In Colour! - ON THE BUSES - CHRISTMAS DUTY, 1970

Series 4, Episode 5
25th December 1970
The Christmas 1970 episode. Originally filmed in Black & White due the colour strike

[@nikitanokia1249]

what a laugh😂😂best SITCOM EVER, STILL IN 2023

[@jameswalker7459]

2024 now brilliant entertainment wish they brought it back to our TV sets.

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

@@jameswalker7459 They did show it on a uk channel ITV plus one i think but they had edited it so much it was rubbish ! all the funny bits cut out ffs 😡 I live in Spain but get uk channels and i was disgusted the uk rules everything.. what we eat ( taking sugar etc out of stuff we love), what we say, and what we watch and laugh at.. people dont realise how controlling the uk is now.. 😊 x

[@jameswalker7459]

53 years ago werr do the years go?All these actors have all passed now so sad that we don't get comedy like this in 2024...when am down i watch this it always makes me laugh..

[@SamuelBlack84]

It's strange how the atmosphere of this programme reminds me of coming home for tea after a long day

[@wolfpackiwi]

That's when I watch it. After work for a few hours while eating my tea. It's the best time

[@scotth1992]

Loved this show since I was a kid. I’m 64 now.

[@gazzertrn]

Me too same age . Hated it at the time , but how i missed out . Great too watch it now , fantastic programme .

[@heath2510ok]

Me too same age

[@smithpm81]

i am 58 and i still love it sooooo much

[@jandedick7519]

Me too but I’m 61.

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

Its just a number, if you can laugh at stuff like this then you got more spark and life in you than these dried up kids of 16 today…❤

[@user-kq4gn2bu6c]

Brilliant how tv should be

[@celtickhan6136]

RIP Anna Karen. Died February 2022 aged 85

[@IanPotts-lv6os]

Great stuff miss the old days

[@deletebilderberg]

Better days!!

[@marymitchell2997]

Love it the old films happiness filled nothing to laugh at today is orful

[@marko1316]

Essential part of the golden era of British comedy.

[@eliotreader8220]

sad to hear that all the cast are now gone

[@philipdawber1864]

So glad ifound this so glad IAM British the best of the best UK comedy 😂

[@djrichylaurence8991]

We always watched this as a family in the 70s. Great old show.

[@dawnfinch2836]

The best of British comedy 😅

[@davidloughlin2238]

This was a great show, with such wonderful actors. Can't get enough of it and love the movies too. Pure class.

[@nigel1823]

I only wish they made stuff like this nowadays

[@pisstakecentral]

@@nigel1823 impossible to recapture the humanity in a broken world today

[@eliotreader8220]

@@pisstakecentral I am a bit surprised to hear the cast talking about old money given how close the UK was to go over to the new money

[@Neville60001]

@@pisstakecentral, don't be stupid; this sitcom wasn't that highly regarded in England to begin with, and is considered one of the worst British sitcoms ever (although I liked it when I saw it here in Canada as a kid.) Nobody would make a show like it today because of how dated most of the humour is and how sexist it is.

[@johnchurch4705]

@@eliotreader8220 in later episodes ( 1971) they start to use new money 💴 and display the new costs in the canteen.

[@davidp7037]

Canadian here! A favourite from my childhood. I used to watch it with my dad, good memories.

[@EmmaJo-e]

🇨🇦

[@funeralhall2573]

I can’t get enough of this show , Some of the best I have ever seen ever!

[@davehelgason4548]

U😊0

[@shanty4590]

Just love what we grew up in, them were the days. Getting old now 👎 but this cheers me up 😂

[@suzannemills7920]

Same here 🤗

[@SkyTrapAlASMR]

“Never mind about your teapot mate. You want to come and see what they done to your bus.” Always love that line

[@allanjoseph5601]

I know what you mean. That line was probably one of the funniest lines in any comedy throughout the entire history of television. Just superb!

[@davidcritchley3509]

Great scripts and memorable characters. Can't ask for more.

[@larissakravcova8626]

Perfect humor! What a time that was!👍💞😘

[@Curi0u50ne]

Less urope ians and Muzlamics

[@user-vg5rv5xf4u]

OI! WHAT U ON ABOUT EH?

[@mauriceosullivan6832]

Golden age, of British comedy.

[@MickAngelhere]

I remember when I lived in Birmingham during the nineties you couldn’t get a bus at all on Xmas day , so we used to stop over whoever’s place we had the Xmas party at .👍👍

[@Westy1971]

You still can't!

