''Here Come the Double Deckers!'' is a 17-part British children's television series originally broadcast in 1971 on BBC1, revolving around the adventures of seven children whose den was an old red double-decker

London bus Buses have been used as a mode of public transport in London since 1829, when George Shillibeer started operating a horse-drawn ''omnibus'' service from Paddington to the City of London. In the decades since their introduction, the red London ...

in a scrap yard.

The show

A co-production between British independent film company Century Films and

20th Century Fox Television 20th Television, Inc. (formerly known as TCF Television Productions, Inc., 20th Century-Fox Television and 20th Century Fox Television) is the television studio arm of 20th Century Studios, owned by Disney Television Studios, a division of the Di ...

, it is a children's adventure

sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...

. The shows are about 22 minutes in length. The programme made its US debut on 12 September 1970 on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

, and began in the UK on 1 January 1971 on

BBC1 BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and Flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includ ...

. In the US, the series was repeated on Sunday mornings on ABC from 12 September 1971 to 3 September 1972. The series was repeated in the UK by the BBC until 1977, and then during the early 1990s on a number of ITV companies.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results/1990-01-01/1999-12-31?basicsearch=%22here%20come%20the%20double%20deckers%22&phrasesearch=here%20come%20the%20double%20deckers&retrievecountrycounts=false Each week saw the gang in a separate adventure, including episodes based around a runaway homemade

hovercraft A hovercraft (: hovercraft), also known as an air-cushion vehicle or ACV, is an amphibious craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud, ice, and various other surfaces. Hovercraft use blowers to produce a large volume of air below the ...

, a chocolate factory and invading '

Martian Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has appeared as a setting in works of fiction since at least the mid-1600s. Trends in the planet's portrayal have largely been influenced by advances in planetary science. It became the most popular celes ...

s' with guns that shoot out chocolate candy, a disastrous camping holiday, collecting tin foil for a

guide dog Guide dogs (colloquially known in the US as seeing-eye dogs) are assistance dogs trained to lead people who are blind or visually impaired around obstacles. Although dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are red–green c ...

, becoming pop moguls with their protégé 'The Cool Cavalier', and a haunted stately home. Some of the cast were unknown, though

Melvyn Hayes Melvyn Hayes ('' né'' Hyams; born 11 January 1935) is an English actor and voice-over performer. He is best known for playing the effeminate Gunner (later Bombardier) "Gloria" Beaumont in the 1970s BBC sitcom '' It Ain't Half Hot Mum'', for ...

was an established adult actor, Gillian Bailey was fairly experienced for a child actor and both Brinsley Forde and Michael Audreson had appeared in '' The Magnificent Six and a Half'', a series of

Children's Film Foundation The Children's Film Foundation (CFF) is a non-profit organisation which makes films and other media for children in the United Kingdom. Originally it made films to be shown as part of children's Saturday morning matinée cinema programming. Th ...

films on which the Double Deckers were based. Hayes also wrote the episode "Man's Best Friend", co-wrote the episode "Get a Movie On!", co-wrote the series' theme music, and acted as a dialogue coach for the series. Bailey went on to become head of the drama department at

Royal Holloway, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London (RH), formally incorporated as Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, is a public university, public research university and a constituent college, member institution of the federal University of London. It ...

, and as at July 2023 is Professor of Women's Performance Histories at the

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, commonly shortened to Central, is a drama school founded by Elsie Fogerty in 1906, as the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for ...

in London.

Peter Firth Peter Macintosh Firth (born 27 October 1953) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC One programme '' Spooks''; he is the only actor to have appeared in every episode of the programme's ten-series lif ...

has gone on to a prominent acting career, appearing in '' Equus'', ''

The Hunt for Red October ''The Hunt for Red October'' is the debut novel by American author Tom Clancy, first published on October 1, 1984, by the Naval Institute Press. It depicts Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius as he seemingly goes rogue with his country's cutt ...

'', '' Tess'', ''

Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Reci ...

'' and '' Spooks'' (known in some territories as ''MI-5''). Co-star Brinsley Forde later became the lead singer in Aswad. The series was originally scheduled for 26 episodes (as well as a second series of 26 additional episodes), but production ceased after 17 had been completed.

Cast

Children

* Michael Audreson - Brains, the gang's brightest member and resident science geek. * Gillian Bailey - Billie, the tomboyish 'mother' figure of the gang. * Bruce Clark - Sticks, the sole U.S. member of the gang, so-named because of his drumming skills *

- Scooper, the leader of the gang. * Brinsley Forde - Spring, the sole black member of the gang. * Debbie Russ - Tiger, the youngest member of the gang, who has a stuffed animal tiger also called "Tiger". * Douglas Simmonds (18 February 1958 - 15 March 2011) - Doughnut, the most food-obsessed of the gang and constantly eating

Guest stars

- Albert (all episodes except 4, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17). *

Ivor Salter Ivor Charlie Salter (22 August 1925 – 21 June 1991) was an English actor who appeared in character roles in numerous United Kingdom television productions and films from the early 1950s until the 1980s often appearing as a police constable. ...

was in many of the episodes, usually as a police officer. *

Julian Orchard Julian Dean Chavasse Orchard (3 March 1930, in Wheatley, Oxfordshire – 21 June 1979, in Westminster, London) was an English comedy actor. He appeared in four ''Carry On'' films: '' Don't Lose Your Head'' (1966), '' Follow That Camel'' (196 ...

