Bob Grant was a good friend of mine and I first worked with him in 1984. His talent was incredibly underrated. A joyous man to be with socially and a great intellect. Sorely missed.
That is very sad. I wished he'd got the help he obviously needed. Not sure I should comment further, but I remember reading about him in the paper after he'd made an attempt on his life, and the account in the paper said that people close to him were trying to find him some more acting work. The trouble is that acting is a very precarious profession and only a small minority of actors go on to make lifelong acting careers. Maybe there ought to be some kind of employment agency to help actors who are struggling to find roles? I read that Joanne Ridley (who starred in "Me And My Girl) became a cocktail waitress and finally a yoga teacher after the roles dried up, and Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson from "Neighbours") trained as a chef and often works in kitchens in Melbourne when there's no work for his character in the soap.
Michael Robbins timing and facial expression was simply brilliant. The put downs on Anna Karen were so funny. They were both in my opinion the true stars in the show.
I agree, a great set of actors one and all, but If forced to pick a favourite I think I would plump for Michael Robbins too. His facial expressions, as you say, was comedy gold.
Still watch these shows often and fondly including are you veih served, anyone else under forty that watch these shows these days? They will all be missed and appreciated 😢
I grew up as a kid in 1980's UK and On the Buses was a favourite in our house on re-runs. I rewatched a few episodes recently, and it most definitely brought out nostalgia feels of a far much more innocent time, for all of us.
I absolutely love ‘on the buses ‘ . I still watch it a few times a very week. They don’t make great tv like this anymore , shows that really do make you laugh out loud ❤
I only found this show On the Busses about 3 months ago and fell in love with it. I'm sad that I never knew about it before but I guess it's better late than never!
You say it aired between 1969 and 1973. I used to watch it as a kid, and intriguingly, just 4 years had a big impact on people's viewing. I was at school and everyone seemed to enjoy and become affected by this comedy. It seemed to last a lot longer than that. Such is the magic of a good story.
My father is a musician, and when I was a kid Dad toured extensively on the club circuit here in Australia with many visiting British comedians of that period. I got to meet some of them, and one was Reg Varney. Dad brought him to our house for dinner one night. He was very friendly, totally unpretentious, and was a naturally funny man. He fell asleep on our couch watching a movie with us, lol. I also got to meet Harry Secombe, Jimmy Edwards, Warren Mitchell, Benny Hill and Spike Milligan (who was living in Australia by then). Varney and Secombe were the most memorable for me. Both were warm, grounded guys, and a great laugh to be around.
Hey did Reg tell you he could play the piano. Oh he was good. I have him on DVD on the Extras Bonus Footage, He comes out as Liberarce And plays Boogie Woogie. I was Gob Smacked, He blew me away. I never even knew he could play till i saw it. I brought all the DVD's when they First came out in the mid 2000nds. That's when i saw him play. he was Brilliant. He was a dark horse.
@@Markus_Andrew This is as good as meeting a cast member, This is AWSOME, Ime talking to someone that met some of them actually talked to them, And if that wasn't enough, Had Reg Varney over for dinner. WAW what are the chances of that happening, That's well cool my friend. Benny hill OMG Mind blown, Harry Secombe, & Warren Mitchel, That's Fantastic i love what a story, Well i don't know if i can even begin to top that mate, But i dated Babs Beverley's daughter from the Beverley sisters, And met all her family and friend, one of the nicest family's you could ever want to meet, I met Englebert once, And i went out with a woman that was really good friends with Steve Davis, And almost met Joe Longthorne to, But i did see him live and sat on the front roe, And he said Hi to me did a hand circle and did the Joe longthorne wink, Witch I'll never Forget, And he sent me A copy of his Last Album he did, And signed it for me. And that's my brush with fame my friend, I love your story mate It's Amazing. Something that will stay with us forever buddy.
I'm Australian and remember this show from my childhood. When the series and movies were released on DVD I bought them and have watched every episode many times. I guess Stephen Lewis was the most prolific of the actors playing in TV roles into old age. He was meant to be a bit character but that all changed when his character became one of the favourites. My favourite character was Arthur. He died quite young sadly
Arthur made the show. It wasn’t the same when he left. In some of the episodes you can tell that Arthur was almost in laughter while trying to play it in character.
@@peterm1826 I agree! I think Arthur was easily the funniest character. I think he was at his best in the movie- Holiday on the Buses, especially when he made Olive go into the filthy river to fetch the luggage.
Fabulous show. Love it. My favourites were the feature films, especially 'holiday on the buses'. It reminded me of the seaside camp holidays, I had as a child. Very happy memories. Bless them all. Oh butler, you've made my day.
OH i ate you Battler, Get on that Bass. Yeh i agree Holiday on the Busses was AWSOME. When the toilet explodes, Oh LOL funny till your tummy hurts. Nowt like that on telly today my friend.
@@FactsVerseUK truthfully mate not any particular show but really good funny stuff on top of just the good stuff. Fond of holiday film in Prestatyn, Rhuddlan, St Asaph etc cos live in area and knew a young girl getting off the bus when in pontins. Worked there on prize bingo in very early 80s. Badly in need of demolition now.
@@FactsVerseUK foggy night. the one where they get stuck in fog on the bus and have to stay overnight til the fog clears. peanuts chucked in Blakey's mouth. olive goes for a pee and gets scared of a cow. the cow pops its head through the bus doors. arguing over a packet crisps that they nicked off Blakey. mum knitting and Arthur asleep and then trying to read the other half of the newspaper that olive is using to cover up with as the heating don't work on the bus...best episode for me
The bus garage used was the Eastern National garage at Wood Green, you will see a glimpse of the 151,251 and 351 buses that ran from London to Southend, the good old days.
@@redblade8160 Thats a good question and I have no idea lol, but in some episodes you will see the numbers 151 and 251 in the background. I would have thought the cafe and other parts were filmed at Elstree studios
Steptoe and Son was also a fantastic sitcom shown before and during the time On the Buses was broadcast.Both depicted the inner city working class but Steptoe and Son i think appealed also to a more broader TV audience
@@culturedivined True. Only Fools and Horses was actually voted the best ever. Fawlty Towers was high up too. Personally, I'd put Rising Damp above Steptoe & Son, which I never liked.
