Ghost Train (TV series)
Ghost Train is a children's television programme broadcast on ITV, between 1989 and 1991, produced by Tyne Tees Television in association with various ITV regional stations including Border Television, Television South West, Ulster Television, Channel Television and Grampian Television.
| Ghost Train | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Children's Entertainment |
| Starring | Frances Dodge Paul J. Medford Sabra Williams Angelo Abela |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 63 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multiple-camera setup |
| Running time | 75 to 105 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release | 1 April 1989 – 24 August 1991 |
Storyline
The series concept involved presenter Frances Dodge inheriting a ghost train from her grandmother. With the help of fellow presenters Paul J Medford and Sabra Williams, she sneaks the train from the grasp of the evil Barry Mafia (Joe Hall) and makes her escape. Inside is a startled Gerard (Angelo Abela), the aliens' favourite broadcaster, and a camp sounding talking sheep, named Nobby (a puppet operated and voiced by Simon Buckley). However Barry Mafia is after them, aided by the Mafiaettes.
As Barry hatched several schemes to get his hands on the Ghost Train, the trio of friends used the train as a platform for special guests, live performances from pop music artists, and introduced various cartoons including Scooby-Doo, The Real Ghostbusters and The Trap Door. At the end of season two, Barry finally regained control of the Train, but would lose it back to Frances in season three. The series ended on a cliffhanger, with the crew exiled to an alien planet.
Nobby would resurface in another Tyne Tees-produced Saturday morning show Gimme 5, while the rest of the crew would appear in various non related shows, but this did not resolve the cliffhanger as no reference of the events was ever mentioned by Nobby.
Sunday spin-off
A spin-off Sunday morning series, Ghost Train on Sunday was produced in 1989 by Border Television and presented by Shauna Lowry.
Transmission guide
- Series 1: 22 editions from 1 April 1989 – 26 August 1989
- Series 2: 19 editions from 21 April 1990 – 25 August 1990
- Series 3: 21 editions from 6 April 1991 – 24 August 1991