Smack the Pony (Channel 4 comedy sketch series)

"I seem to recall a sketch in which two women bus drivers, on passing buses, stop and have a heart-to-heart conversation, ignoring their passengers. I believe the vehicle were Carlyle bodied Darts." (thanks Tony Martin) any more information?

Softly Softly (BBC crime drama series)

One episode features Eastern National Bristol MW6G/Eastern Coachworks 1439 (OO9547) (thanks Chris Stewart)

Soldier Soldier (Central TV drama series)

One episode features ex Bristol Omnibus GHT127, a Bristol K5G/Eastern Coachworks opentopper in Guide Friday livery, on a private hire. (thanks John Hammond) GHT127 is also seen in Shoestring

Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (BBC comedy series)

Episode: Fathers' Clinic
Michael Crawford is seen rollerskating and at one point holding onto the back of moving London Transport Leyland Titan RTL358 (KGU434) - (thanks Graeme Selway) Maurice Bateman observes the scene was filmed in Edmonton Green in North London
Kevin McGowan also notes an SM-class London Transport AEC Swift in the background - and there's a DMS-class Daimler Fleetline as well Frank struggles to find the fare
Another episode features United Counties Bristol Lodekka FS 662 (ABD662B); filmed on London Road Bridge, Bedford, opposite the United Counties garage. (thanks Gary) "This was the episode where Frank was let loose with a tube of superglue and he, two people waiting for the bus and the conductor ended up at the hospital stuck to each other, a chair and a temporary bus stop sign which had an LT roundel on the top" (thanks Graeme Selway)
Jon Price recalls an early episode shot apparently in Dover, which has an East Kent AEC Regent V or Bridgemaster in traditional livery in the background.

The Sopranos (HBO crime series)

Has occasionally featured Red and Tan GM New Look 90.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (BBC reality show)

Children's equivalent of 'The Apprentice' has would-be junior magicians learning the trade. They arrive in this extraordinary charabanc in Midland Red livery: Appropriately perhaps, it's not what it seems. New in 1974 as Hants and Dorset 3546 (NLJ516M), this was originally a Bristol LH6L with Eastern Coachworks body. It was rebuilt in this form in 1982 and reregistered TR6147; it has worn several different liveries since.

Sorry (BBC sitcom)

Set in Wallingford in Oxfordshire and starring Ronnie Corbett as Timothy Lumsden.
Season 1 Episode 1: For Love or Mummy
One 1980-shot scene in Wallingford Market Place has a glimpse of a 1971 Oxford-South Midland Daimler Fleetline/Alexander departing on route 510 to Oxford, if memory serves me correctly. As you'll see it's but a glimpse, but the bus is one of the low-height batch 397-416 (TFC397-416K) Timothy pursues a young lady across Wallingford Market Place to ask her about sharing her flat. She boards waiting Chiltern Queens OJO835M, a 1974 Plaxton Derwent II-bodied Leyland Leopard - note the destination screen seems to be blank: Timothy pursues the bus on foot around Wallingford's one way system, down St Mary's Street..... ......and back up St Martin's Street to the traffic lights, where the driver won't let him aboard: ....so he attempts a conversation through the window - without success!
Episode 2.5
Timothy's mother passes him on a bus while he's telling a friend she's confined to the house - this is also a Chiltern Queens bus, but we see no more of it than this:

Southern Eye (BBC documentary)

Malcolm Rennie recalls this 1994 BBC2 show: "A very one sided character assassination of Stagecoach buses on the South Coast. Alleging predatory tactics against smaller operators a large selection of Stagecoach buses are shown: Leyland and Volvo Olympians (some with Fife Scottish fleetnames), Volvo B10M, Bristol VRT, Dennis Darts, Leyland Nationals (one in Sainsbury advertising livery), Iveco minibuses and a long MCW Metrorider. Extended footage of Iveco F61AVV and Leyland National 2 411DCD on service. Also shown were Thanet Bus Mercedes L709D/ Marshall L206MAV and Iveco H899NFS; and Westrings Scania/Jonkheere coach D314VVV and an unidentified Optare City Pacer of the same firm.
Stagecoach Director Brian Cox firmly put the programme makers in their place with a stellar performance denying all allegations put to him."

