On the Buses (series 1)

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On the Buses
Series 1
On the Buses series 1.jpg
On the Buses series 1 DVD
No. of episodes7
Release
Original network ITV
Original release28 February (1969-02-28) –
11 April 1969 (1969-04-11)
Series chronology
Next →
Series 2
List of episodes

The first series of On the Buses originally aired between 28 February 1969 and 11 April 1969, beginning with "The Early Shift". The series was produced and directed by Stuart Allen. The designer for the first three episodes was David Catley, and Andrew Gardner for the rest of the episodes. All the episodes in this series were written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe.

Contents

Development

Origin of On the Buses

Chesney and Wolfe were looking for a new idea for a sitcom in the late 1960s. [1] They knew that Reg Varney would be the leading actor because of his previous work on The Rag Trade for the BBC with them. [1] Chesney and Wolfe wanted a combination of The Rag Trade and Meet the Wife , with life at work and at home. [2] They decided that a bus depot setting was the best idea, together with a home setting. [2]

Production

Chesney and Wolfe took their plans to the BBC, who had previously commissioned several of their works. [3] The head of comedy at the BBC, Michael Mills, rejected the project. [3] Less than a week after the BBC's decision, they took it to London Weekend Television (LWT). [4] Frank Muir, a friend of theirs and the head of light entertainment at LWT, accepted the sitcom. [4] [5] [6] [7] Frank Muir suggested Stuart Allen as producer, who had just finished All Gas and Gaiters . [8]

For the character of Stan Butler, Reg Varney was first choice but on a list given to Frank Muir of possible actors, he was second on the list. [9] Ronnie Barker was first and Bernard Cribbins third. [9] They knew that executives usually went for the second choice because it felt safer. [9] For Inspector Blake, Dudley Foster was their first choice but they were unsuccessful in getting him. [10] Both Stephen Lewis and Bob Grant were found by Stuart Allen, who were to play Inspector Blake and Jack Harper respectively. [10] They both came from Mrs Wilson's Diary , a television version of the play directed by Allen. [10] Lewis and Grant had previously written and acted together. [10] Wolfe found the actor for Arthur Rudge easily; he saw Michael Robbins as a bus passenger on television in The Harry Worth Show. [10] In the same week, Robbins was sent another offer for The Dustbinmen which he declined. [10]

The last two members to be cast were Mabel "Mum" Butler and Olive Rudge. [10] Allen wanted Cicely Courtneidge as Mum and she was given the part for just the first series because she had a theatre production in the West End. [11] Doris Hare was chosen to play Mum from the second series. [11] Anna Karen, who played Olive Rudge, was found accidentally. [12] When Karen turned up to rehearsals for Wild, Wild Women , she looked horrible because she had the flu and Chesney told Wolfe that she could be Olive. [12] [13]

Filming

London Transport refused to allow their buses to be used because they thought it would give them a bad reputation. [14] Eastern National Omnibus Company supplied all the buses used in the On the Buses series. [15] Their main bus depot in Wood Green was used for filming too. [15] The depot's exterior was changed for the series, with it appearing to be called the Luxton Bus Company. [15] Reg Varney went to Eastern National's Basildon depot several times for experience and to take his driving test as a bus driver. [15] Varney could legally drive the bus, but couldn't take passengers with him. [15]

