Protests grow at continued lack of big-screen musical reboot of ‘On the Buses’

Widespread disappointment across the country at the continued lack of a big-screen musical reboot of classic comedy On the Buses is seeing protests at their highest level in years.

Experts believe this is because of the success of the newly released The Colour Purple musical reboot.

“The British people have been waiting for a big-screen musical reboot of On the Buses since…well, since the series ended in 1973,” explained Professor Stewart James from Oxford University’s Department of On the Buses.

“Now they see The Colour Purple and think ‘well, if this classic American story can be adapted as a big-screen musical, why can’t the classic British story of On the Buses?’”

There has been a long-running protest calling for a musical reboot of On the Buses outside Pinewood Studios for some years now organised by Lewis Stephens.

“Look, it’s not hard,” he said.

“A rap called I’ll Get You Butler, a big ballad called Oh Stan, a couple of rousing cockney knees-up songs and a story about property developers coming to knock down the bus station. That’s all you need. Frankly, I don’t see why studios don’t just crack on with it.”

Stephens has noticed support for his cause growing in recent months.

“There’s more people here than we’ve ever had. Last weekend, there must have been a couple of hundred, easy. You see it when cars pass. They honk their horns. People want a musical reboot of On the Buses. Ask anyone.”

The protests remain quite small and informal. But with industry union Bectu preparing to ballet its members on industrial action over the lack of an On the Buses musical reboot and mainstream unions such as Unison offering support, the issue could soon come to a head.