South Riding (Yorkshire TV serial)

"This YTV serial starring Dorothy Tutin and Fiona Fullerton had a shot of a PLSC type Leyland Lion in the livery of East Yorkshire Motor Services in one episode. This vehicle (identity unknown) was later resident at the West Yorkshire Transport Museum in Bradford. I think it may have been an ex BCT vehicle, its current whereabouts are unknown to me." (thanks Chris Hough)

So What Do You Do All Day? (BBC documentary series)

29 May 2003: "Film following the lady CEO of Camelot (who run the UK National Lottery) for a day, mainly shot in Central London, so plenty of buses seen in the background even including a Capital Frog DUKW. Also a First London Citaro on the RV1, an Arriva OLST Metrobus, an Arriva London South L-class ECW bodied Olympian on the 2, a London United VA or TA on the 148 and a London General something (low-floor decker - didn't see enough of it!) parked in front of the ALS Olympian and LU 148. The only bus identifiable was First London (CentreWest) RML2476 (JJD476D) on route 23." (thanks Graeme Selway)

So You Think You're A Good Driver (BBC documentary series)

A June 2002 show features a 'race' across London by various means of transport. The bus element is provided by London General AEC Routemaster RML2732 (SMK732F) showing 14 to Tottenham Court Road Station, driven by actor Melvyn Hayes (co-star of Cliff Richard film Summer Holiday and of Here Come the Double Deckers and crewed by Anna Karen ( of On The Buses. Various other London buses are glimpsed, including AEC Routemaster RML2574 (JJD574D).

Space: Above and Beyond (Fox scifi serial)

Pilot episode features a futuristic US Marine Corps bus - no license plate visible.

Special Branch (Thames TV/Euston films crime series)

Four seasons of 'Special Branch' were made, spanning 1969 to 1974. Seasons one and two were mostly studio-based; three and four were more location-based action thrillers which look very like the later 'The Sweeney'.
Episode 1.4:
London Transport AEC Routemasters provide a backdrop in a street scene. Season 4:
Opening credits include a glimpse of Routemasters in traffic: Episode 4.01
Views of London traffic from high up on a large building. First seen is a National Bus Company coach in National Express white coach livery - looks like Alexander Y coachwork from this angle: Unclear what this midicoach is: This is clearly a London Transport AEC Routemaster: Episode 4.05
A Leyland Atlantean is used on an airport shuttle service. It's one of a batch of 5 (LLH5-9K) 1972 Leyland Atlantean PDR2/1 with Roe body new to Silverline of Hounslow, who used these buses in maroon and cream livery for the airline TWA. This bus is seen in TWA livery with a fictional 'Near East Airlines' fleetname. The registration plate is not clear, but I believe it's LLH5K, which later operated for Osbornes of Tollesbury.: Not sure whose is the Plaxton coach in the background: Also glimpsed is this BOAC Bedford/Duple:

Speed Racer (Tatsunoko/Cartoon Network cartoon)

Episode: Speed Racer versus the Mammoth Car
Edwin Janoch asks "Is the Mammoth Car considered a giant bus? Check it out for yourself!"

Spender (BBC police drama)