[@AnthonySmith-fv5iv]

Hello from Handsworth 🤗

[@flight101]

its still like that now in cornwall... but all year round.. glad i left that dump

[@susanmccormick6022]

@@flight101 I take exception to your comments about Cornwall.I made a bad decision yrs ago & now will never get back to the West Country.Kernow Kensa.

[@ernestarthurst9090]

Birmingham is a horrible city.

[@karenjoslyn4051]

I love British comedy! I love British people!

[@wilmaflinstone7650]

We love you too Karen Joslyn. You have great taste as well. 👍👍👍

[@karenjoslyn4051]

@@wilmaflinstone7650 c'mon over and visit us in Wine Country in upstate NY!!

[@retrobilly1986]

The other question would be, how did Stan get to work in the first place

[@compostcorner5934]

​@@retrobilly1986Bus 🤣

[@newchapterbegins]

I used watch this my dad bless him. 🙏🏼 Bring back some memories.

[@leem8588]

Whilst other kids in the 90s were watching cartoons, I was watching this!

[@suzannemills7920]

Me to 😁

[@vykkye]

Same. I was watching alf garnett before I was in double digits. I was born old lol

[@michellefalleur960]

​@@vykkye Good on you !!

[@chucky2316]

Alf is the best

[@davelove3779]

⁠@@vykkyeI’m watching Alf Garnett at the min. We’re on until death do us part. The couldn’t make anything like that nowadays

[@dalexkom]

loved this show over here in Canada

[@Aristotelezz]

I'm Dutch and have many of the episodes on DVD. First saw it in here in the Netherlands in the seventies were it was a big hit. Always found that Arthur and Olive should have a series of their own. To me they are the funniest in the series.

[@COLEEN322]

Very true.

[@flight101]

they are.. stan was aggravating, hate him, bad manners and always making the same old jokes while looking round at everyone as if tu say '. ' ,laugh at my shit jokes

[@helencampbell2064]

Aristolelezz : I found Olive and Arthur really funny too. I thought Blakey was too exaggerated. Didn't really like the bus garage stuff that much. Preferred the scenes in the family kitchen with mum, Stan, Olive and Arthur. Salesmen always rang the front bell whereas Jack always came in through the back door into the cosy kitchen. I remember as a child that friends and neighbours always entered the house via the back door which was never locked 😃.

[@Aristotelezz]

@@helencampbell2064 You always wonder why Olive and Arthur were married in the first place. What made them do it? There's no love between them, but Olive is nice to Arthur, but everything about her angers him.

[@helencampbell2064]

@@Aristotelezz I suppose couples often drift apart and fall out of love. As you know the series was set in the 1970s and ordinary working class people rarely got divorced. Couples often stayed in a stale marriage. Arthur doesn't seem happy. He's always miserable. Olive still loves him a little though. Anna Karen played the short sighted, dim and frumpy housewife very well. After years of marriage, she has let herself go. I do, as a child, remember women who looked exactly like Olive. Arthur is awful. A complete chauvinist, rude and socially inexperienced. No charisma whatsoever. He doesn't know how to treat women and yet, as a tv couple, both were hilarious😄. All the family gatherings seemed to be centered around the table in the very cluttered kitchen. Britain in a bygone era. Great stuff.

[@flight101]

I wish there had been a full Christmas Special. Or even a Christmas Movie And always cook the turkey upside down till the last half hour! Won’t dry out .

[@malcolm-df2te]

Old good old class British people in a good old class British show.. rip

[@mandysmith5275]

Love this Christmas episode. Happy Christmas everyone 🌲🎅🎄🍺🍷

[@flight101]

I loved xmas but sadly can’t do it anymore. I have such terrrianxiety/ heart palpitations I never leave my bed.. been here 4 years . I used to love xmas shopping, the xmas songs etc.. etc😢😢😢😢 merry xmas anyway

[@beverlygannon4141]

@@flight101 awww sorry. I get like it too❤️🙏

[@suzannemills7920]

So sorry to hear that 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@flight101]

@@beverlygannon4141 oh bless. Just seen your reply, it’s horrible, like a demon. I stayed in bed all xmas checking my pulse etc. i miss life.. 😢 are you ok. Xx

[@flight101]

@@suzannemills7920 thank you so much.. 😢 restores my faith in people when someone is nice to me. Just closed my TikTok account as I was bullied. Sending 🤗 xx❤

[@chucky2316]

Merry xmas everyone in 2023😂

[@johnshort5003]

Like all great comedy every one of them is a character. Never fails to make me laugh.

