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.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 2,056

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1 - The Early Shift

There's trouble on the buses as a strike hits the depot: new rotas mean Stan's on an earlier shift, and misses the canteen's lunch opening entirely. Things soon escalate and Jack brings everybody out.

Further details

New work schedules at the Luxton and District Traction Company cause trouble. Stan and Jack are deprived of the use of the depot's canteen when new rotas have them leaving the depot on their second route of the day just 1 minute before the canteen opens for lunch.

As an argument with Inspector Blake over where they can sit and eat their packed lunches in the warm escalates, Jack - as Shop Steward - calls a lightning strike. With the buses grinding to a halt the Butler family feel the full effect but Stan feels quietly satisfied. This is to change as he is called in for early picket duty - however, a TV crew arrive at the depot to offer the strike some badly-needed publicity. It is a battle of management versus bus crews but who will be the first to back down?

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 28th February 1969
Time
7:30pm
Channel
ITV1
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Saturday 22nd June 2019 3:10am ITV3
Saturday 24th August 2019 4:05am ITV3

Cast & crew

Cast
Reg Varney Stan Butler
Bob Grant Jack Harper
Stephen Lewis Inspector Blake
Anna Karen Olive
Cicely Courtneidge Mum
Michael Robbins Arthur Rudge
Guest cast
Fraser Kerr T.V. Interviewer
Rudolph Walker George
John M. East Lofty
Kevin Moore T.V. Newsman
Michael Slater T.V. Newsman
Writing team
Ronald Chesney Writer
Ronald Wolfe Writer
Production team
Stuart Allen Director
Stuart Allen Producer
David Catley Production Designer

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