Bleak and gritty series that made good use of its North East urban setting, and equally good use of Jimmy Nail as the eponymous hero.
Episode 1.1: The Homecoming:
A brilliant spot here: Gary Mitchellhill identifies the first bus here as Go-Ahead Northern Leyland Atlantean/Roe 3460 (AUP360W). Its unexpected colour is due to it carrying an overall advert for Scandinavian (DFDS) Seaways, and a closer shot can be seen here. The second is a Newcastle Busways Atlantean/Alexander, following a Leyland Leopard/Plaxton Supreme in National Bus company local coach livery: This appears to be a Northumbria MCW Metrorider, but this is all you see. A Leyland Olympian/Eastern coachworks coach passes behind it.
Episode 1.2: Half a Ton of Heartaches:
A bus station scene includes several Northumbria buses. Part of a Bristol LH is seen behind Northumbria 224 (RVN245X), a 1982 Leyland Leopard PSU3F/4R with Willowbrook 003 body new as United 6245. Also seen is a line of Plaxton Supreme bodied Leyland Leopards: The LH is probably the one then seen being followed by Spender in his car. It's Northumbria 627 (SNU384R), a Bristol LH6L/Eastern Coachworks new in 1977 as Trent 384:
Episode 1.3: Double Jeopardy:
Another brief bus station scene with a number of Northumbria buses. A Bristol VRT faces the camera, while lined up on the right, looking towards the camera, are a second VRT, a Leyland-National B, a Leyland Olympian and a Duple Dominant bodied Leyland Leopard. As the sequence ends a second Olympian backs into view
Episode 1.8: Well Well Well:
Final scene features a passing Leyland Olympian, but the overhead view makes it difficult to determine any more detail!
Episode 2.1: Here We Go Againl:
Again, an unclear angle!
Episode 2.4: Family Business:
Leyland Atlantean/Alexander SCN275S was new as Tyne and Wear PTE 275, but is seen here as South Shields Busways 275;
Episode 2.5: The Golden Striker:
A Northern General Leyland National just edges into this sequence in traffic: Episode 2.6: At the End of The Day:
Two glimpses, what appears to be a Mercedes minibus, and a full size coach (Van Hool bodied?) Episode 3.1: The More Things Change:
We don't get a clear look at the registration of this Bristol LH/Eastern Coachworks, but I believe it's WHN592M, which was new as United Automobile 1592 in 1974. However this isn't United's livery, so who was operating this bus when filmed in 1992? The fleetname is small and blurred, unfortunately: Episode 3.5: Best Friends:
Glimpse of a Newcastle Busways Leyland Atlantean/Alexander, then a line of Alexander bodied single deckers coming in the other direction:

Spitting Image (Central TV puppet show)

Bedford OB/Duple LYB941, owned by Nostalgia Travel, Oxford, appeared in 'Spitting Image' in 1991.

Spooks AKA MI-5 (BBC thriller series)

Episode: 2:1
Zoe (Keeley Hawes) is seen travelling downstairs on a London AEC Routemaster on service 45. She gets off to avoid a conversation with an old friend, then gets on the bus behind.

Spotlight South West (BBC news) and West Country News (ITV)

"Truronian Dennis Darts feature regularly on local news in the south west on some stock footage held by both BBC and West Ccountry TV for stories relating to local transport issues." (thanks Nicholas Truscott)

Stan the Man (Granada TV drama)

Episode one has two scenes supposedly filmed in London. Graeme Selway comments:
"The first I nearly missed and was of what I thought was an RT shown turning into a side street. It would have made more sense to be a RM though as the show was set in the present day - I thought it wasn't present day then, so I carried on watching out of historical interest in case any more red RTs made an appearance, but they didn't!
The next scene, however, was in a cafe, again supposedly in London, but you could see through the window onto the street and what should drive past but an Optare Solo in Barbie [First Group] livery! I suspect that this was actually filmed in Manchester where the rest of the episode was set and filmed. The only shot of transport in Manchester was of a Metrolink tram, unfortunately!"
Episode two has "scenes filmed on board what I'm sure was a Stagecoach Manchester MAN/Alexander ALX300. Secondly, several scenes filmed in Blackpool featured very clear shots of Blackpool trams, including an illuminated one."
Episode three: "this is the show that I found being filmed in Manchester one wet Sunday back in February or March. Selwyn's National Express liveried Van Hool bodied DAF, YS51 EKX featured in a couple of scenes shot in Cannon Street bus station which was pretending to be 'Manchester Central'. This isn't where NatEx coaches stop in Manchester anyway and is a rather dark and gloomy place at the best of times! Still there was a First Wright-bodied something passing in the background and a couple of good shots of the crash barriers alongside the central reservation! Stagecoach Manchester didn't get left out either - one of their Alexander-bodied Tridents in stripey livery was in another scene."

Stargate SG-1 (MGM sci fi series)

Episode: 1969
The SG-1 team accidentally travel back in time to 1969 and join a hippy couple travelling to New York in a converted school bus painted in psychedelic colours, license plate PJ2251.