Cast

Episodes

No. overallNo. in seriesTitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Early Shift"Stuart Allen Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe 28 February 1969 (1969-02-28)
Inspector Blake gives Stan and Jack a new work schedule, which has them both working on the early morning buses with no canteen facilities. An unofficial strike takes place at the bus company with no strike pay. Stan takes part in an early picketing protest and a television crew arrives at the bus depot, giving the strike publicity. [16] [17] This episode was filmed 14 February 1969.
22"The New Conductor"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe7 March 1969 (1969-03-07)
Stan has been given a new conductor who turns out to be the attractive clippie Iris. The two of them go on a date after their shift and afterwards, they both go to Stan's house. Mum isn't happy about them being at home together and does her best to ruin the romance between them for the evening. [18] [19] This episode was filmed 21 February 1969.
33"Olive Takes a Trip"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe14 March 1969 (1969-03-14)
Stan is shocked to hear that Olive is applying for a job as a clippie at his bus company. He thinks Olive doesn't have a chance of getting the job. However, Mum ensures Olive gets the job by providing false information on the papers. When Olive is given the job, and after a disastrous rehearsal at home, Stan's nightmare worsens when Mum tells Inspector Blake to put Olive on Stan's route to help her out. This results in disaster as Olive falls ill from the exhaust fumes, frequently holding up the bus to get a breath of air, and winds up suffering from motion sickness so severe that Mum takes over and ends up spilling the money satchel and losing all the fares. Stan saves Olive from being sacked by telling Blakey that she's pregnant. [20] [21] This episode was filmed 28 February 1969.
44"Bus Drivers' Stomach"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe21 March 1969 (1969-03-21)
Arthur tells Stan that his stomach pains are caused by his poor diet of greasy chips. Stan tells him his condition is known as the "bus driver's stomach", caused by sitting in the bus cab all day long. After Mum hears Arthur reading out aloud from a book about the seriousness of the condition, she puts Stan on a diet. The bus company has announced that all unfit bus drivers are to be given alternative jobs within the company such as cleaning and maintenance jobs. Doctor Clark comes to Stan's house and assesses him, and later Stan passes the company medical. A work colleague of Stan's failed the medical and was promoted to the position of bus inspector. [22] [23]
55"The New Inspector"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe28 March 1969 (1969-03-28)
Stan applies for the position of bus inspector after he realises the benefits of him getting extra money. Little interest from others for the position means Stan is promoted to inspector. All Stan's colleagues turn against him because of his position and he is removed from the company's darts team. Stan gives up being an inspector and becomes a bus driver again. [22] [24]
66"The Canteen"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe4 April 1969 (1969-04-04)
The busmen run the canteen for themselves after they're dissatisfied by the way the management has run it. Shop steward Jack puts Stan in charge of the canteen. Stan has to find a cook and gives the job to Mrs Sharma, his colleague's wife, after telling Stan that she had previously worked as a cook in a bus depot. The next day, Stan realises that Mrs Sharma can't speak English and previously worked for an Indian bus depot, not an English bus depot. The Indian food she gives the busmen isn't the food they want and upsets their stomachs, so Stan fires Mrs Sharma and gives the job to Olive, who is helped by Mum. However, they are unable to cook anything, with Mum unable to use the electric stove which results in her scorching the bottom off the pan and Olive accidentally putting the fish in the deep freeze, so Stan goes to a local fish and chip shop and buys the food for the busmen there. The management take control of the canteen again after the canteen has lost more money than ever before as a result of Stan's actions. [25] [26]
77"The Darts Match"Stuart AllenRonald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe11 April 1969 (1969-04-11)

The clippies Iris and Jenny challenge Stan and Jack to a darts match, with bets being placed on the result. Preparations taken by Stan are hampered when his favourite set of darts are found in Olive's stew when he practices at home. Iris arranges a date with Stan to distract him from the match. After the clippies win the match, Stan is forced to abandon his date and take Mum home. [27] [28]

Note: This is Cicely Courtneidge's final appearance as Mum. She was replaced by Doris Hare in series 2.

See also

Related Research Articles

A British sitcom or a Britcom is a situational comedy programme produced for British television.

Chesney and Wolfe, were a British television comedy screenwriting duo consisting of Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe. They were best known for their sitcoms The Rag Trade, Meet the Wife (1963–66), On the Buses (1969–73) and Romany Jones (1972–75). When their partnership began in the mid-1950s, Chesney was already known to the public as a harmonica player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cicely Courtneidge</span> British actor (1893–1980)

Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge, was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West End by the age of 16, and was quickly promoted from minor to major roles in his Edwardian musical comedies.

<i>On the Buses</i> British TV sitcom (1969–1973)

On the Buses is a British television sitcom that was broadcast on ITV from 1969 to 1973. It was created by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, who wrote most of the episodes. It spawned three spin-off feature films and a stage version. Despite the writers' previous successes with The Rag Trade and Meet the Wife with the BBC, the corporation rejected On the Buses, not seeing much comedy potential in a bus depot as a setting. The comedy partnership turned to Frank Muir, Head of Entertainment at London Weekend Television (LWT), who loved the idea; the show was accepted, and despite a poor critical reception became a hit with viewers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hulbert</span> British actor, director, screenwriter and singer(1892–1978)

John Norman Hulbert was a British actor, director, screenwriter and singer, specializing primarily in comedy productions, and often working alongside his wife (Dame) Cicely Courtneidge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reg Varney</span> English actor (1916–2008)

Reginald Alfred Varney was an English actor, entertainer and comedian. He is best remembered for having played the lead role of bus driver Stan Butler in the LWT sitcom On the Buses (1969–73) and its three spin-off feature films. Having performed as a music hall entertainer, Varney first came to national recognition as factory foreman Reg Turner in the BBC sitcom The Rag Trade (1961–63). He appeared in further sitcoms including Beggar My Neighbour (1966–1968) and On the Buses stardom facilitated overseas cabaret tours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Robbins</span> English actor and comedian (1930–1992)

Michael Anthony Robbins was an English actor and comedian best known for his role as Arthur Rudge in the TV sitcom and film versions of On the Buses (1969–73).

<i>The Rag Trade</i> British TV sitcom (1961–1978)

The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by ITV between 1977 and 1978. Although a comedy, it shed light on gender, politics and the "class war" on the factory floor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Karen</span> British actress (1936–2022)

Ann Harrison McCall, professionally known as Anna Karen, was a British actress best known for playing Olive Rudge in the ITV sitcom On the Buses from 1969 to 1973 including its film spin-offs and stage version and Aunt Sal in the BBC soap opera EastEnders on a recurring basis from 1996 to 2017. She also reprised the role of Olive Rudge in The Rag Trade from 1977 to 1978, while her film roles included parts in two Carry On films: Carry On Camping (1969) and Carry On Loving (1970).

