Vic and Bob to remake On The Buses?

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have joked they want to remake the LWT comedy On The Buses.

The Shooting Stars duo are fans of the 1970s series that revolved around the antics of bus driver Stan (Reg Varney), conductor pal Jack (Bob Grant) and Inspector Blakley (Stephen Lewis). Reeves and Mortimer have joked that they are keen to remake the series.

“I want to remake On the Buses with me as Reg Varney.” – Bob Mortimer

On The Buses was a huge hit for LWT running between 1969 and 1973 clocking up seven seasons and 74 episodes. Also starring in the series were Michael Robbins, Doris Hare and Anna Karen as Stan’s long suffering sister, Olive. Three big-screen movies were also made with the first, released in 1971, out performing the James Bond film of the year, Diamonds are Forever, at the UK Box Office.

The second film, Mutiny on the Buses, followed in 1972 and the third, Holiday on the Buses, in 1973. A short-lived spin-off starring Stephan Lewis and Pat Coombs, Don’t Drink the Water, ran for 13 episodes between 1974 and 1975. In the early 1990s there was talk of a revival, with the original cast of the original London Weekend Television series but the project, Back on the Buses, never happened.

In 2000 Mortimer and Reeves starred in a BBC remake of the 1960s ITC series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). The two starred alongside Emilia Fox and Tom Baker in the revival that ran for two seasons. In America broadcaster Syfy is now planning its own remake of the original series that was created by Dennis Spooner.

In the UK Network DVD are releasing the complete series of On The Buses which contains the three movies and the spin-off series Don’t Drink the Water. Find out more here >>