I watched this series with my parents in the 70s when i was little. So sad that all the stars from this show are all gone now "R.I.P" As are my mum and dad...
@@FactsVerseUK that's tough as most episodes I have not rewatched in decades, but one that I can remember that stands out, is the one where the bus company issues the staff new uniforms and stan and Jack go for a pint as usual, after work but in the new uninforms and a couple attractive women In the bar mistake stan and Jack for airline pilots, and the guys go along and pretend they are indeed pilots, as the women seem to be attract to men who are licenced aviators, but as usual thing go all wrong....
@@phoenixman8569 that was a good episode. My favourites are when they brew the beer at home which is like firewater, and the foggy night when they get stuck in the countryside overnight.
My mother was conductress on the buses back in the 1950's and although she migrated to Australia in the early 60's I sent her a DVD boxed set of every single episode produced. She absolutely loved it and the antics and behaviour took her back to the 1950's. She always told me that the show had been well researched.
Barry Rudge. Was your mother a conductress on those "trolley buses" during the sixties? I still remember those "trolley buses" in the early sixties when I was about 2 and 3 years old in Fulham, where I lived at the time.
@@EtonieE25 It's possible we could have passed each other on that steep staircase in the trolley bus. But I was probably too busy eating sweets to have noticed the world around me. I remember Fulham was a lovely place when I was growing up there. Bishop's Park, the outdoor stage (I saw that stage get built), tennis courts, outdoor bowling, sand pit, duck pond, bird aviaries and more. Sometimes I just wish I could turn back the clock.
@@redblade8160 Yes clean and beautiful and as Mary Hopkins used to say….. 🎼 Those were the days my friend 🎼 I tell the grandkids l was like 10 years old and went EVERYWHERE on my own across London and 4 of us even cycled to Box Hill in Surrey on our own at 10 yrs old! No muggins, no stabbings, no peedies and if someone ever tried to accost us we knew a complete stranger would come to our aid in a flash. A time of respect for others and their property, unlike the unruly awful country the UK is fast becoming today ☹️ Glad we experienced the old days and l feel so sad for the upcoming generations who think this era was just a dream
One thing that struck me about the show (which must be 50 years old now) was how strong the unions were back then. All Jack Harper had to do was walk out into the concourse and shout "Brothers," and Blakey would be brought to heel.
I adore this show. The backdrops of Britain as seen in the films is an incredible reminder of my childhood and what the country was like back then. For me, Anna (Olive) is my favourite character. Her role was a less intelligent and somewhat slobbish sister but honestly I could see past all that - she was a hot woman! Thanks for making this video. I didn't know about their lives and deaths after the work ended.
Yep comedy and memories from an England most of us don’t recognise anymore today ☹️ Glad a lot of us here have these wonderful memories of comedy shows like this 🙂
If anyone wants an authentic glimpse into working class life in the late 60s/early 70s, this is the place to look. The brilliant ensemble cast perfectly captured the time and place, (southern England). I had the immense pleasure of meeting Doris Hare in the mid 70s and in real life, she bore very little resemblance to "mum". Warms my heart just seeing photos from the show.
Watched the later episodes as a kid in the 70s (my older brother was a bus driver and I spent many happy weekends travelling on his routes) then watched them again many times as an adult online. Brilliant comedy with great dialogue, fantastic actors and so many memorable story lines.
@@FactsVerseUK I think Stephen Lewis starred in the soft porn comedy Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. The other star of On the Buses, Doris Hare starred in those other soft porn comedies The Confession series, though thankfully she didn't take her clothes off.
Yes. One thing I remember about him was that a weekly magazine of the period was doing a feature about Japanese whisky, which was new on our market then, and they used Stephen for their taste comparisons because they knew he was a whisky expert. They wanted to know whether or not he could tell the difference between Scotch whisky and Japanese in a blind taste comparison. Eventually he could (once he'd tasted a couple of Japanese ones and got acquainted with the taste), but he got a couple wrong to start with. And I agree, his performances were very funny.
Reg Varney was an underated actor. His appearance as a washed up comedian in holiday camp drama, The Best Pair of Legs in the Business was so poignant, I have never forgotten it.
I'm a huge fan, watched the show during my childhood and still now. My parents were older (40 and 47) when I was born so, being fans of the show when it first came out, they introduced me to it
My mother was a clippie back in the 1950's and On The Buses reminded her of the time she worked on the buses and said it was well researched and could relate to many scenes in the series. She became a £10 pom in 1965 and emigrated to Australia with my father. She made frequent trips back to England throughout the years and past away in Australia aged 88 yrs in 2010.
Yeh I cried it was Horrible how she died. The last cast member from on the Busses, Now there all gone. so sad. Maybe they will make a remake in heaven you never know.
Anna Karen was actually a model and had to be made down to play Olive.... Funny that Steven Lewis ended up on Last of the Summer Wine, as most old actors seemed to end up there...... Micheal Robbins was a nice fella and lived his last years in Lingfield where he was well known and liked...