[@paulbanner9612]

Never the same after Reg Varney left the series..

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

I hated the sleazy git but youre right. Same with Benidorm when the took the Garveys out.

[@theresaholguin699]

I just heard that Anna Karen passed away in a house fire. Damn I'm sad

[@petergerritgroen3157]

Yes, life sucks.

[@johnchurch4705]

My friend conducted the funeral 😢.

[@fishandchips1762]

​@@johnchurch4705 😟

[@elizabethrigby-jones5085]

Don't think I have ever seen this episode. Love on the buses. Cannot beat British comedy.

[@helencampbell2064]

You certainly can't beat the great situation comedy of yesterday. Olive makes me laugh. She often seems to be yelling and screaming. You can't mistake her voice.

[@debbieanne7962]

I'm not British but yes their comedy is astounding

[@bettycogswell9851]

I remember watching this back in the 70's. Still love it.

[@colintait7139]

Really enjoy these episodes life seemed so much easier in some ways ....🙂

[@flight101]

Nobody was bothered about social media and all the invading my personal space rubbish.. i refuse to become like Americans.. x

[@miltongolley6318]

Thanks Matt

[@tonibaker7986]

Awesome show!!

[@justinboon3811]

Love these old classics There is different sense of comedy in each decade every episode made I’ll get you Butler you see I don’t 😮

[@debbielangton8371]

I need a time machine to go bk them days 🎉🎉🎉

[@pinkfloyd870]

believe me... you don't

[@mikegallagher3700]

All my family love to watch this even after all this time 🎉 ❤manchester England 🇬🇧 🎉

[@mikealley8691]

Another Canadian here.

[@user-cz2of8wr3d]

Those days life was so easy

[@joemcconnell2674]

If you lived in Northern Ireland it wasn't.

[@joemcconnell2674]

Visit Belfast and Northern Ireland. People live there told me life is a lot easier now than it was in the seventies and eighties.

[@SeeYouEnTee666]

And..?? I bet loads of places might say that 🤷‍♀️

[@johnking5174]

Christmas Day 1970 landed on a Friday, this meant that London Weekend Television who made On The Buses controlled the network output from 7pm on Christmas night, as it was a Friday. This is why On The Buses got a Christmas Day slot. It was given a 8.30pm slot, however it was up against Morecambe and Wise on BBC One, with Eric and Ernie beating them by a large margin in the ratings.

[@jr7845]

Never cared for Morecombe and wise

[@cathymartens7478]

​@@jr7845I loved them. Eric looked like my dad😂

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

@@jr7845i vaguely recall them later on as they were before my time but i never thought them funny at all..bumbling idiots.

[@Wriggs74]

Absolute classic viewing 👌

[@SUPER_WOLFMOON]

Thanks Matt Spanner! I've never seen this one before!

[@10beanz]

Me neither. Never watched the b/w ones, and not sure if they ever got repeated.

[@zeniktorres4320]

Love this series today as I did back when I was in primary school.

[@johnseven3695]

I wish they had done longer "Christmas specials"

[@SamuelBlack84]

Considering they were filmed in October they had plenty of time

[@suzannemills7920]

Me to

[@michellefalleur960]

Yes

[@-M0LE]

As a bus driver I can confirm this to be true

[@frankcabanski9409]

Love how the episode included a commercial for the On the Buses bus toy.

[@keriannandrews7362]

I think Arthur’s character was truly brilliant 🎉 I love his attitude towards Olive 😂 lol , he was my favourite 😂

[@flight101]

And mine ! It was awful when he left, Olive went all normal after and totally changed character.

[@vanessalouise8988]

​@@flight101if Olive had been a beautiful 😍 woman she got a another man after Arthur had left and divorce her because she wasn't beautiful you never saw her going on dates.

[@edgein7892]

@@vanessalouise8988 Using beautiful and Olive in the same sentence, just wow 😁

[@vanessalouise8988]

Arthur was a horrible husband 🙄 he always kept mocking Olive he was hardly perfect himself he wouldn't have been allowed now to say those things about her now 😡 Olive couldn't see he faults they never spent time together alone they always were stuck in that house 🏡 with olive mother and brother Stan.

[@allanjoseph5601]

You do realise this show and the characters in it, are fictional right? 😂

[@Christine_1985]

“We didn’t need one then, did we Arthur”? “No”! You brought your hot water bottle!😂😂😂 I loved Arthur and Olive.