Status Quo: Rock On and On (Channel 4 documentary)

Shown at the end of 2002; "Heavily featured with both internal and external footage was Budden's Setra double-deck band bus KS51PBS in their 'Phoenix Band Services' fleet." (thanks Graeme Selway)

Steptoe and Son (BBC situation comedy series)

"In an early 1970s episode, Albert Steptoe,played by Wilfred Brambell, alights from a London Transport RT in drag, aided by the conductor. This is so that he can draw his late wife's pension!" (thanks Alan Sinclair)
(also see entries for the two Steptoe movies)

Still Game (BBC Scotland comedy series) has its own page - CLICK HERE

Stockwell (ITV docudrama)

Looks at the events leading up to the mistaken shooting of a Brazilian man by Metropolitan Police officers at Stockwell Tube Station in London. Rob Sissons notes "Lots of London street scenes in Stockwell/Brixton areas with bus footage including a lengthy sequence featuring Arriva London VLA37 (LJ53BBX) (Volvo B7TL/Alexander), interior and exterior as the actor playing the suspect boards this bus outside Brixton Tube Station and gets off it outside Stockwell Tube Station."

The Story Makers (BBC children's series)

A regular cartoon character is the Blue Cow; this segment features a red cartoon one person operated halfcab double decker with NO STAIRCASE!

Storyville: Robert Capa: In Love and War (BBC documentary)

Absorbing documentary in the BBC's Storyville strand about one of the world's greatest war photographers includes footage from the 1930s of Berlin tram 5012 (and several buses), Budapest tram 2845, Paris Renault buses, also a glimpse of London STLs.

Strathblair (BBC serial)

Bedford OB/Duple SS7501 (new to Fairbairn, Haddington) was modelled by Corgi. It is now preserved at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.

Strange (BBC supernatural thriller series)

Episode 1: A female vampire catches her victims on board an N68 night bus in the green/cream livery of fictional Elmwood Buses. It's a MCW Metrobus/MCW, formerly London M1257 (B257 WUL)(thanks Mike Penn)

The Strange Report (ITC drama series)

Episode 5: Grenade: What Price Change
Phil Groocock notes this episode "includes a scene where one of the characters catches a former London Transport RT in a cream and (I think) black/purple livery (not dissimlar to the erstwhile Burwell & District), and the fleet name Baxted Transport (or something similar)."

The Streets of San Francisco (ABC police series)

The opening credits have numerous sightings of San Francisco's cable cars, including 1217; Star Karl Malden is seen standing on the back of one of them. Richard DeArmond notes: "This show featured lots of bits and pieces of San Francisco MUNI's Marmon-Herringtons and especially the Twin Coaches. Rumor had it that the producer was a traction nut."
Daniel Dey also notes a GMC PD4104 in episode 1.03.
Episode: Beyond Vengeance
"The first act starts with two girls travelling by night on a GM two axle coach lettered 'Southwestern Interstate Bus Co.' fleet nuber 101, it is silver with an orange strip. The GM goes from Phoenix to San Francisco with a stop at Oakland. At the San Francisco terminal, the back of a New Look stopped is visible. A girl is killed on the coach, and the police question the driver." (thanks Carlos Wallberg)

Sunset Across the Bay (BBC drama)

Alan Bennett TV play about a retired couple from the West Riding moving to Morecambe. One of Lancaster's former Morecambe AEC Regent III/Park Royal double deckers features in a sequence where the husband collapses in a toilet and his wife asks the conductor to investigate. (thanks Chris Hough)

Survivors (BBC science fiction serial)

Episode 2:4
A street scene in London includes many abandoned cars and an AEC RT. It appears to be RT925:

The Sweeney (Thames TV crime series)

Episode 1.05:
London Transport Routemaster RM1121 (121CLT) appears on route 28.

Episode 1.10: Stoppo Driver
Has a car chase not in Battersea as I'd believed but Windsor. Matt Sanders advises "the Bristol LS was one of the ex Royal Blue Bristol LS coaches with raised suspension, it was one of the Swagman Overland Tours operated by Norman Harris of Windsor area, the coach was then bought by Clive Cottrell and Dave Russell, a London Country driver and later bus inspector. The registration was VDV749...... the buses were at Windsor coach park next to the railway line, the Sweeney Granada goes 'under the arches' and the chase is through the back streets of Windsor. The coach was later sold to a scout group I believe.
Swagman Tours was better known as Asian Greyhound, and ran between London and Nepal; VDV749 has now been preserved in its original incarnation as Royal Blue 2206. Also seen are three Bristol RELH in National Bus Company white coach livery, one with Eastern Coachworks body, the others with Plaxton Elite (thanks Dave Kat and John Hammond): Episode 2.05: Hit and Run
Set partly on a used car lot close to a bus garage: In one scene a London Transport DMS Daimler Fleetline from the MLH___L batch passes on route 131; a distant red AEC RF can be seen behind turning into the garage. Gavin Cork confirms this as Kingston bus garage. The building the DMS is passing is a warehouse for Bentalls department store. During one sequence the bus yard can be seen in the background. Visible are the back of an RT blinded for route 71 and two RFs blinded for 216. T he episode was broadcast in September 1975. At that time 71 and 216 were both operated from Kingston garage (K). The DMS, incidentally, would be from AL or NB. Episode 2.06:
A pair of London Transport AEC Merlins/MCW on Red Arrow service 502.

