Buses on Screen - TV shows P-Pl

Painting the Past (Yorkshire TV documentary series)

Chris Hough observes: " A production about an artist painting various areas in the Yorkshire region. The 3 October 2002 edition featured Leeds city centre, and a scene setting shot of the Leeds Corn Exchange featured a number of First Leeds vehicles including an ex First Glasgow Alexander-bodied Olympian and the rear view of a Roe-bodied Atlantean that originated with the West Yorkshire PTE. Also seen were a number of Arriva saloons with Alexander bodywork."

The Partridge Family (ABC music/comedy series)

A family pop group need transportation to Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas. They purchase a used 1957 Chevrolet roundback school bus from Al's Used Cars (actually bought by the show from Orange County School District). The family paints the bus in the distinctive geometric style of the Dutch painter, Piet Mondrian. The rear of the bus displays both the license plate NLX590 and the sign 'Careful, Nervous Mother Driving.'

Evidently a number of ostensibly identical buses were used - this one's slightly different:

When the show ended, the bus passed through many hands until it was abandoned in a parking lot at Lucy's Tacos, East Los Angeles. It was finally scrapped in 1987. David Cassidy (Keith Partridge) toured in 1993 in a look-alike bus. Another copy of the original bus can be seen at Universal Studios in Florida.
Christine Petix reports a 1999 replica of the original Partridge Family bus in Flint, Michigan. I would guess this would have been used in the 1999 movie 'Come On, Get Happy', which told the story of the group.

Peak Practice (Yorkshire TV serial)

"Various Trent buses have appeared in Peak Practice, including Leyland Tigers in Transpeak livery and Optare Solos" (thanks Sean Marshall)
"Peak Practice over the years has featured in passing several Stagecoach East Midland vehicles."(thanks Phil Groocock)

Episode: Running to Hide
Duncan Bingham recalls "Included several scenes of Leyland Nationals at a fictitious bus depot The filming took place at Trent's Belper depot. The episode ('Running to Hide' shown on 11/3/97) was about a driver who had an accident against the background of a dubiously run company. Trent weren't happy about their buses being used in such a storyline so all their vehicles were moved out of the depot and various vehicles (mainly Nationals but including at least one Atlantean) used were from Camm, Nottingham, wearing their orange/cream livery but with 'Peaks Buses' fleetnames. The bus involved in the accident was National RKA 886T." Duncan also asks: "Camms also had vehicles in service in Nottingham at one stage with the fleetname 'Bron Line', which I believe was also for a tv/film contract - does anybody know what this was for?"

Peep Show (Channel 4 comedy serial)

Episode 1 features a journey on a London Mark 1 MCW Metrobus.

Penny Crayon (BBC children's cartoon)

Penny's school frequently goes on outings on a cartoon blue coach which appears to be a Bristol LH/Plaxton Supreme. Penny is voiced by former 'Hi de Hi' star Su Pollard.

A Perfect Spy (BBC spy drama)

John Le Carre serialisation: Phil Groocock reports the arrival of Magnus Pym (played by Peter Egan) in the Devon town of Dawlish on the upper deck of red Devon General Bristol BVRTSL3/Eastern Coachworks SFJ105R - believed to be episode 4.

Perpetual Motion (BBC documentary)

One programme in this strand "Features several RMs/RMLs, the most noteworthy being showbus RM14 (OYM 424A, previously VLT14) which is started up in the opening titles, and the underside of London General liveried RM89, for a mechanical run-through by Gary Thorogood of Stockwell Garage. An interview with George Watson, the man responsible for introducing the RM to the Scottish Bus Group, takes place on board RM1397 (OWJ 871A, previously 397CLT)." (thanks Steven Oliver). This was shown in 1992 (thanks Duncan Bingham) John Hammond notes a skimmed history of London Transport and some library footage were part of the Perpetual Motion documentary on the Routemaster.
The series also "featured a programme on the Blackpool trams built in the nineteen thirties by Walter Luff. Seventy years later the 'balloon' double deckers are still running!" (thanks Chris Hough). Malcolm Rennie adds: "There are colour views, both inside and out, of Glasgow's tram replacement buses, Alexander bodied Leyland Titans, with extended footage of L25 (FYS648). Also Ribble 545 (D545RCN), a Mercedes L608D with Reeve Burgess body showing destination 'F1 Fleetwood Circular' overtakes a single deck Blackpool tram in Fleetwood. There is black and white footage of London trams both in service and on fire in the scrap yard."

