Secrets of the London Underground
GenreFactual
Presented by
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series3
No. of episodes26
Production
Executive producerRob Dersley
Running time44 minutes
Production companyBrown Bob Productions
Original release
NetworkYesterday / UKTV
Release19 July 2021 (2021-07-19) –
present (present)[2]

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, who co-develops 'Hidden London,' the museum's programme of tours that gives visitors access to disused and historical parts of the network.[3][4] Born as Sigurbjörg Alma Ingólfsdóttir,[5] Holloway is also a screen[6][7][8] and stage actress[9][10] known for the 2001 film Regina.[11][12]

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.[13][9] 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 and 'Hidden London' co-developer Chris Nix.[14]

The first programme opened with 388,300 viewers and a 2.7% share, the highest rated programme on Yesterday and the 5th most watched non-PSB programme that week.[15]

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."[16]

After 659,000 viewers watched the first series, making it Yesterday's highest rated programme ever, the show was recommissioned for a second series of ten episodes, and broadcasting began in May 2022.[17][18] A third series, of ten episodes, was commissioned and began broadcasting in July 2023.[19]

Episodes

Series 1

Episode Original air date Programme title Programme summary[2]
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.

Series 2

Episode Original air date Programme title Programme summary[18][20]
1 5 May 2022 Charing Cross The disused Jubilee line areas of Charing Cross, the service tunnels that were dug under Trafalgar Square to help with the Jubilee line's construction and the Kennington Loop. At the depot, Tim looks at some original plans for other loops elsewhere on the network.
2 12 May 2022 Waterloo & City The Waterloo & City line, along the tunnel towards Bank, and the abandoned Mark Lane. At the depot, Tim looks at the museum's collection of unscanned photos and learns about the Underground's moquette.
3 19 May 2022 King William Street and Knightsbridge King William Street, the earliest disused station on the tube and Knightsbridge’s lifts. At the depot, Tim looks at the museum's contemporary collection.
4 26 May 2022 Brompton Road and St Pauls Piccadilly line night walk to explore the hidden Second World War remains of Brompton Road, and an unexpected wartime use for St Pauls. At the depot, Tim meets a woman who sheltered inside Hampstead tube station during air raids.
5 2 June 2022 London Bridge and Ongar Disused parts of London Bridge, Ongar and Blake Hall on the withdrawn section of the Central line. At the depot, Tim looks at the museum's poster archive.
6 9 June 2022 King's Cross and Marlborough Road A secret siding and disused Thameslink platforms at Kings Cross, and disused Marlborough Road on the Metropolitan line. At the depot, Tim looks at a 1904 carriage and discovers the history of the Victoria line's automatic trains.
7 16 June 2022 Elizabeth Line and Angel Unopened Elizabeth line stations and disused parts of Angel. At the depot, Tim learns how waste heat from Northern line trains is being used.
8 23 June 2022 Quainton Road and Kingsway Quainton Road, once on the Metropolitan line, and the Kingsway tramway tunnel. At the depot, Tim looks at the history behind the Underground map.
9 30 June 2022 Greenwich and Notting Hill Greenwich Power Station, a standby power station for the London Underground, and hidden parts of Notting Hill Gate. At the depot, Tim learns about ticketing.
10 7 July 2022 Baker Street and Edgware Road Baker Street, the underground station with the most platforms, and the disused Edgware Road signal cabin. At the depot, Tim looks at the history of the Lost Property Office and London Transport's post-war catering operation.

Series 3

Episode Original air date Programme title Programme summary[20]
1 4 July 2023 Camden Hidden passages of Camden Town station on the Northern line and platform pubs and hidden rivers at Sloane Square station on the District line. At the depot, Tim learns about the forgotten seasonal service to Southend and is introduced to the Q stock restoration project.
2 11 July 2023 South Kensington South Kensington station on the District, Circle and Piccadilly lines and Marylebone station on the Bakerloo line. At the depot, Tim learns how the Underground became a lifeline for an immigrant family from the Punjab and discovers the true colours of the Tube lines.
3 18 July 2023 Green Park Wartime underground bunkers of Green Park station, formerly Dover Street, on the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines and disused Down Street station on the Piccadilly line. At the depot, Tim learns about the wartime bunker canteens and explores plans with Chris Nix.
4 25 July 2023 British Museum The abandoned British Museum station on the Central line and on the District and Circle lines, Bayswater station and the false houses of Leinster Gardens. At the depot, Tim discovers some of the ways women have been encouraged to use the underground from the museum's poster store.
5 1 August 2023 West Ashfield & Oval A visit to West Ashfield training facility and the history of Oval station on the Northern line. At the depot, Tim learns about the experimental tube train designs of the 1930s and 1980s.
6 8 August 2023 Leicester Square The history of Leicester Square station in London's Theatreland and exploration of disused areas of Hyde Park Corner station. At the depot, Tim sees some theatre-themed station posters and the evolution of station clock designs.
7 15 August 2023 Heathrow The Heathrow Airport stations, the historic Swiss Cottage station and a train driver simulator at the London Transport Museum. At the depot, Tim talks to artist Mark Wallinger about his Labyrinth project to commemorate the Tube's 150th anniversary.
8 22 August 2023 Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Bush station, Elephant & Castle station and an interview with a female train-driver. At the depot, Tim learns more about the Art on the Underground project and rides in a Unimog road–rail hybrid shunter.
9 29 August 2023 Acton Works The large Acton Works engineering facility and the former South Acton / Acton Town shuttle service. At the depot, Tim inspects the innovative 38 Stock and learns about the Tube's energy-efficiency plans.
10 5 September 2023 Archway The history and hidden areas of Archway station in north London, station ventilation systems and the Emergency Response Unit. At the depot, Tim is shown safety equipment and sees some of the museum's modern acquisitions.

References

  1. ↑ Valgeirsson, Tómas (18 January 2020). "5 íslenskar barnastjörnur sem sneru sér að öðrum sviðum". DV (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Secrets of the London Underground | Yesterday Channel". yesterday.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Meet the presenters". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Hidden London". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Alumni F-H". Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Regína (2001) :: starring: Siddy Holloway, Benedikt Clausen". rarefilmfinder.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Sigurbjörg Alma Ingólfsdóttir". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  8. ↑ Kristjánsdóttir, Ingunn Lára (10 July 2019). "Úr barnastjörnu í rithöfund sem afhjúpar leyndarmál Lundúna". frettabladid.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Meet Tim & Siddy". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Importance of being Ernest". Contexture Theatre. 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Regina". Icelandic Film Centre. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Sigurbjörg Alma Ingólfsdóttir". Icelandic Film Centre. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "Secrets of the London Underground". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "How we made… Secrets of the London Underground". www.railmagazine.com. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Price, Stephen (30 July 2021). "Secrets of the London Underground tracks well". Broadcast. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "UKTV uncovers Secrets of the London Underground in new commission for Yesterday | News | UKTV Corporate Site". corporate.uktv.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "UKTV explore more secrets of the London Underground". TVZoneUK. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  18. 1 2 by. "Episode guide to Series Two of "Secrets of the London Underground"". www.ianvisits.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  19. ↑ by. "A new series of Secrets of the London Underground returns in July". ianVisits. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  20. 1 2 "Episode guide". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
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