Episode 2.10: The Trojan Bus
Two sequences feature unique London Transport AEC Routemaster/Weymann prototype RML3 (SLT58). It's seen first on route 52 to Neasden, and the two villains (played by George Layton and Patrick Mower) board: Later the pair steal the same bus, seen laying over on service 266 to Old Ford. Note the non-standard radiator seen in close-up: Conspicuous is the rear advert 'Try out our new London Bus' Layton winds up 'Private' (via 'N91') while Mower takes the cab. They arrive on route 52 in time to wind up '52 Neasden' as part of a plan to rip off an antiques dealer, and sail without stopping past an indignant bus queue. They pick up the antiques dealer, who is then assaulted on the upper deck, but they also accidentally pick up a German tourist. Finally they abandon the bus, somewhat off route: RML3 also appears in the spin-off movie Sweeney!, and was reunited with 'Sweeney' star Dennis Waterman in the Minder episode 'In'. (thanks Kevin McGowan)

Episode 3.08:
A brief sighting of a London Transport AEC Merlin/MCW.

Episode 4.01: Messenger of the Gods
London Transport DMS8 (EGP8J), a Park Royal-bodied Daimler Fleetline is seen in close-up. Also seen parked is a European Scania BR111/Jonckheere coach.

Sword of Honour (Channel 4 miniseries)

Preserved Edinburgh Corporation Guy Arab III/Metro-Cammell 739 (ESG652) is hijacked by the lead character during World War II - although not built till 1948!

Sykes (BBC comedy series)

Episode: Sykes and a Following
Comedy duo Eric Sykes and Hattie Jaques apply their own distinctive style to their roles as driver and conductor of a London Transport AEC Routemaster. A report in 'Buses Illustrated' June 1964 decribes an episode screened on 17th March using three London Transport AEC Routemasters. "Three buses were used in the filmed sequences, evidently shot last autumn, these being RMs 1627, 1632 and 1633, then new, which carried running numbers CS2/3/4; CS is the LT code for Chiswick Works, and it is rarely seen on the sides of a bus. The buses carried route 136 and route 179 destination blinds, which were made up by the BBC. Filming was undertaken at Chiswick Works, Barnes Common and in the vicinity of Chiswick Station, whilst the Television Centre in Wood Lane, White City, became a bus garage for the duration of the shooting." Comedy it may have been, but this show introduced a couple of ideas later taken seriously: Here conductress Hattie Jacques welcomes passengers in airline stewardess style! Ultimately, when Eric and Hattie are prevented from taking a bus out on the road, they take their passengers on foot - a forerunner of the 'walking school bus'..... Allan Haynes notes a photograph of Eric Sykes being filmed while in the cab appeared on the front of the BBC staff magazine 'Ariel' in January 1964. Episode: Sykes and a Haunting
Patrick Hall recalls "I remember one of Eric Sykes' series of comedies, I believe it was called 'Sykes and a Haunting', which was screened in 1962 and contained former Southern Vectis Bristol K5G/ECW lowbridge double decker DDL986. I believe its owner at the time was Lansdowne Luxury Coaches, of London E11" This episode dates from 1962.

Episode: Bus
This 1973 episode is a remake in colour of the 'Sykes and a Following' black and white episode. As in the original, the duo set about revolutionising the bus service. First seen is RT2501 (KXW130), with Eric at the wheel: .....and it's later seen equipped with potted plants, a screen over the door, and a cleaner! It appears the only other bus used for filming was AEC Routemaster RM970 (WLT970). All the street scenes are filmed with the Routemaster, but it magically transforms into the RT ) back at the garage, to the extent that when the RM breaks down, the passengers push it back to the garage, but it's the RT that we see arrive, with the RM in the background! (thanks Richard Dodge)

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