, Jack Haig,

Roy Evans Roy Quentin Echlin Evans (born 4 October 1948) is an English former footballer who played as a defender for Liverpool, where he also had a spell as manager. Aside from his time at Liverpool, he had a short spell in the United States; and also ...

in episode 2. * Norman Vaughan in episode 3. * David Lodge, Hugh Walters,

Bob Todd Brian Todd (15 December 1922 – 21 October 1992), known professionally as Bob Todd, was an English comedy actor, mostly known for appearing as a straight man in the sketch shows of Benny Hill and Spike Milligan. For many years, he lived in ...

Liz Fraser Elizabeth Joan Winch (14 August 1930 – 6 September 2018), known professionally as Liz Fraser, was a British film actress, best known for being cast in provocative comedy roles. Early life Fraser was born in Southwark, London. Her year of b ...

in episode 4. * Clive Dunn, Frederick Peisley,

Pat Coombs Patricia Doreen Coombs (27 August 1926 – 25 May 2002) was an English actress. She specialised in the portrayal of the eternal downtrodden female, comically under the thumb of stronger personalities. She was known for many roles on radio, ...

in episode 5. * Betty Marsden,

Hugh Paddick Hugh William Paddick (22 August 1915 – 9 November 2000) was an English actor. He starred in the 1960s BBC radio show ''Round the Horne'', performing in sketches such as "Charles and Fiona" (as Charles) and " Julian and Sandy" (as Julian). He an ...

, George Woodbridge in episode 6. * Anthony May in episode 7. *

Jane Seymour Jane Seymour (; 24 October 1537) was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 30 May 1536 until her death the next year. She became queen following the execution of Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, who was ...

, Tim Barrett,

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American jazz fusion guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the ...

John Barrard John Barrard (12 September 1924 – 13 October 2013) was a British character actor who had a career spanning five decades and who perhaps is best known for playing Dooley, Santa's No. 2, in '' Santa Claus: The Movie'' (1985). Barrard's televis ...

, Bob Hornery, Ruth Kettlewell in episode 8. *

Frank Thornton Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 192116 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was best known for playing Captain Peacock in the TV sitcom ''Are You Being Served?'' and its sequel '' Grace & Favour'' (''A ...

Michael Sharvell-Martin Michael Sharvell-Martin (2 February 1944 – 28 October 2010) was a British television and stage actor. He was a character actor, guest-starring in dramas and comedies during the 1970s and 1980s. Early life Sharvell-Martin was born Michael Ern ...

in episode 9. *

David Hutcheson David Hutcheson (14 June 1905 – 18 February 1976) was a British character actor. He made his film debut in ''Fast and Loose'' in 1930 and played his only lead role in 1934's '' Romance in Rhythm''. He went on to specialise in hooray henrys, si ...

, Jimmy Gardner,

Robin Askwith Robin Mark Askwith (born 12 October 1950) is an English actor and singer who has appeared in a number of film, television and stage productions. Making his film debut as Keating in the film '' if....'' (1968), a role he would reprise in '' Brit ...

in episode 10. *

Graham Stark Graham William Stark (20 January 1922 – 29 October 2013) was an English comedian, actor, writer and director, known for his close, personal friendship with Peter Sellers, appearance in several The Pink Panther films and Victor/Victoria.

, Nora Nicholson, Nicholas Phipps, Jennifer Daniel in episode 11. *

Sam Kydd Samuel John Kydd (15 February 1915 – 26 March 1982) was a British actor. Most of his film roles were very small but he appeared in more than 290 films, more than any other British actor, including 119 between 1946 and 1952. His best-known ro ...

, John Horsley, Michael Brennan in episode 12. *

Julian Chagrin Julian Chagrin; (born 22 February 1940), also credited as Julian Joy-Chagrin, is a British-Israeli comedy actor. Biography Chagrin was born in London. His father was the composer and conductor Francis Chagrin, who was born to Jewish parents in B ...

in episode 13. *

Derek Royle Derek Stanley Royle (7 September 1928 – 23 January 1990) was a British actor. His face was probably better known than his name to British viewers, but he acted in films and TV from the early 1960s until his death. He had a supporting role in t ...

, Jack Haig,

in episode 15. *

Timothy Bateson Timothy Dingwall Bateson (3 April 1926 – 15 September 2009) was an English actor. Life and career Born in London, the son of solicitor Dingwall Latham Bateson and the great-nephew of rugby player Harold Dingwall Bateson, he was educated at ...

