Secrets of the London Underground

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Secrets of the London Underground
GenreFactual
Presented byTim Dunn, Siddy Holloway
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerRob Dersley
Running time44 minutes
Production companyBrown Bob Productions
Release
Original networkYesterday / UKTV
Original release19 July (2021-07-19) –
23 August 2021 (2021-08-23)[1]
External links
Website

Secrets of the London Underground is a British factual documentary series presented by railway historian Tim Dunn and London Transport Museum's Engagement Manager, Siddy Holloway. Holloway is also a screen and stage actress[2][3][4] known for the 2001 film Regina.[5][6]

Secrets of the London Underground was first broadcast in the United Kingdom from 19 July 2021 on Yesterday. The series explores hidden areas of the London Underground such as abandoned tunnels, secret bunkers and hidden staircases, and delves into the archives of the London Transport Museum's Acton Depot.[7][2] The format of the programme generally centres around visiting two abandoned areas of the London Underground, in addition to viewing some of the Museum's collection at Acton, usually with Assistant Director, Chris Nix.[8]

The first programme opened with 388,300 viewers and a 2.7% share, the highest rated programme on Yesterday and the 5th most non-PSB programme watched that week.[9]

The series is a UKTV original, commissioned for Yesterday and produced by Brown Bob Productions, following on from the success of Dunn's previous UKTV series The Architecture the Railways Built. Jacqueline Hewer, CEO of the programme's production company, stated "We can promise one thing - you'll never travel on the tube again without wondering what's through that door at the end of the platform..." UKTV's Hilary Rosen, deputy director of commissioning, described the series as "Viewers are fascinated by the Tube and this series promises unseen locations, fresh stories and secrets galore from right across the city."[10]

After 659,000 viewers ended up watching the first series, making it the Yesterday channel's highest rated programme ever, the show was recommissioned for a second series of ten episodes, due to be broadcast in 2022.[11]

Episodes[]

Episode Original air date Programme Title Programme Summary[1]
1 19 July 2021 Holborn The abandoned Piccadilly branch line between Holborn & Aldwych, and a spiral escalator at Holloway Road. At the depot, Tim explores some of the tube’s iconic artwork and meets the man who drove the last Aldwych train.
2 26 July 2021 North End The Cold War bunker at North End, under Hampstead Heath, and floodgates at Embankment. At the depot, they rifle through the original drawings for North End and discover plans for the floodgates at London’s riverside stations.
3 2 August 2021 Piccadilly Disused parts of Piccadilly Circus and Highgate surface station. At the depot, Tim finds out about London Underground’s iconic signs and special typeface.
4 9 August 2021 Euston Hidden parts of Euston including the areas set for demolition for HS2 and a signalling cabin at York Road. At the depot, they learn about ventilation and signalling.
5 16 August 2021 St Mary's A night-time track walk along forgotten District line stations St Mary's and Aldgate East, and disused parts of Oxford Circus.
6 23 August 2021 Clapham Clapham South deep level air raid shelter used during the Second World War and the remains of the Greathead tunnelling shield at Moorgate. At the depot, they discover an original London Transport recipe book.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Secrets of the London Underground | Yesterday Channel". yesterday.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Meet Tim & Siddy". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  3. ^ Siddy Holloway at IMDb
  4. ^ "The Importance of being Ernest". Contexture Theatre. 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Regina". Icelandic Film Centre. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Sigurbjörg Alma Ingólfsdóttir". Icelandic Film Centre. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Secrets of the London Underground". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  8. ^ "How we made… Secrets of the London Underground". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  9. ^ Price, Stephen (30 July 2021). "Secrets of the London Underground tracks well". Broadcast. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  10. ^ "UKTV uncovers Secrets of the London Underground in new commission for Yesterday | News | UKTV Corporate Site". corporate.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  11. ^ "UKTV explore more secrets of the London Underground". TVZoneUK. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.

External links[]

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