Underground Ernie
GenreChildren
Created byJohn Deery
Sid Rainey
StarringGary Lineker
Janet Brown
Emma Weaver
Tim Whitnall
Chris Jarvis
Howard Ward
Theme music composerMiles Hunt, Sid Rainey, Martin Bell (The Wonder Stuff)
Opening theme"The Importance of Being Ernie"
Ending theme"The Importance of Being Ernie" (Shortened)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJohn Deery
Sid Rainey
Running time12 minutes per episode
Production companies3D Films
Joella Productions
Original release
NetworkCBeebies
Release5 June (2006-06-05) 
23 December 2006 (2006-12-23)
Related
Thomas & Friends
Dream Street
Bob the Builder
Roary the Racing Car

Underground Ernie is a 2006 British animated children's television series produced by Joella Productions for the BBC on both CBeebies and BBC Two, and sold internationally by BBC Worldwide. It is set in International Underground, a fictional worldwide underground railway network, based on the London Underground, and focuses on the everyday adventures of Ernie, a friendly underground supervisor, Millie, his multilingual colleague, and Mr. Rails, the lovable maintenance man.

The locomotives under Ernie's watchful eye all have characters of their own. There is Bakerloo, Victoria, Circle, Jubilee and the twins, Hammersmith & City. From time to time they are joined by their friends from across the world including; Paris, Brooklyn, Moscow, Sydney and Osaka.

The show is aimed at children between the ages of three and eight years old. The initial (one and only, so far) series had twenty six episodes, lasting twelve minutes each. In October 2005, the series was officially announced, with it premiering the following year. Its first showing on was on 5 June 2006 on BBC Two at 9:00am. It later premiered on CBeebies until 23 December 2006.

Creation

Writer John Deery and musician Sid Rainey, formerly of the band Compulsion, formed a production company in 2000 by the name of Joella Productions. During a brainstorming session, Sid came up with the idea of a children's TV series based on the names of tube stations, which is how Underground Ernie was born.

Premise

The series is focused on the adventures of Ernie, the controller of International Underground. He works with his colleagues, computer expert Millie who loves all things international, and Mr. Rails, the maintenance man who's been working at the railway for over 25 years. The trains have their own characters too. Bakerloo is the detective of the Underground, while Hammersmith and City are two fast and furious twins who love quizzes and banking. Victoria is the oldest and has seen it all. She acts as a grandmother figure to all the trains, offering a helping hand whenever they need guidance, and Circle is the hippy chick, who loves nature and animals, as well as helping her friends out. Jubilee is the youngest of the team, and he's gadget mad, as well as being very mischievous. Over the course of the series, they are joined by their friends from across the world, such as the snooty Paris, gentle giant Moscow and fun-loving Brooklyn. In each episode, Ernie comes across a problem that he needs a fix, needing the help of the trains or passengers, or both.

Premiere

In its premiere run, Underground Ernie was broadcast twice a day five days a week, firstly on BBC Two at 9 am, and then repeated on CBeebies at 4.30 pm.

In the series premiere, "Pop Decoy", pop superstar "Sam 7" is performing at the theatre, and Jubilee has to get him there without hundreds of fans finding out. Alas, the excitable Jubilee can't keep a secret, and he and Ernie have to come up with a plan to get Sam 7 safely to the theatre.

Poster for Underground Ernie featuring the titular character

Production

At one point during production, Canadian-based distributor Fremantle Corporation was involved in the distribution.[1]

Design

All the visuals for the show are produced using computer-generated imagery, and that largely explains the high cost of the production (£4 million) . The first series was produced using LightWave 3D software.

Some critics have pointed out the similarities between Underground Ernie and Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, in that both series feature anthropomorphic locomotives. Whilst acknowledging a similarity, the producers make it clear that this is very different from Thomas, and is very much based in the twenty first century. Despite being underground metro trains, they often travel overground through the open countryside to various stations, including a seaside resort.

The overall design is inspired by the real London Underground, and Transport for London has allowed the series to use design elements directly taken from their brand, in particular the use of their distinctive Underground logo, or 'roundel' as it is known.

3D Films (who previously animated another series called Wheels on the Bus) is responsible for the animation provided, even though both Joella Productions and 3D Films had a bad relationship during production.

