Rock Profile

Broadcast history

The show began with a 13-episode first series on the digital channel UK Play in 1999. BBC Two picked it up for a second series of 13 episodes in 2000, and later reran the first series. A 45-minute special called Rock the Blind aired in November 2001, following Gary Barlow and Ronan Keating as they recorded a charity single, with Ted Robbins playing Pete Waterman and Sara Cox appearing as herself. After this, the show took a two-year break.

In October 2001, several sketches featuring characters from the first two series were included in the relaunch of Top of the Pops, titled The All-New Top of the Pops, filmed backstage. Viewers unfamiliar with the show found the segments confusing, and a sketch with Lucas as Elton John, where an audience member verbally harassed him, drew complaints. That sketch was removed from all future repeats and now appears only as a DVD extra. Due to recent events involving Walliams, it is likely all these segments will be cut from any future repeat of the episode.

A third series was recorded in 2009 and made available for free on Funny or Die, with Dermot O'Leary replacing Jamie Theakston as host. The first episode, featuring a mock interview with Jordan and Peter Andre, went viral on 11 May 2009. A one-off special for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2022 saw Vernon Kay host, with Lucas and Walliams portraying Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, Adele, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Lewis Capaldi, Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus, and Post Malone.

Examples of musicians parodied

Shirley Bassey (Lucas) and Tom Jones (Walliams) – Shirley Bassey is portrayed as claiming to have more hits than she actually does. Jones is portrayed as a befuddled has-been who confuses the names of other artists who have told him he was 'the greatest singer of his generation.' ABBA are reluctantly reunited after interviews with Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus. Boy George (Lucas) and Marilyn (Walliams) – Both characters are portrayed as thinking they are female and Marilyn claims interviewer Jamie Theakston has made him pregnant and that he needs to provide for his baby.

Ringo Starr (Walliams) – Ringo Starr is portrayed as believing himself to be Thomas the Tank Engine's representative on Earth. He claims that Thomas has asked him to do both good and bad things. Simon & Garfunkel – Simon (Lucas) and Garfunkel (Walliams) are portrayed as hating each other, and both try to prove that they are more successful than the other. They use a curtain and even a brick wall to separate themselves.

Bono (Walliams) – Bono is portrayed as an irritating Englishman who loves to phone Salman Rushdie and can't understand why his fellow U2 bandmates persist in speaking with an Irish accent. The Edge (Lucas) points out that it is because they are Irish. Elton John (Lucas) – Elton John is portrayed as a moody, temperamental prima donna. George Harrison (Lucas) – George Harrison is portrayed as speaking with a strong Indian accent and keeps a poppadum in his top pocket, yet cannot understand why people keep talking about his Indian influences.

He also produces bizarre films plots; for example: one man's love for his sandal. Lee and H from Steps (Walliams and Lucas respectively) are portrayed as five-year-olds. Liam Gallagher (Walliams) – Liam Gallagher is portrayed as a foul-mouthed house husband whose wife, Patsy Kensit (Lucas), constantly embarrasses him and ruins his 'hard-man' image by exposing him as a friend of Mary and Jeffrey Archer. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees is portrayed as a bully who bosses his brothers Maurice (Lucas) and Robin around.

In the episode, Barry resembles the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz. He even has a tail. Blur – Damon Albarn (Lucas) is portrayed as a Cockney working-class hero, who says his life is like the musical Oliver. Alex James (Walliams) is portrayed as being very confused about many things, such as his sexuality.

Geri Halliwell (Lucas) – Geri Halliwell is portrayed as a patronising moron who stalks and has delusions about marrying George Michael (played by both Lucas and Walliams on separate occasions). According to Geri, everything is 'Girl Power'. 'All base metals, Girl Power. The River Nile, Girl Power.

Clive Anderson, dictionary definition of Girl Power'. Paul McCartney (Lucas) – Paul McCartney is portrayed as fed up with people asking about his solo career. He announces 'People keep asking me... what's the hidden message at the end of 'Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time'?... Y'know, 30 years ago I was in a band called The Beatles... but no one ever wants to talk about that!'

When Theakston, overjoyed at Paul's apparent willingness to talk about the Beatles, questions him on John Lennon, McCartney soberingly muses 'Y'know the saddest thing? No one ever mentions him.' Eurythmics – Dave Stewart (Lucas) is portrayed as a mad scientist who claims to have created Annie Lennox (Walliams) – who is portrayed as a creature similar to that from Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' – from parts of corpses. Happy Mondays – Bez (Walliams) is portrayed as a professionally trained dancer who went to the Ramhurst School, claiming that he was in the year above Darcey Bussell.

Shaun Ryder (Lucas) is portrayed as mumbling, incoherent and an unenthusiastic interviewee. Gary Barlow (Lucas) and Howard Donald (Walliams) from boy band Take That – Gary Barlow and Howard Donald are portrayed as constantly thinking about reforming the band. Gary is portrayed as a mean-spirited bully and Howard portrayed as childlike. When Theakston asks Gary if he still speaks to Robbie Williams, Gary responds 'Yeah, I phone Robbie up every week – don't tell him it's me though'.

Graham Coxon (Walliams) – Graham Coxon (of Blur) is portrayed as a musically inept, paranoid pyromaniac who speaks in hushed tones until he categorically states he didn't 'start the fire'. Andy Warhol (Lucas) – Andy Warhol is portrayed as living in a flat with Lou Reed (Williams). Reed asks Warhol what he wants for his tea, to which Warhol replies 'chippy'. Reed then goes into a long explanation about how he had chippy for his lunch and can't have it twice.

Warhol replies 'Yeah, I know', and a catchphrase was born. 'So what do you want then?', to which Warhol replies: 'Chippy'. This sketch evolved into the characters Lou and Andy in Little Britain. Kylie Minogue (Walliams) and her sister Dannii Minogue (Lucas) – The sisters are portrayed as being extremely jealous of each other and during their interview take great pride in pointing out each other's failures.

Dannii tells Kylie, 'the whole family was so proud when your last single went to number 27 in the charts'. Prince (Lucas) – Prince is portrayed as an alcoholic Glaswegian tramp, performing his hits on acoustic guitar and harmonica as a busker. Although the introduction to the episode claims he is living in Glasgow, he is busking on the Uxbridge Road in London's Shepherd's Bush.