subnormal; whichever way, he was in no condition to be running state affairs. He preferred climbing trees (and ripping his trousers), playing with his cat, Hamlet, or hanging out with neighbouring King Frank, and his dog. There was also Queen Gwen, who was perhaps his betrothed, but he was still at the pulling pigtails stage of courting. The only indicator that Rollo was an adult was that he had a full beard.

Luckily, as with most royal families, his life was run for him by his parental figures, the Cook and the Magician, who taught and disciplined him (and probably helped him to shave.) Like Mr Benn, only thirteen episodes of King Rollo were ever made, and this was a terrible shame, because it was nice to see such harmless and entertaining whimsy given air-time on children’s TV.

SQUARE EYES RATING: 7/10

(Thanks to www.thechestnut.com for the borrowed pic)