I had an afintity with On The Buses, it was at this time I was a conductor on London Transport and I learned to drive at Chiswick Training Centre. So I also went around the skin patch that Stan did, it was easy. I was even told there that you could not tip an RT Bus over, (the forerunner to the Routemaster), however by loading the top deck with sandbags our instructors managed to do it, much to the Managers Chagrin. When I watch the show, I recognise some of there antics as the same sort that we used to get up to. (Snooker was a great way to pass the time). The show was really true to life. If you could get out of work you would. As a conductor my second driver would make sure that if we broke down it be furthest away from any assistance that we needed, and always on the First Half, we never broke down on the second, except just once. However we made a lot of overtime that day. Watching the show now brings back those memories. After a break while I became an entertainer. After a few years I then got a job driving a London Underground Train and it was just as much fun. I even got a few comendations for my actions, such as suicides and accidents. I am now back in entertainment as a Disc Jockey on Dover Community Radio, which is local but also online, apparently I have been heard both in Canada and Australia, so very local. If you can find me, I am called Biro D and I am on four times a week at Prime Time. I enjoyed your comments. Thankyou for bringing all my memories back. (Oh yes, I was also a Warners Green Coat, which is the entertainment staff, and it was at one of our camps where they filmed Hi De Hi). When I got married my wife and I went there for a holiday, which was just one week before filming began on the afore mentioned show. Every week we would have a topsy turvey competion for the campers which was where all the men could dress as women and visa versa. So when I was at Dovercourt I entered as a pregnant woman, and gave birth to twins on the dance floor. My twist was that the first was a baby doll, but the second was a Womble, from the Television Show of the same name. So as you can see, I followed two Television Shows, or did they follow me? If you like music please give me a listen, I could also give you a mention on air if you would like me to. Brian Walton, Live in Dover. Gateway to everywhere else!!!
Well before my time been born in 77 but I loved it when I saw it one day and now at 45 I have all the series on dvd plus the extras that they did! Favourite character for me was Reg Varney! (Egg Sarnie) lol
So many brilliant actors who have passed They've gone for ever,They leave us with sadness only for us all too laugh at the great laughs they have given us over the years of on The bus's,,On The bus's will always be one of the great shows ever shown on our Tv sets....
I saw Reg Varney/Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis on an open top bus once, when London still did the Easter parades, They were wearing their bus uniforms, smiling and waving at the crowd. That was a great day!!, but sadly not done anymore😞, thanks for sharing👍....................
@@FactsVerseUK one of my favourites is when arthur and olive are on the bike with side car and the luggage goes into the river! lol gets me everytime lol. Second favourite is when butler is trying to have a secret date with a girl but it ends up being a family night in :D
It will never be forgotten, It was timeless tv and we will never see talent like it ever again. That's when they knew how to make great sit coms. id'e gladly go back to those days. On the busses was the best.
I loved all on the buses characters. Ive got very fond memories of watching the series and films many times over the years. Lovid it ❤ May they all RIP xx
A wonderful show with a great ensemble cast,watched on NZ TV during the 70s and akways enjoyed it,felt very sad about the death of Bob Grant,he was never given a chance to show his true talent as an actor and writer outside the show-RIP to Bob and all the cast fir the joy they all gave us Auckland New Zealand 2023
A really nice vid ! As for my favourite character within the On The Buses shows - Well all of them. A perfect cast team who all played as one and made the series and movies so very enjoyable and funny to watch. Life seemed so simple back in On The Buses days.😂
My favourite characters were Arthur & Blakey - the laughs were plenty but these two had, by far, the best facial expressions. I still watch the three movies regularly & the repeats when shown and I still laugh in the same places
I'm not old enough to remember this when it first came out but found it late at night on ITV3 or 4, I loved it, I'd love to see a remake/revive, sad they are all gone now
They were gonna make a remake but i don't think they could find the actors to play the parts. I mean where would you find another Buttler, Or Arthur. Or olive. I do a very good Blakey i have the bus hat and Clip board wig And the voice, His voice was Amazing. So funny, He only had to speak and you were in stitches. So YEH if there looking for a Blakey then Ill do it. Came on Battler Get on that Bass, Oh i ate you Battler ate ya.
Thank you. I love them all but, Bye Bye Blakey, Foggy Night, the Nurse, and of course the feature film Mutiny on the buses were classics. The jokes around the baby, little Arthur, were fabulous. I enjoy them as much now as I did the first and probably the 100th time around! Best wishes to you.
It said in the video that he had a licence, but wasn't allowed to drive the buses due to insurance problems. If he couldn't drive them on set, he couldn't on public roads.
I love them all - their unique talents and acting skills blended perfectly into the on-screen characters in this series - although I never knew any of them personally, they are all loved and cherished.
I remember as a teenager, my brother and I went to see them live in 1986 in Vancouver, we watched British TV growing up (dad's British), and it was great, though we accidentally left during intermission, we had no clue there was another half.
loved all of them watching on the buses was something i really looked forward to,i have the 3 films they made and till to this day i still watch them,still loved still missed but never ever forgotten xxxxxx lindi xx
I'll never forget the episode when Olive and Arthur were in bed and Olive had a large jar of pickled onions and when she dropped one in the bed and then thinking she had found it, Arthur says that happens to be the knot in my pyjamas. 😂
@@carriered4715 she always got ridiculed for being the frumpy housewife but Olive wasn’t as frumpy as was portrayed, let’s say she also had a proper woman’s figure.
@@JustJamie1983 When Olive was pregnant and says the baby is kicking, Arthur retorted "It's probably the baby playing football with all those pickled onions you've been eating"
When Olive was pregnant and says the baby is kicking, Arthur retorted "It's probably the baby playing football with all those pickled onions you've been eating"
@@FactsVerseUK there's that many different programs out there ill just see what you upload yourself if I think of owt I'll let you no ok but yer it was a great video anyway
Reg Varney was the first person in the whole world to use an ATM cash machine at Barclay's Bank in Enfield Town London UK. Because he lived there a nice part of Enfield called Whitewebs near the golf course.
Stephen Lewis wrote the script of the play Sparrows Can't Sing. It was made into a movie. He made a cameo appearance in the movie and so did Bob Grant.
They were all part of Joan Littlewoods Theatre Workshop along with others such as Barbara Windsor, Yootha Joyce, Glynn Edwards, Brian Murphy, George Sewell, Toni Warne etc..
I saw Stephen Lewis as Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Barbican in London many years ago. We couldn't believe Blakey was doing Shakespeare! 😂
@@debb4809 I glimpsed him in "Alfie" with Michael Cain. Shelley Winters had a young lover to replace Alfie. It was a young Blakey. Alfie saw his guitar outside the bedroom door. It was a few seconds of Blakey in the bedroom scene. I recognized him even at that young age.
