On The Buses. Stan Butler (Reg Varney). Copyright: London Weekend Television
On The Buses

On The Buses

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1969 - 1973
  • 74 episodes (7 series)

Comedy following workshy bus driver Stan and his family; his conductor, Jack; and their depot boss, Inspector Blake. Stars Reg Varney, Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis, Anna Karen, Cicely Courtneidge and more.

  • Series 3, Episode 2 repeated Saturday 23rd March at 4pm on ITV3
  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 1,772
On The Buses. Image shows from L to R: Stan Butler (Reg Varney), Inspector Blake (Stephen Lewis), Jack Harper (Bob Grant). Copyright: London Weekend Television

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1969 - 1973
Channel
ITV1
Episodes
74 (7 series), plus 1 short special
Stars
Reg Varney, Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis, Anna Karen, Cicely Courtneidge, Doris Hare and Michael Robbins
Writers
Ronald Chesney, Ronald Wolfe, Bob Grant, Stephen Lewis, George Layton and Jonathan Lynn
Directors
Stuart Allen, Derrick Goodwin and Bryan Izzard
Producers
Stuart Allen, Derrick Goodwin and Bryan Izzard
Company

Life on the buses is a relatively care-free one for workmates Stan Butler (driver) and Jack Harper (conductor) - much to the chagrin of their pencil-moustachioed boss at the Luxton & District Traction Company, Inspector Cyril Blake (affectionately known as 'Hitler'), who spends half of his time trying to get them out of the depot on time and the other half trying to get them fired.

When failing to get their bus to the cemetery gates and back anything remotely like on time, Stan and Jack can be found stuffing their faces with cheap nosh in the depot canteen; chasing the female clippies and any other dolly birds they happen to spot on their route; stuffing their faces with more nosh at Stan's house; or trying to avoid his quarrelsome family.

Living with his mum, Mabel; younger sister Olive; and her ever-irritated husband Arthur, Stan's not got too bad a life on the whole, although his own consistent trail of pratfalls, plus Mum's slightly old-fashioned nature, always seem to get in the way of his getting a girlfriend, and his own loveable laziness stops him earning more money and being able to move out! But Mum's cooking is a real bonus - as long as she doesn't leave it to Olive to take over kitchen duties!

Stream and download

Additional details

Part of

On The Buses Family

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Multi-camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 28th February 1969 at 7:30pm on ITV1
Next repeats
  1. Series 3, Episode 2: Saturday 23rd March at 4pm on ITV3
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • Wembley Studios - Series 1 - 6.
  • The London Studios - Series 7.
  • Wood Green Bus Garage - Depot location filming.

Share this page