[@helencampbell2064]

If only all married couples were as funny and as likeable as Arthur and Olive were😅. Hilarious 🤣

[@maggytrafford1366]

Thank you for sharing, love this show🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘😃😀

[@kenshiro7960]

Funny enough I am working this Xmas so I really enjoyed this episode

[@martinputt6421]

Awesome upload Matt. Nice to see this great episode in colour!

[@alexlazebat839]

i think the colour a bit rubbish as the rest of this series was in colour plus the previous series we know wat the actors wear wat colour things are more likely to be

[@steffanhoffmann8937]

No political correctness. No woke. Gor Blimey bleedin' marvellous. Blinding! 👉🇬🇧👈

[@andrewmcdowall229]

Great show the last of the cast of died Anna Karen

[@debbieanne7962]

Happy Christmas 🎄 2022 to all in the world 🌎. Great to watch this episode 😀

[@hannahcolvin5388]

Happy 2023 new year to everybody

[@Battlady57]

Great.love this programme but never seen this episode before.thanks.

[@kevinmurphy8857]

Bring back on the buses. Especially this one on xmas day. I love all the guys in the programme. I was only 8 years old when this one came on the tv every Sunday. Happy Christmas to all you guys on this website.

[@edgein7892]

Not a chance sadly, not in this pc society.

[@beverlygannon4141]

Happy Christmas and New year to you 👍

[@joemcconnell2674]

Thankfully ITV3 still shows them. But the way things are today they show them in the small hours.

[@jr7845]

​@@joemcconnell2674 with 65 adverts

[@SamuelBlack84]

Steptoe still gets shown on TV, and it comes with a warning 😄

[@eleanordennehy5868]

Thanks for upload 👌love this show ❤️

[@paulinepearson7901]

Love on buses so funny

[@ahassen1236]

Magical thanks ... But I wonder why mum didn't stay at home to look after the grub!

[@SuzyQ334]

I was just about to post a complaint about the poor quality sound - and then I realised this episode is 52 years old! Sounding good, I reckon! "I 'ate you Butler". xx

[@johntaylor6345]

Really enjoying this episode. Thank you for posting this video. I love On the Buses its one of my favourite ever sitcoms. I have the 3 films and the boxset of the series. Very funny

[@lauriemcphee1971]

Lynn Mcphee and Baby boy zak and I will get back to you and you can see the year of the university of time to be in touch with you 😀😀 I am so sorry 😐😐 I have a great day and U can you uuru you have 💘 on a bit late for you to get the same as I was in the year and I am 😂😂 I t know the rest 😉😊😊😊

[@alsstewart8583]

Loved em then even more now,gr8 cast,loved em all but Blakey did it for me every time👌💋god bless em all,🙏😍👌😘

[@Desmo900SS]

Brilliant. Loved this show back in the day and still do !

[@unicornplanet5667]

Thank you x

[@BaronFeydRautha]

As a night security officer across the pond I can appreciate working on Christmas. I haven't had a Christmas or Thanksgiving off in almost a decade. Working 1900-0700 Christmas Eve and Christmas this year. What is this "paid time off" I've heard so much about? LOL.

[@mchlbk]

I loved working on Christmas. New Years too.

[@BaronFeydRautha]

@@mchlbk Don't get me wrong. I like the OT pay and all. I just didn't realize how many holidays I've missed in the past decade. I love night shift. I'm on the west coast of Florida and I watch all the launches from the East Coast on the roof of the 5 story building I work in. I just have to put the building's property manager in his place. Dingus is getting a bit too big for his britches.

[@konewone361]

I know what you mean. In the industry I was on it was a 24/7 365 days of the year business. Depending on the roster you either worked it or had it off. Usually worked out you got about 1 in 4 off. Just part of life. I enjoyed the job so never really worried about it. Good on pay day too. Retired after 30 plus years .😊

[@loulou-ci3ro]

Thanks ☺

[@fishandchips9033]

This is sad episode as Anna Karen died in a fire. ☹️☹️☹️☹️

[@tracievmarsh4356]

brilliant matt looks great in colour

[@Areyousayingidontknowmyname]

As much as I adore this show I can't but think that Jacks breath must have been rough as hell. Between those teeth and the cig smoke. Yikes

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

And stan never ever washed or bathed, bet he stank to high heaven..that greasy hair n his filthy underpants. Olive and the mq

[@melvyncox3361]

Great show.A reminder of a different time👍!

[@lindarowe8550]

This is a great comedy show from the 70s. Thanks for the uploads matt

[@beverlygannon4141]

70s was so great. All the shows too. Crap now

[@lindarowe8550]

@@beverlygannon4141 absolutely right

[@holytrucker2153]

this made my christmas thanks just perfect

[@GraemePryce1978]

Thank you. I have reasons to love OTB that aren't worth going into here, but thank you. I love what you have done here. I honestly, really appreciate seeing these episodes like this. Thank you. This series means a lot to me.