I loved the show I used to watch it with my late father we laughed all the way through I loved Olive and Stan although they were all brilliant actors RIP to the legends 🙏🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I really enjoyed watching on the buses with my Mum and Dad they were all brilliant . I love pommy comedy nothing beats it ❤😂❤😂😅 We don't get enough of it on TV today
I love this show i was born in 1991 but i love it its sad they are all gone the classic no more of this show rip to all they all left a legend show ❤ never forget this same as dads army also the professionals george and mildred ❤ legend classic shows 🇬🇧
I watched this as a child and still love it today on dvd 📀 Bob Grant (Jack) came in to my butcher shop that I worked in he was a gentleman and really pleasant to talk to, all R.I.P the cast of a great series and movies
They were all such great actors, it is hard to choose, but the main players were all so good in their own ways. Reg, Bob and Stephen probably were the highlights but Michael Robbins was also a great actor.
Would you like to know who are the iconic celebrities that died? Find out here: ruclips.net/p/PLfdTwvQ5Z43sOllOs-RNIe5qrKwAWaLkm
All have pass way
Hearing Americans trying to pronounce Gloucestershire is hilarious
❤
Bob Grant was a good friend of mine and I first worked with him in 1984. His talent was incredibly underrated. A joyous man to be with socially and a great intellect. Sorely missed.
Fun stuff, thank you so much for sharing your life story. We miss Bob 😥
I miss him and I didn't even know him
Such a shame - definitely deserved better - RIP
That is very sad. I wished he'd got the help he obviously needed.
Not sure I should comment further, but I remember reading about him in the paper after he'd made an attempt on his life, and the account in the paper said that people close to him were trying to find him some more acting work.
The trouble is that acting is a very precarious profession and only a small minority of actors go on to make lifelong acting careers. Maybe there ought to be some kind of employment agency to help actors who are struggling to find roles?
I read that Joanne Ridley (who starred in "Me And My Girl) became a cocktail waitress and finally a yoga teacher after the roles dried up, and Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson from "Neighbours") trained as a chef and often works in kitchens in Melbourne when there's no work for his character in the soap.
Remember this show and loved it.
In the 70's, I always watched this along with 'Doctor in the House'. Still love them.
Michael Robbins timing and facial expression was simply brilliant. The put downs on Anna Karen were so funny. They were both in my opinion the true stars in the show.
Michael was in the second episode of Adam Adamant lives!,trying to blow up Blackpool illuminations!
I agree, a great set of actors one and all, but If forced to pick a favourite I think I would plump for Michael Robbins too. His facial expressions, as you say, was comedy gold.
@@Ruddigore He just had amazing timing. He did not need to say much either, it was the look of distaste. He truly looked like a man in family hell!
85? She was hardly in the first flush of youth 😂😂
@carlsummers2316 As Nana said of an 86 year old friend in The Royle Family "She had her whole life ahead of her"
Occasionally, its still on tv and never fails to have me in stitches!!!!😂😂😂😂
My favorite TV show growing up...❤
Still watch these shows often and fondly including are you veih served, anyone else under forty that watch these shows these days? They will all be missed and appreciated 😢
Am 27 and absolutely love this show!
I grew up as a kid in 1980's UK and On the Buses was a favourite in our house on re-runs. I rewatched a few episodes recently, and it most definitely brought out nostalgia feels of a far much more innocent time, for all of us.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Cant say that i had a favourite actor as the show wouldn't have been a success without all of them put together, it was just a perfect cast.
George Macdonald
Hence, why the show struggled to keep going when Reg Varney left.
Well put🙏👏👏👏👏
I still have 2 DVD sets of on the busses.Great show,big sense of british humor.Favorite character? Blake by stephen Lewis...
I absolutely love ‘on the buses ‘ . I still watch it a few times a very week. They don’t make great tv like this anymore , shows that really do make you laugh out loud ❤
I agree I watch these shows often even though I'm alot younger hbu? I goto sleep to are you being served every night
@@Escrima88 it’s comfort tv
I love it. I have the boxed set and all three films. I watch it all the time.
My Dad drove the number 14 bus from Hornsey rise to Putney through out the sixties. We all enjoyed the show!
Outstanding tv production and actors ..very funny .cheers
My late parents loved this show .
Iam glad to have this on dvd.😊😊😊
I only found this show On the Busses about 3 months ago and fell in love with it. I'm sad that I never knew about it before but I guess it's better late than never!
Reg varny and Anna Karen good tv show I love watching with my mum r.i.p guys never forget you and love u all ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊
You say it aired between 1969 and 1973. I used to watch it as a kid, and intriguingly, just 4 years had a big impact on people's viewing. I was at school and everyone seemed to enjoy and become affected by this comedy. It seemed to last a lot longer than that. Such is the magic of a good story.
Miss this show and it was a very great and funny show ❤
Thank you for doing this mini documentary. It needed to be done on the buses was a classic loved by all!
Love this program I worked on the buses in Glasgow for 45 years
I can't pick favourite, a fantastic comedy, with fantastic actors and actresses, the best comedy ever.
My father is a musician, and when I was a kid Dad toured extensively on the club circuit here in Australia with many visiting British comedians of that period. I got to meet some of them, and one was Reg Varney. Dad brought him to our house for dinner one night. He was very friendly, totally unpretentious, and was a naturally funny man. He fell asleep on our couch watching a movie with us, lol. I also got to meet Harry Secombe, Jimmy Edwards, Warren Mitchell, Benny Hill and Spike Milligan (who was living in Australia by then). Varney and Secombe were the most memorable for me. Both were warm, grounded guys, and a great laugh to be around.
Hey did Reg tell you he could play the piano. Oh he was good.
I have him on DVD on the Extras Bonus Footage, He comes out as
Liberarce And plays Boogie Woogie. I was Gob Smacked, He blew me away.
I never even knew he could play till i saw it. I brought all the DVD's when they
First came out in the mid 2000nds. That's when i saw him play. he was Brilliant.