<i>The Bed-Sit Girl</i> British TV series or programme

The Bed-Sit Girl is a British television sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1965 to 1966. Created by Chesney and Wolfe for Sheila Hancock, The Bed-Sit Girl aired for two series.

<i>On the Buses</i> (film) 1971 British comedy film by Harry Booth

On the Buses is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Michael Robbins, Anna Karen, Stephen Lewis and Bob Grant. It was the first spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses and was followed by two further films, Mutiny on the Buses (1972) and Holiday on the Buses (1973).

<i>Mutiny on the Buses</i> 1972 British comedy film by Harry Booth

Mutiny on the Buses is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Michael Robbins, Anna Karen, Stephen Lewis and Bob Grant. It was produced by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe for Hammer Films. The film is the second spin-off film from the TV sitcom On the Buses and succeeded On the Buses (1971). It was followed by a third film, Holiday on the Buses (1973). Mutiny on the Buses came 17th in the 1972 box office.

<i>Holiday on the Buses</i> 1973 British comedy film by Bryan Izzard

Holiday on the Buses is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Bryan Izzard and starring Reg Varney, Doris Hare, Michael Robbins, Anna Karen, Stephen Lewis and Bob Grant. It was produced by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe for Hammer Films, and is the third and final spin-off film from the ITV sitcom On the Buses. It succeeded the films On the Buses (1971) and Mutiny on the Buses (1972). A fourth film was planned but cancelled.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 2) Season of television series

The second series of On the Buses originally aired between 31 May 1969 and 5 July 1969, beginning with "Family Flu". The series was produced and directed by Stuart Allen, and the designer was Andrew Gardner. All the episodes in this series were written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 3) Season of television series

The third series of On the Buses originally aired between 2 January 1970 and 27 March 1970, beginning with "First Aid". The series was produced and directed by Stuart Allen for the first ten episodes. The last three episodes were directed by Howard Ross and produced by Stuart Allen. The designer for the series was Andrew Gardner. All the episodes in this series were written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 4) Season of television series

The fourth series of On the Buses originally aired between 27 November 1970 and 21 February 1971, beginning with "Nowhere to Go". The series was produced and directed by Stuart Allen and designed by Alan Hunter-Craig. All the episodes in this series were written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 5) Season of television series

The fifth series of On the Buses originally aired between 19 September 1971 and 26 December 1971, beginning with "The Nursery". The series was produced and directed by Derrick Goodwin and designed by Alan Hunter-Craig. All the episodes in this series were written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe except for episodes thirteen and fourteen which were written by Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 6) Season of television series

The sixth series of On the Buses originally aired between 20 February 1972 and 2 April 1972, beginning with "No Smoke Without Fire". The series was produced and directed by Derrick Goodwin for episodes one, four and six and Bryan Izzard for the other episodes. The series designer was Alan Hunter-Craig. Episodes one, three, four and five were written by Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis. Episodes two, six and seven were written by George Layton and Jonathan Lynn.

<i>On the Buses</i> (series 7) Season of television series

The seventh and final series of On the Buses originally aired between 26 February 1973 and 20 May 1973, beginning with "Olive's Divorce". The series producer and director was Bryan Izzard. Various people wrote the episodes of this series. Arthur Rudge never appears in this series and Stan Butler only appears until halfway through the series.

The Boys and Mrs B is a 1977 British comedy television special. Written by Ronald Chesney and Ronald Wolfe, it was originally intended as pilot for a sitcom but was made as a one off special. It was produced and directed by Dennis Main Wilson with a cast of established and upcoming comedy actors.

References

  1. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 8.
  2. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 9.
  3. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 10.
  4. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 11.
  5. ↑ Gaughan, Gavin (22 December 2011). "Ronald Wolfe: Writer and producer best known for 'The Rag Trade' and 'On The Buses'" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  6. ↑ Paul Newland (2010). Don't Look Now: British Cinema in the 1970s. Intellect Books. p. 183. ISBN   978-1-84150-320-2.
  7. ↑ Heyward, Anthony (19 December 2011). "Ronald Wolfe obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 12.
  9. 1 2 3 Fisher 2011, p. 13.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fisher 2011, p. 14.
  11. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 15.
  12. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 16.
  13. ↑ Barbara Windsor (8 November 2012). All of Me. Headline. p. 179. ISBN   978-0-7553-6465-7.
  14. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 22.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Fisher 2011, p. 23.
  16. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 53.
  17. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 26.
  18. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 53-54.
  19. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 27.
  20. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 54.
  21. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 28.
  22. 1 2 Fisher 2011, p. 55.
  23. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 29.
  24. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 30.
  25. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 56.
  26. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 31.
  27. ↑ Fisher 2011, p. 56-57.
  28. ↑ Walker 2009, p. 32.

Bibliography

  • Walker, Craig (2009). On the Buses: The Complete Story. Apex Publishing Ltd. ISBN   9781906358693.
  • Fisher, Tex (2011). I 'Ate You Butler! - The Making of On the Buses: Behind the Scenes of Britain's Favourite Sitcom. Deck Chair Publishing. ISBN   9780956563415.
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