, Ann Lancaster in episode 16. *

Damaris Hayman Damaris Ann Kennedy Hayman (16 June 1929 – 3 June 2021) was an English actress, often cast in upper class or eccentric roles. She made numerous performance in films and television series from the 1950s onwards. Early life Hayman was born in ...

, John Clive, Lucy Griffiths in episode 17.

Episodes

Original soundtrack

Music played a prominent part in the programme, with an original soundtrack sung by the cast and written by Harry Booth, Melvyn Hayes and Johnny Arthey. The music was composed and directed by Ivor Slaney. An 11-track album of this was issued on

Capitol Records Capitol Records, LLC (known legally as Capitol Records, Inc. until 2007), and simply known as Capitol, is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Capitol Music Group imprint. It was founded as the first West Coast-base ...

in 1970 and re-issued as a CD in 2007 with liners notes by David Noades. # ''It's a Day and a Half'' (from episode 5) # ''To the Countryside'' (from episode 6) # ''Good Day at Yellow Rock'' (from episode 3) # ''With a Little Bit of Love'' (from episode 17) # ''I Gotta Get Through'' (from episode 7, sung by Anthony May) # ''Get on Board'' (Title song) # ''Life Is a Wonderful Thing'' (from episode 7) # ''Grannie's Rocking Chair'' (from episode 6) # ''One Man Band'' (from episode 13) # ''Welcome to the Party'' (from episode 8. Peter Firth cooperwas the only one of the gang singing in this. Jane Seymour, Melvyn Hayes and others cast members sang too.) # ''Fat Ladies'' (from episode 17)

Telecast and home media

The programme made its US debut on 12 September 1970 at 10:30 am ET on

, and in the United Kingdom began at 4.55 pm on 1 January 1971 on

. In the US, the series was repeated on Sunday mornings on ABC from 12 September 1971 to 3 September 1972, in the same time slot. The series was given a repeat in the United Kingdom during the early 1990s by certain ITV companies. In the United Kingdom, ''Here Come the Double Deckers'' was released in November 2010 by Second Sight as a two-disc Region 2 DVD set containing all 17 episodes. All the episodes are presented as originally aired. The set also includes a special feature, ''Double Decker Memories'', featuring interviews with Brinsley Forde and Michael Audreson.

Comic strip

Children's comic '' Whizzer and Chips'' ran a "Double Deckers" cartoon strip from 22 May 1971 until 13 May 1972.

''Go for a Take''

Debbie Russ appears as herself/Tiger in the comedy film ''

Go for a Take ''Go for a Take'' (U.S. title: ''Double Take'') is a 1972 British comedy film starring Reg Varney and Norman Rossington, directed by Harry Booth. The screenplay was by Alan Hackney. Plot Inept waiters Wilfred Stone and Jack Foster owe money ...

'' (1972), which was directed and co-written by Harry Booth. The film stars

Reg Varney Reginald Alfred Varney (11 July 1916 – 16 November 2008) was an English actor, entertainer and comedian. He is best remembered for having played the lead role of bus driver Stan Butler in the London Weekend Television, LWT sitcom ''On the Buse ...

and is set in a film studio. Evidently, ''Here Come the Double Deckers'' is one of the shows in production within the fiction of the film. Unfortunately the original stuffed tiger prop had been lost shortly after filming had been completed on the series, so a lookalike had to be used. Tiger refers to the character "Brains". Production was at Pinewood Studios and on location.

''The Magnificent Six and 1/2''

Prior to ''Here Come the Double Deckers'', Century Films produced a film serial for the

called '' The Magnificent Six and 1/2''. The series was very similar to the ''Double Deckers'', and essentially acted as a blueprint for the latter. Like the ''Double Deckers'', ''Six and a Half'' centred on the adventures of seven children, who had similar personalities to the characters in ''Double Deckers''. Many of the crew members from the ''Six and a Half'' series also worked on the ''Double Deckers'', including producer Roy Simpson, director and writer Harry Booth, writer Glyn Jones, and choreographer Arnold Taraborrelli (who designed the title cards for ''Six and a Half''). In addition, future ''Double Deckers'' cast members Brinsley Forde and Michael Audreson were among the stars of ''Six and a Half'', and

appeared in a few episodes. ''Six and a Half'' also featured several gags and plotlines that would later be reused in ''Double Deckers''.

References

External links

Double Deckers fan site
* {{Children's programming on the American Broadcasting Company in the 1970s 1971 British television series debuts 1972 British television series endings BBC One original programming BBC children's television shows 1970s British children's television series 1970 American television series debuts 1971 American television series endings American Broadcasting Company television dramas 1970s American children's television series Television series by 20th Century Fox Television Television shows shot at EMI-Elstree Studios