Tube Mice
| Tube Mice | |
|---|---|
| Voices of |
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| Original release | |
| Network | ITV (Children's ITV) |
| Release | 5 September – 18 October 1988 |
Tube Mice is a British children's
The series was created by Sara and Simon Bor at
Overview
The four main characters were mice living at Oxford Circus Underground station. They use the Tube to get around London, taking them to wherever their latest adventure was supposed to take place.
The mice had their own society, using rubbish thrown away by humans (the mice had a strict code prohibiting theft). They had their own compartments on Underground trains and decorated their tunnels with reused junk. This society included mouse businessmen, mouse underground supervisors and even mouse
Characters
The characters were all based on recognisable London "types". The main characters were:
- Bubble – A streetwise and confident female Rastafarian mouse, originally from a tower block. Voiced by Sheila Hyde.
- Squeak – An upper class fieldmouse who initially comes to London seeking his inheritance, but who decides to stay at Oxford Circus. His and Bubble's names are a pun on the English dish bubble and squeak. Voiced by Rupert Farley.
- Vernon – A wheeler-dealer of a mouse, dressed as a Arthur Daley, Cole's character in the popular television series Minder.
- Toaster – Vernon's dim-witted sidekick. He dressed like a punk. Although he would follow Vernon anywhere, his stupidity and love of food would often scupper any plans they had. He was voiced by Dennis Waterman, also enjoying success in Minder at the time. Geraldine and Adrian Powell’s beloved cat was named after this character.
Other characters included:
- Bo Heemy – A mouse artist. His name is a pun on "bohemian"
- Mickelmouse – An MP at Westminster, sitting in the Mouse of Parliament.
- Rapper – A mouse who talks only in the form of rap.
- Derby – A mouse Underground attendant, usually found leaning on his broom, asleep.
Episodes
- We Are The Tube Mice (05.09.1988)
- Escape From The 31st Floor (06.09.1988)
- The Riddle (07.09.1988)
- Break Out (08.09.1988)
- Mouses Of Parliament (12.09.1988)
- Take Away (13.09.1988)
- High Fliers (14.09.1988)
- Catastrophy (19.09.1988)
- Hank's In Town (20.09.1988)
- No Tea For Two (21.09.1988)
- Mice On Ice (22.09.1988)
- Tails From The Crypt (26.09.1988)
- The Last Post (27.09.1988)
- Phantoms Of L'Opera (28.09.1988)
- Defective Detective (29.09.1988)
- Waxworks (03.10.1988)
- Art Show (04.10.1988)
- Grated Cheese Robbery (05.10.1988)
- Earthquake (06.10.1988)
- Best Kept Station (10.10.1988)
- Rap That Rat (11.10.1988)
- What A Difference A Day Makes (12.10.1988)
- Marathon Mice (13.10.1988)
- Library (17.10.1988)
- End Of The Line (18.10.1988)
Style
Unlike the later Underground Ernie, this series was set on a rather true-to-life version of the London Underground, right down to litter and graffiti.
The style of animation was very distinctive, using strange angles and perspectives, and using
Transmission guide
- Series 1: 26 editions from 5 September 1988 – 18 October 1988