Ken Edwards’ World Record: Eating 36 Live Cockroaches in 60 Seconds
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to eat a live cockroach? Perhaps 36 of them? Most would recoil at the thought. Yet, for Ken Edwards, this was just another day in his extraordinary career.
On March 5, 2001, Edwards, a 58-year-old retired ratcatcher from Glossop, Derbyshire, England, made history.
He consumed 36 live Madagascan cockroaches in just one minute. The event unfolded on the set of the popular British TV show “The Big Breakfast” in London.
It was a stunt that shocked viewers and secured Edwards a place in the Guinness World Records.
Madagascan cockroaches can grow up to 3 inches long. Eating them alive was no small task.
Edwards described the taste as “awful.” He told reporters, “I just think of England and a pint” to get through it.
The cockroaches emitted a scent that felt “like having an anaesthetic at the back of your throat.”
Despite the unpleasant experience, Edwards completed the challenge with no hesitation. His performance captivated audiences, blending fascination with disgust.
The Making of “Ratman”
Ken Edwards was no stranger to the spotlight. Born in 1943 in Glossop, Derbyshire, he began his career as a projectionist at the Hyde Hippodrome.
Later, he worked at the Ritz Cinema in Hyde. By age 18, he was performing on stage at venues like the Plaza Stockport and Theatre Royal Hyde.
His early acts included telling “mother-in-law jokes” while playing a concertina, though demand for this soon faded.
Edwards’ career took a wild turn when he became a ratcatcher, a job he held for 15 years.
He also worked as a zookeeper at Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester during the 1960s and 70s.
There, he cared for lions, tigers, emus, hippos, and giraffes. He joined the Belle Vue Circus and even served on its Board of Directors in 1963.
His time with animals shaped his later performances, which often involved creatures most people avoid.
In the 1980s, Edwards met David Potts while setting rat traps at a glove factory in Stockport, Cheshire.
The two formed the variety act “Ratman and Robin,” with Edwards as “Ratman.” Their act was anything but conventional.
Edwards would stuff rats down his trousers or eat live insects, thrilling and horrifying audiences.
His most famous stunt before the cockroach record was placing 47 rats in his trousers, earning a spot in the 1988 Alternative Book of Records.
The Cockroach Challenge: A Record Set in Stone
The 2001 cockroach-eating stunt was a pinnacle in Edwards’ career. Performed live on “The Big Breakfast,” it was designed to shock.
The rules were simple: eat as many live Madagascan cockroaches as possible in 60 seconds.
Edwards devoured 36, setting a record that remains unbroken to this day. The event drew global media attention, with outlets reporting on the bizarre feat.
Public reactions were polarized. Some viewers were entertained, seeing Edwards as a daring performer. Others were repulsed, unable to fathom eating live insects.
Edwards embraced the controversy. He kept newspaper clippings, even those criticizing him, believing “any publicity was good publicity”.
| Event Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | March 5, 2001 |
| Location | The Big Breakfast set, London, England |
| Record | 36 live Madagascan cockroaches eaten in 1 minute |
| Performer | Ken Edwards, Glossop, Derbyshire |
| Outcome | Guinness World Record, unbroken as of 2025 |
Animal Rights Backlash
Edwards’ acts didn’t sit well with everyone. Animal rights groups were vocal critics. In 1987, the RSPCA tried to ban his rat-handling performances, calling them cruel.
The attempt failed. In 1990, RSPCA Inspector Dale Eaton labeled the “Ratman and Robin” act “barbaric”.
Edwards defended himself, insisting his animals were well-treated. He caught rats from Manchester’s sewers, then shampooed and deloused them.
He housed them in six garden sheds, alongside 150 pet rats, a mink, and a Mexican coatimundi.
The cockroach record drew fresh criticism. In 2006, PETA targeted a Six Flags theme park promotion.
The park offered a VIP season pass to anyone who could beat Edwards’ record.
PETA’s Jackie Vergerio condemned the contest, stating, “Insects do not deserve to be eaten alive especially for a gratuitous marketing gimmick” (PETA).
Six Flags went ahead with the event, but no one surpassed Edwards’ 36 cockroaches.
Public backlash grew, and by 2008, Six Flags abandoned the cockroach-eating challenge after complaints (PETA).
Beyond the Cockroaches
Edwards’ career was filled with other daring acts. He competed in a slug-eating contest for Hyde United and worked on TV shows like “Krypton Factor” and Hammer Horror films.
In 2012, he appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent,” eating cockroaches from a paper bag.
The performance didn’t impress the judges, but it inspired judge David Walliams’ book Ratburger.
Edwards also had a charitable side. Alongside friend Peter Dowdeswell, he raised thousands for handicapped children.
His home reflected his eccentric life, filled with animals and memorabilia from his performances.
A 1990 publicity card described him as a “very complex man” who “loved offending people”.
A Lasting Legacy
Ken Edwards passed away on January 9, 2022, at 79. Tributes poured in, with many remembering him as a larger-than-life figure.
His friend Peter Dowdeswell called him a “bad taste king” who thrived on pushing boundaries.
Edwards’ cockroach-eating record remains a testament to his daring. No one has come close to breaking it, perhaps because few are willing to try.
His life was a blend of entertainment, controversy, and charity. Edwards embraced his role as an outsider, using shock to captivate audiences.
While some saw his acts as cruel, others admired his fearlessness. His story raises questions about the ethics of performance and the lengths people go to for fame.
Love him or loathe him, Ken Edwards left an indelible mark on British entertainment.