He was a dark horse.
Lucky you, lovely story to tell the children and grandchildren
@@PaulJones-np8et Actually, I never knew that. Dad never mentioned it and neither did Reg when I met him. Cheers!
@@susanhilton3436 Thanks. The kids were interested. The grandkids don't know who any of those guys are, lol. Well, except for Benny Hill.
@@Markus_Andrew This is as good as meeting a cast member,
This is AWSOME, Ime talking to someone that met some of them
actually talked to them, And if that wasn't enough, Had Reg Varney
over for dinner. WAW what are the chances of that happening, That's
well cool my friend. Benny hill OMG Mind blown, Harry Secombe, &
Warren Mitchel, That's Fantastic i love what a story, Well i don't know
if i can even begin to top that mate, But i dated Babs Beverley's daughter
from the Beverley sisters, And met all her family and friend, one of the nicest
family's you could ever want to meet, I met Englebert once, And i went out
with a woman that was really good friends with Steve Davis, And almost met
Joe Longthorne to, But i did see him live and sat on the front roe, And he said
Hi to me did a hand circle and did the Joe longthorne wink, Witch I'll never
Forget, And he sent me A copy of his Last Album he did, And signed it for me.
And that's my brush with fame my friend, I love your story mate It's Amazing.
Something that will stay with us forever buddy.
I'm Australian and remember this show from my childhood. When the series and movies were released on DVD I bought them and have watched every episode many times. I guess Stephen Lewis was the most prolific of the actors playing in TV roles into old age. He was meant to be a bit character but that all changed when his character became one of the favourites. My favourite character was Arthur. He died quite young sadly
I definitely think Arthur was the funniest character, especially in the film Holiday on the Buses.
He was 62 and died of cancer Harley young.
Love Blakey, he was my fave.
Arthur made the show.
It wasn’t the same when he left.
In some of the episodes you can tell that Arthur was almost in laughter while trying to play it in character.
@@peterm1826 I agree! I think Arthur was easily the funniest character. I think he was at his best in the movie- Holiday on the Buses, especially when he made Olive go into the filthy river to fetch the luggage.
Absolutely love On The Buses...one of the best British comedies...
Love on the buses so much. It’s still repeated on tv most weekends. I watch every repeat.
Thanks for the great video. 👍🏻
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Fabulous show. Love it. My favourites were the feature films, especially 'holiday on the buses'. It reminded me of the seaside camp holidays, I had as a child. Very happy memories. Bless them all.
Oh butler, you've made my day.
OH i ate you Battler, Get on that Bass. Yeh i agree Holiday on the Busses
was AWSOME. When the toilet explodes, Oh LOL funny till your tummy hurts.
Nowt like that on telly today my friend.
Good vid. Arthur was my favourite character. Michael Robbins did a great job playing a heel.
One of my fav comedies
Absolutely class show. Still watch reruns to this day 50yrs on.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
@@FactsVerseUK truthfully mate not any particular show but really good funny stuff on top of just the good stuff. Fond of holiday film in Prestatyn, Rhuddlan, St Asaph etc cos live in area and knew a young girl getting off the bus when in pontins. Worked there on prize bingo in very early 80s. Badly in need of demolition now.
@@FactsVerseUK foggy night. the one where they get stuck in fog on the bus and have to stay overnight til the fog clears. peanuts chucked in Blakey's mouth. olive goes for a pee and gets scared of a cow. the cow pops its head through the bus doors. arguing over a packet crisps that they nicked off Blakey. mum knitting and Arthur asleep and then trying to read the other half of the newspaper that olive is using to cover up with as the heating don't work on the bus...best episode for me
The bus garage used was the Eastern National garage at Wood Green, you will see a glimpse of the 151,251 and 351 buses that ran from London to Southend, the good old days.
Michael Yates.
How did "Eastern National garage" stick to their time table with all that going on in their bus garage?
@@redblade8160 Thats a good question and I have no idea lol, but in some episodes you will see the numbers 151 and 251 in the background. I would have thought the cafe and other parts were filmed at Elstree studios
Steptoe and Son was also a fantastic sitcom shown before and during the time On the Buses was broadcast.Both depicted the inner city working class but Steptoe and Son i think appealed also to a more broader TV audience
so true steptoe and son was one of the best sitcoms of the 60s-70s by far!
The best Sitcom Ever.
@@thriddoctor close, but only fools and horses is the best sitcom ever
@@culturedivined True. Only Fools and Horses was actually voted the best ever. Fawlty Towers was high up too. Personally, I'd put Rising Damp above Steptoe & Son, which I never liked.
@@culturedivined 100% correct. Nothing has come close - and nothing ever will.
I watched this series with my parents in the 70s when i was little. So sad that all the stars from this show are all gone now "R.I.P" As are my mum and dad...
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
@@FactsVerseUK that's tough as most episodes I have not rewatched in decades, but one that I can remember that stands out, is the one where the bus company issues the staff new uniforms and stan and Jack go for a pint as usual, after work but in the new uninforms and a couple attractive women In the bar mistake stan and Jack for airline pilots, and the guys go along and pretend they are indeed pilots, as the women seem to be attract to men who are licenced aviators, but as usual thing go all wrong....
@@phoenixman8569 that was a good episode. My favourites are when they brew the beer at home which is like firewater, and the foggy night when they get stuck in the countryside overnight.
My mother was conductress on the buses back in the 1950's and although she migrated to Australia in the early 60's I sent her a DVD boxed set of every single episode produced. She absolutely loved it and the antics and behaviour took her back to the 1950's. She always told me that the show had been well researched.
Barry Rudge.
Was your mother a conductress on those "trolley buses" during the sixties? I still remember those "trolley buses" in the early sixties when I was about 2 and 3 years old in Fulham, where I lived at the time.