[@flight101]

see what a great comment.. no sentimental crap and an essay to read.. glad this has good memories for you

[@johnandrade3773]

Dearly held memories. I understand.

[@nigel1823]

This ended before I was born but I’m glad my Nan used to watch it and even though she’s gone we both watched

[@vykkye]

Same here. I'm young and have the best memories with my nan watching these x

[@mikegallagher3700]

Me ad all my family friends All watch OTB regularly Absolutely brilliant written By r.wolfe + r Chesney Love from Manchester England 🇬🇧 ❤🎉❤🎉

[@freespirit6209]

Thanks Matt!

[@TheOldSilverFox79]

Great work again Matt! Would love to colorize myself but not a clue what to do

[@chrimorhen4585]

Thanks for The Upload Matt love otb I could watch it all day

[@joecrean9546]

Love on the buses watch it on ITV 3 met reg varney years ago when I was working as a security guard I was looking after a car show room on Xmas day a jaguar turned up I went out to open the gate the car drove in the car door opened it was reg varney 😲😲😲😲😲 he said are you here on your own m8 I said yes reg he went back to his car went to the boot opened it and pulled out 2 bags one was a 3 course Xmas dinner and the other one was a crate of lager he also gave me an envelope don't open till you get home thanks reg happy xmas Joe he said same to you reg I said I finished the next morning as it was a 12 hour shifts got home opened the envelope and there was £500 in it 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲 with a note saying all the best for Xmas and have a great. new year reg

[@vykkye]

What a beautiful little story. What a nice person

[@smithpm81]

outstanding show

[@Zolega89]

You fixed the colour strike 😄

[@robertfantasticsinginggreatson]

One the buses is fantastic especially when they have to work on Christmas Day

[@LeeJohn70]

Great episode, thank you for uploading 👍🏻😁🎄

[@gamingwithrobloxcb6282]

On the buses is the biggest comedy series. Poor Stan @ jack have to work Xmas day. Arthur goes @ have a few to many at the pub they all go to pick Stan up with olive driving the scooter but can’t stop straight in to a bus Hillarious they come home to find the place covered in foam no Xmas dinner. I still watch on the buses 2021 wish the series would come back 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jameshaywood878]

If it came back, it would only be rubbish, compered to the original, they don't know how to make good tv programs anymore.

[@flight101]

When Christmas was Christmas.... now it's a commercial farce in the uk.. here the Christmas period lasts till 12 January. Stan never had a nephew so thats weird he says that !!! olive had the baby much later.. That said, it took some skill to get that bike and Sidecar between that tree !!!!!

[@SamuelBlack84]

I've hated Christmas for years, mainly because I have no reason to celebrate it

[@flight101]

@@SamuelBlack84 im not doing it this year.. Im lonely now, dont feel needed. Everyone gone their own ways now. Have xmas with me if you want..x

[@SamuelBlack84]

@@flight101 I'd prefer Kelly Brook

[@flight101]

How ungrateful… she would burn the spuds !!!!

[@SamuelBlack84]

@@flight101 I'd prefer her spuds 😉

[@nataliejones5081]

Never seen this episode in colour before

[@kathysamuels1465]

Aurther is brilliant

[@fargodavilleitnotd6729]

1970 before cross contamination as the turkey lays in front of stans scran!! haha

[@karlmann9608]

why not let Stan borrow the motorbike to go work and come back lol

[@Guttergirl182]

Great laughs indeed! Real fun.

[@Breas1014]

From the 1970s to 2022, the Great Replacement is fact.

[@robanderson473]

Well that was a pleasant diversion from the doom gloom wokery vids. That's made my day this 'as...uuuurgh!

[@miked4377]

love this show ...life should be like the 70s and early 80s ....the 2000s are freaking crap...

[@Kii-in5ki]

Olive never had a baby in this so why did stan say the toy bus was for his nephew? I wish they had made a xmas special of this, a proper xmas episode. Would have been nice.

[@Porch.monkey.slayer]

A lot of inconsistency in these

[@carolwalmsley3362]

Olive had a baby in one or two of the film's they made .

[@SeeYouEnTee666]

And…???😂

[@heleng6968]

Didn't Arthur have a sister, maybe she had a kid.

[@annirvin6555]

Really enjoyed this. Thanks for posting 👍