On viewing the programme looking at the AEC Routemaster, I believe I identified the following:
Routemasters:
RM1 (SLT56)
RM14 (OYM424A)
RM89 (VLT89)

RM331 (WLT331)
RML894, 898 (WLT894/8)
RM1080, 1166, 1481, 1536 (80, 166, 481, 536CLT)
RM1740, 1851 (740, 851DYE)

RM2016, 2019, 2023, 2033 (ALM16/9,23,33B)
RML2361 (CUV361C)
RML2382, 2521, 2552 (JJD382,521/52D)

RML2710 (SMK710F)
FRM1 (KGY4D)
RM1397 (OWJ871A with Stagecoach)

Others:
XA12 (CUV12C)
RTL931 (LLU921)
RT1378 (KXW477)
RT1881 (WLB991 - 'Summer Holiday'!)
M244, 292 (BYX244/92V)
M428, 479 (GYE428/79W)
London Pride 386 (TGX886M - ex DMS1886)

Ensign 315
Grey Green 147 (G147TYT) Volvo B10M/Alexander

London and Country 674 (H674GPF) Volvo B10M/East Lancs
Also seen are a number of unidentified vehicles, most notably a Reading Transport Bristol VRTLL/Northern Counties awaiting scrapping, and this evocative view:

. Malcolm Rennie adds: "One of the last street scenes shows a side view of an Armstrong Galley MCW Metroliner in blue with yellow/orange/red stripes livery on their London-Newcastle nonstop service.
RML898 is shown in San Francisco being passed by a cable car on one of the city's steep hills. RM1740 is shown on the skid pan."

The Persuaders

Episode 8:
Glimpsed on the road in London are: Timpsons 554GKX, a 1964 AEC Reliance/Harrington Grenadier; a 1966 East Kent AEC Reliance/Park Royal coach; a couple of London Transport Routemasters; a brown Ford R192 or R226 with Duple body, also a blue Bedford/Duple, probably a YRQ.

Episode 10: A Southdown Leyland Leopard/Plaxton.

Episode 12: a London Transport AEC RT.

Episode 13: a pair of BEA AEC Routemasters in orange/white livery, at least one towing a trailer.

Episode 16: behind the opening credits is briefly seen what appears to be a silver Leyland Titan PD2 or PD3 parked on a London street.

Episode 20: A brief evening shot of a London Transport AEC Merlin.

(data drawn from my own observations and reports at the Internet Movie Car Database)

Phoenix Nights (Channel 4 sitcom)

Martin notes "Blackpool Centenary tram 647 was in Peter Kay's 'Phoenix Nights in the purple Warburtons livery. There are also two (possibly the same one) Leyland Olympians or Atlanteans in First Manchester orange livery."

Picture Box (BBC children's series)

"Picture Box, aimed at the under fives, often had filmed sequences about everyday life; one such segment featured a child and her mother catching a bus. The vehicle used was a London Country Leyland Atlantean/Northern Counties originating from Greater Manchester Transport" (thanks Chris Hough)

The Pink Panther (dePatie-Freleng cartoon series)

Two (live action!) GM New Looks pass in the closing credits of the popular cartoon show. (thanks Carlos Wallberg)

A Pin to See the Peepshow (BBC drama serial)

Allan Haynes reports "a 1920s solid tyred open double decker (12mph) in a blue livery, somewhere in the Harley Street area of London. It was blindingly uncomfortable! I remember having to tell the actor playing the conductor that he needed to ding the bell twice before the driver would set off."

Play Days (BBC children's series)

One show was filmed at Seaton Tramway in Devon. Trams 2, 6, 7 and 8 are featured.

Playing the Field (BBC drama serial)

One character becomes a bus driver; she trains on a Leyland-National, and later drives a MCW Metrorider. (thanks Ewood Eddie)