@@redblade8160l was just up the road in Hammersmith using the same trolly buses as you 👍 We might of even passed on the stairs 🤣
@@EtonieE25
It's possible we could have passed each other on that steep staircase in the trolley bus. But I was probably too busy eating sweets to have noticed the world around me. I remember Fulham was a lovely place when I was growing up there. Bishop's Park, the outdoor stage (I saw that stage get built), tennis courts, outdoor bowling, sand pit, duck pond, bird aviaries and more. Sometimes I just wish I could turn back the clock.
@@redblade8160 Yes clean and beautiful and as Mary Hopkins used to say…..
🎼 Those were the days my friend 🎼
I tell the grandkids l was like 10 years old and went EVERYWHERE on my own across London and 4 of us even cycled to Box Hill in Surrey on our own at 10 yrs old! No muggins, no stabbings, no peedies and if someone ever tried to accost us we knew a complete stranger would come to our aid in a flash.
A time of respect for others and their property, unlike the unruly awful country the UK is fast becoming today ☹️ Glad we experienced the old days and l feel so sad for the upcoming generations who think this era was just a dream
One thing that struck me about the show (which must be 50 years old now) was how strong the unions were back then. All Jack Harper had to do was walk out into the concourse and shout "Brothers," and Blakey would be brought to heel.
I adore this show. The backdrops of Britain as seen in the films is an incredible reminder of my childhood and what the country was like back then.
For me, Anna (Olive) is my favourite character. Her role was a less intelligent and somewhat slobbish sister but honestly I could see past all that - she was a hot woman!
Thanks for making this video. I didn't know about their lives and deaths after the work ended.
Yep comedy and memories from an England most of us don’t recognise anymore today ☹️ Glad a lot of us here have these wonderful memories of comedy shows like this 🙂
There are my Favourite sitcom ever made in UK WE MISS THEM GOD BLESS THEM, they still make ,me laugh in 2023, 😍🥰🤩
We're happy to know that you love the show. Who is your favorite cast member?
My Jamaican Family Never Miss An Episode Ans They Love It! Oh Yes!!
If anyone wants an authentic glimpse into working class life in the late 60s/early 70s, this is the place to look. The brilliant ensemble cast perfectly captured the time and place, (southern England). I had the immense pleasure of meeting Doris Hare in the mid 70s and in real life, she bore very little resemblance to "mum". Warms my heart just seeing photos from the show.
Actors though do deliberately put on a different persona in real life to shock or surprise people.
God bless them all, they have got me through some tough times as watching them always made me laugh and smile, i could drift away to happier times ❤
Watched the later episodes as a kid in the 70s (my older brother was a bus driver and I spent many happy weekends travelling on his routes) then watched them again many times as an adult online.
Brilliant comedy with great dialogue, fantastic actors and so many memorable story lines.
Stephen Lewis definitely my favourite. His performances were absolute classics!
One of our favorites too, you've got taste! What other types of video would you like to see?
@@FactsVerseUK I think Stephen Lewis starred in the soft porn comedy Adventures of a Plumber's Mate. The other star of On the Buses, Doris Hare starred in those other soft porn comedies The Confession series, though thankfully she didn't take her clothes off.
@@ryokan9120 the confessions series is a classic . I remember watching these as a young teen 👍🏻
@@ianmaddams9577 Me too! Do you remember when the confession films came out on VHS, they were packaged in those luminous yellow video cases.
Yes. One thing I remember about him was that a weekly magazine of the period was doing a feature about Japanese whisky, which was new on our market then, and they used Stephen for their taste comparisons because they knew he was a whisky expert.
They wanted to know whether or not he could tell the difference between Scotch whisky and Japanese in a blind taste comparison. Eventually he could (once he'd tasted a couple of Japanese ones and got acquainted with the taste), but he got a couple wrong to start with.
And I agree, his performances were very funny.
Reg Varney was an underated actor. His appearance as a washed up comedian in holiday camp drama, The Best Pair of Legs in the Business was so poignant, I have never forgotten it.
He would of been really suited for any of the carry on roles.
that's where he showed his true acting ability. Are Penny Spencer and Diana Coupland in that? i can't remember.
@@davidcartmell2141 I think you are right but I haven't seen it for donkeys years. Time for a rewatch methinks.
It was our family favourite show in the 70s. The whole cast were great. Good to see most of the cast lived to a good age, mostly not utterly tragic.
not all tragic anna karen was, one who played jack self inflicted.
@@christopherlock4703
Your sentence makes no sense. Try to reconstruct it?
@@christopherlock4703 The title was obvious click bait.
I'm a huge fan, watched the show during my childhood and still now. My parents were older (40 and 47) when I was born so, being fans of the show when it first came out, they introduced me to it
My mother was a clippie back in the 1950's and On The Buses reminded her of the time she worked on the buses and said it was well researched and could relate to many scenes in the series. She became a £10 pom in 1965 and emigrated to Australia with my father. She made frequent trips back to England throughout the years and past away in Australia aged 88 yrs in 2010.
😮 she would’ve been 95 yrs old in 2025
Still watching them now. I have all 3 films and the entire series. Great comedy.
A really enjoyable video.. on the busses is 1 of my favourite shows from years ago.
I had no idea that Anna Karen had died, let alone so horrifically, how tragic 😢
Anna Karen died in a house fire. It was reported that the neighbours heard her screaming inside the house, but could do nothing...
How was it tragic, she was drunk and set fire to her house.
@@fwof3347
Who said she was drunk, and don't you think it's tragic to be burned alive?
Yeh I cried it was Horrible how she died.
The last cast member from on the Busses, Now there all gone.
so sad. Maybe they will make a remake in heaven you never know.
@@PaulJones-np8et
Is that your idea of "heaven"; to see "On the Buses" again?
Anna Karen was actually a model and had to be made down to play Olive.... Funny that Steven Lewis ended up on Last of the Summer Wine, as most old actors seemed to end up there...... Micheal Robbins was a nice fella and lived his last years in Lingfield where he was well known and liked...
Anna Karen is very attractive.
@@JohnLee-pt5jz very true....Olive Rudge less so...
On The Buses was fantastic.
