Way back in 1969 a TV comedy series began with an episode called THE EARLY SHIFT (also known as THE STRIKE). The show was ON THE BUSES. It was about the life of a driver and his conductor working on the No.11 bus that ran to the cemetery gates. They were employed by Luxton and District Bus Depot and answerable to an Inspector who was the bain of their lives.
The Inspectors saying "I 'ate you's Butler" was to become a national catchphrase of the time.
The series was created and written initially by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chessney.
The main cast were the happy go lucky bus driver STAN (Reg Varney) his lecherous conductor JACK (Bob Grant) and Inspector BLAKEY (Stephen Lewis).
Driver Stan, lived at home with sister the delectable OLIVE (Anna Karen) and her lay-about husband ARTHUR (Michael Robbins ) plus of course dear old MUM. (Cicely Courtniedge) series 1,
(Doris Hare) from series 2 onwards.
The series followed the exploits of Stan and Jacks lives. Their day to day living, how they dealt with authority and of course the all important job of chasing the opposite sex known as "THE BIRDS".
The cast won the ITV personality of the year in 1970. By 1971 the show was a firm favourite across the nation and was watched by auidences of 8 million or more at it's peak. It was to knock Coronation Street of the number 1 spot in the ratings.
The series was to reflect the lives of the working classes of the time and this was part of the formula for its success. The show ended up being exported to 38 countries around the world and is still being given re-runs on TV to this day.
There were also 3 spin of feature films from the series:- On The Buses, Mutiny On The Buses and Holiday On The Buses.
So join us onboard for a trip down memory lane and hop of at some of the bus stops on this site.