I watched the reruns in the 80's when i was i kid, great show, very funny too.
Cheers for making this video.
We absolutely agree! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Be safe and have a great weekend!
@@FactsVerseUK
Thank you.
I had an afintity with On The Buses, it was at this time I was a conductor on London Transport and I learned to drive at Chiswick Training Centre. So I also went around the skin patch that Stan did, it was easy. I was even told there that you could not tip an RT Bus over, (the forerunner to the Routemaster), however by loading the top deck with sandbags our instructors managed to do it, much to the Managers Chagrin. When I watch the show, I recognise some of there antics as the same sort that we used to get up to. (Snooker was a great way to pass the time). The show was really true to life. If you could get out of work you would. As a conductor my second driver would make sure that if we broke down it be furthest away from any assistance that we needed, and always on the First Half, we never broke down on the second, except just once. However we made a lot of overtime that day. Watching the show now brings back those memories. After a break while I became an entertainer. After a few years I then got a job driving a London Underground Train and it was just as much fun. I even got a few comendations for my actions, such as suicides and accidents. I am now back in entertainment as a Disc Jockey on Dover Community Radio, which is local but also online, apparently I have been heard both in Canada and Australia, so very local. If you can find me, I am called Biro D and I am on four times a week at Prime Time. I enjoyed your comments. Thankyou for bringing all my memories back. (Oh yes, I was also a Warners Green Coat, which is the entertainment staff, and it was at one of our camps where they filmed Hi De Hi). When I got married my wife and I went there for a holiday, which was just one week before filming began on the afore mentioned show. Every week we would have a topsy turvey competion for the campers which was where all the men could dress as women and visa versa. So when I was at Dovercourt I entered as a pregnant woman, and gave birth to twins on the dance floor. My twist was that the first was a baby doll, but the second was a Womble, from the Television Show of the same name. So as you can see, I followed two Television Shows, or did they follow me? If you like music please give me a listen, I could also give you a mention on air if you would like me to. Brian Walton, Live in Dover. Gateway to everywhere else!!!
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Well before my time been born in 77 but I loved it when I saw it one day and now at 45 I have all the series on dvd plus the extras that they did! Favourite character for me was Reg Varney! (Egg Sarnie) lol
I remember it well ,great cast, wonderful show .
So many brilliant actors who have passed They've gone for ever,They leave us with sadness only for us all too laugh at the great laughs they have given us over the years of on The bus's,,On The bus's will always be one of the great shows ever shown on our Tv sets....
I saw Reg Varney/Bob Grant and Stephen Lewis on an open top bus once, when London still did the Easter parades, They were wearing their bus uniforms, smiling and waving at the crowd. That was a great day!!, but sadly not done anymore😞, thanks for sharing👍....................
Actually all were my favourite, truly great characters and actors and all had great chemistry on the show ❤
You're a true fan but wait, which episode appealed to you the most?
I loved them all...brilliant show! There hasn't been anything since to beat it, and never will.
You're a true fan! Which episode of the show appealed to you the most?
my two favourites were blakey and arthur. Both brought so much to the show, everyone did it was an almost perfect cast for what the show was
Our favorites too, you've got taste! How about the episode which appealed to you the most?
@@FactsVerseUK one of my favourites is when arthur and olive are on the bike with side car and the luggage goes into the river! lol gets me everytime lol. Second favourite is when butler is trying to have a secret date with a girl but it ends up being a family night in :D
Reg Varney was an accomplished opera singer too. He was so talented.
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And could tickle the ivories. Think a lot of actors his age had been brought with wider talents to keep employed in show biz.
Wow i thought this show was forgotten nice to see it remembered fondly
It will never be forgotten, It was timeless tv and we will never see
talent like it ever again. That's when they knew how to make great
sit coms. id'e gladly go back to those days. On the busses was the best.
I loved all on the buses characters. Ive got very fond memories of watching the series and films many times over the years. Lovid it ❤ May they all RIP xx
A wonderful show with a great ensemble cast,watched on NZ TV during the 70s and akways enjoyed it,felt very sad about the death of Bob Grant,he was never given a chance to show his true talent as an actor and writer outside the show-RIP to Bob and all the cast fir the joy they all gave us Auckland New Zealand 2023
A really nice vid !
As for my favourite character within the On The Buses shows - Well all of them.
A perfect cast team who all played as one and made the series and movies so very enjoyable and funny to watch.
Life seemed so simple back in On The Buses days.😂
Thanks for watching! We're glad to know that you love our video. If we may ask, which episode is the most memorable for you?
My favourite characters were Arthur & Blakey - the laughs were plenty but these two had, by far, the best facial expressions. I still watch the three movies regularly & the repeats when shown and I still laugh in the same places
Our favorites too, you've got taste! What other types of video would you like to see?
"I'll get you Butler" in the immortal words of the inspector😅
I thought it was “I (h)ate you Butler”?
I'm not old enough to remember this when it first came out but found it late at night on ITV3 or 4, I loved it, I'd love to see a remake/revive, sad they are all gone now
They were gonna make a remake but i don't think they could
find the actors to play the parts. I mean where would you find another
Buttler, Or Arthur. Or olive. I do a very good Blakey i have the bus hat and
Clip board wig And the voice, His voice was Amazing. So funny, He only had
to speak and you were in stitches. So YEH if there looking for a Blakey then
Ill do it. Came on Battler Get on that Bass, Oh i ate you Battler ate ya.
Loved on the buses. Fabulous. All now boarded the bus to the cemetery gates. God bless & RIP all.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Thank you. I love them all but, Bye Bye Blakey, Foggy Night, the Nurse, and of course the feature film Mutiny on the buses were classics. The jokes around the baby, little Arthur, were fabulous. I enjoy them as much now as I did the first and probably the 100th time around! Best wishes to you.
Reg varney actually did have a PSV license and he drove the buses to the locations with all the equipment on board.
Was also the first ever person to use an ATM for a Bank advert
Imagine Reg in ‘The Matrix’…
@@mikeknight.1 Yes, I remember. It was in Enfield, Middlesex.
It said in the video that he had a licence, but wasn't allowed to drive the buses due to insurance problems. If he couldn't drive them on set, he couldn't on public roads.
@@barrymitchell6444 look it up! the cast was interviewed in a documentary and they said he drove the bus to the locations with the equipment on board.
Just 85, 92 and 88 years old respectively. Utterly tragic that they were taken too soon :/
🤔
they have their whole lives behind them now ;(
Loved this show as a kid , I believe they used to film around Elstree/Borehamwood where me dear old nan used to live...
It's sad. I didn't know the phrase "they were only 85" actually existed. RIP. Great show and actors
Good innings
Agreed. It threw me somewhat when that was said - only 85 !!!
@@gorse9030 it was funny maybe he said it because Doris Hare, Cicely Courtneidge, Reg Varney and Stephen Lewis all lived longer than she did.
85 is a good innings, i'll certainly not make it.
I love them all - their unique talents and acting skills blended perfectly into the on-screen characters in this series - although I never knew any of them personally, they are all loved and cherished.
I remember as a teenager, my brother and I went to see them live in 1986 in Vancouver, we watched British TV growing up (dad's British), and it was great, though we accidentally left during intermission, we had no clue there was another half.
Reg was an amazing artist 🎨 Bob Grant was a theatrical actor
Literally on itv uk channel best sitcom ever
I still watch it absolutely love it ☺️👍🏻🏴
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
Filmed in Borehamwood . Great to see how the town used to look
loved all of them watching on the buses was something i really looked forward to,i have the 3 films they made and till to this day i still watch them,still loved still missed but never ever forgotten xxxxxx lindi xx
You're a true fan but wait, which episode appealed to you the most?
I'll never forget the episode when Olive and Arthur were in bed and Olive had a large jar of pickled onions and when she dropped one in the bed and then thinking she had found it, Arthur says that happens to be the knot in my pyjamas. 😂
That was the first film.
Catherine Lee - I remember that too ! I loved Olive, she was Hilarious ! 😂
@@carriered4715 she always got ridiculed for being the frumpy housewife but Olive wasn’t as frumpy as was portrayed, let’s say she also had a proper woman’s figure.
@@JustJamie1983 When Olive was pregnant and says the baby is kicking, Arthur retorted "It's probably the baby playing football with all those pickled onions you've been eating"
When Olive was pregnant and says the baby is kicking, Arthur retorted "It's probably the baby playing football with all those pickled onions you've been eating"
Very good upload enjoyed watching it very interesting on the buses best sitcom ever 👍
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@@FactsVerseUK there's that many different programs out there ill just see what you upload yourself if I think of owt I'll let you no ok but yer it was a great video anyway
I loved the show as well as all of the characters.
What a great show On the Buses was and the best from the cast that made it a hit!! sad to see all of the Cast have left us now.
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
@@FactsVerseUK All the episodes were good!!
The narration on this is hilarious. Not sure if intentional or not? Stuff like ‘she was only 85’ 🤣
I noticed that. Well, that's Americans for you!
Absolutely loved this show
Reg Varney was the first person in the whole world to use an ATM cash machine at Barclay's Bank in Enfield Town London UK. Because he lived there a nice part of Enfield called Whitewebs near the golf course.
Stephen Lewis wrote the script of the play Sparrows Can't Sing. It was made into a movie. He made a cameo appearance in the movie and so did Bob Grant.
He also played Harry Lambert in Oh, Doctor Beeching! for the 2 series.
They were all part of Joan Littlewoods Theatre Workshop along with others such as Barbara Windsor, Yootha Joyce, Glynn Edwards, Brian Murphy, George Sewell, Toni Warne etc..
I saw Stephen Lewis as Malvolio in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Barbican in London many years ago. We couldn't believe Blakey was doing Shakespeare! 😂
@@debb4809 I glimpsed him in "Alfie" with Michael Cain. Shelley Winters had a young lover to replace Alfie. It was a young Blakey. Alfie saw his guitar outside the bedroom door. It was a few seconds of Blakey in the bedroom scene. I recognized him even at that young age.
@@goldkhw I didn't know that! I'll have to look out for him if I get to see it again.
I loved the show I used to watch it with my late father we laughed all the way through I loved Olive and Stan although they were all brilliant actors RIP to the legends 🙏🙏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Just one of so many great English comedies they were all brilliant
I really enjoyed watching on the buses with my Mum and Dad they were all brilliant .
I love pommy comedy nothing beats it ❤😂❤😂😅
We don't get enough of it on TV today
We're happy to know that you love the show. In your opinion, what is its best episode?
“She was only 85” sobbed Methuselah,her heartbroken brother .
Just brilliant!😊
We can still watch it in the uk. Was fantastic. Don’t make comedy like this anymore. Great video.
We're happy to know that you love the show. Who is your favorite cast member?
I love this show i was born in 1991 but i love it its sad they are all gone the classic no more of this show rip to all they all left a legend show ❤ never forget this same as dads army also the professionals george and mildred ❤ legend classic shows 🇬🇧
Reg Varney was the first person in the UK to use a cash machine.
Also an actor, musician and painter.
Wow! What a piece of information 😮
I'd forgotten about that until you mentioned it.
@@misssiddle5023 it is considering set in 70s
In Enfield.
The old ones were the best still get a great laugh when i watch it 🤣😁😍
Nobody mentioned the one when olive was in labour, and reg (?) took her to hospital in the sidecar 😂😅
I watched this as a child and still love it today on dvd 📀 Bob Grant (Jack) came in to my butcher shop that I worked in he was a gentleman and really pleasant to talk to, all R.I.P the cast of a great series and movies
Fun stuff, thank you so much for sharing your life story. We're very happy to know that you had a nice meeting Jack!
They were all such great actors, it is hard to choose, but the main players were all so good in their own ways. Reg, Bob and Stephen probably were the highlights but Michael Robbins was also a great actor.
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