Characters

Humans

  • Underground Ernie is the eponymous supervisor who owns the International Underground station (voiced by ex footballer and television sports presenter Gary Lineker[2]).
  • Millie (voiced by Emma Weaver) is a computer expert working on the network, and the co-owner of the station.
  • Mr. Rails (voiced by Howard Ward) is the maintenance man.
  • Dan and Sam (voiced by Chris Jarvis and Tim Whitnall) are Ernie's mischievous nephews, They like to cause a lot of trouble around the international underground.

Trains

The majority of the characters are trains, most of which take their names from the lines of the London Underground network, although in Underground Ernie's world, it is called "International Underground".

There are also five international trains, which Millie visits when she goes abroad every weekend. She always bring back exciting stories for Ernie, as well as a souvenir:

  • Brooklyn (voiced by Howard Ward) is from New York City, is decked out in the American Stars and Stripes.
  • Sydney (voiced by Emma Weaver) is from Australia, always wants to go to the beach.
  • Moscow (voiced by Howard Ward) is from Russia. He is strong, fast and likes to clear snow off the tracks. He often uses the wrong word when trying to use various English phrases, such as saying "as fit as a fishcake" instead of "as fit as a fiddle".
  • Paris (voiced by Chris Jarvis) is from France. He's snooty, but kind.
  • Osaka (voiced by Tim Whitnall) is from Japan, and has a super-speed booster. He is decked out in a Rising Sun decorated bandana.

Episodes

In each twelve minute episode Ernie faces a problem, which he needs to fix with the help of the trains. This will typically involve one of the locations on International Underground or visitors coming via the Underground, often both.

No.TitleWritten byOriginal air date
1"Pop Decoy"Louise Kramskoy5 June 2006 (2006-06-05)
Jubilee lets slip his secret about pop superstar Sam 7. Bakerloo gets into pop.
2"Sir Clunkalot"Diane Redmond6 June 2006 (2006-06-06)
The medieval pageant sees Ernie save a damsel in distress.
3"Mister Rails Never Fails"Diane Redmond7 June 2006 (2006-06-07)
Ernie's severe cold leads to confusion over the arrangements for Mr. Rails' surprise party.
4"Brooklyn and Rocky Two Shoes"Diane Redmond8 June 2006 (2006-06-08)
An American athlete, Rocky Two Shoes, comes in on Brooklyn and overcomes his fears.
5"Catnapped"Louise Kramskoy9 June 2006 (2006-06-09)
Pippa's cat, Patch, goes missing during the heavy rain storm.
6"Caught Purple Handed"Diane Redmond12 June 2006 (2006-06-12)
A rather absent-minded explorer brings a rare plant to the Underground.
7"Ernie's Big Trip"Jan Page13 June 2006 (2006-06-13)
Paris visits. Is Ernie going to France forever? Don't go, Ernie!
8"Finders Keepers"Jan Page14 June 2006 (2006-06-14)
A Golden Ticket becomes lost property.
9"Summer Breeze"Louise Kramskoy15 June 2006 (2006-06-15)
Phew, what a scorcher on the Underground!
10"Cover Story"Ross Hastings16 June 2006 (2006-06-16)
Ernie tries to take some pictures for Tunnel Times; Sydney is in town.
11"Millie's Dream Day"Ross Hastings19 June 2006 (2006-06-19)
Millie has won a dream day, but can the Underground cope without her?
12"Mr Movie Jones"Diane Redmond20 June 2006 (2006-06-20)
A case of mistaken identity as Mr. Movie Jones visits Sea Shell Bay.
13"The Magician’s Assistant"Diane Redmond21 June 2006 (2006-06-21)
Millie assists as Paris brings Maestro the magician to town.
14"Running Late"Lisa Akhurst22 June 2006 (2006-06-22)
Is Victoria heading for the scrapyard?
15"Light at the End of the Tunnel"Jan Page23 June 2006 (2006-06-23)
A tiny crack in the tunnel wall breaks open and Miss Relic sees her mummy again.
16"The Wreck of Sea Shell Bay"Diane Redmond26 June 2006 (2006-06-26)
Sam and Dan are seriously bad kids – but they get lucky.
17"Pulling Together"Jan Page27 June 2006 (2006-06-27)
Hammersmith and City have split loyalties while Victoria gets into football.
18"Monster Mystery"Jan Page28 June 2006 (2006-06-28)
A monster on the Underground? Not a good time for a practical joke.
19"Bon Appetit"Jan Page29 June 2006 (2006-06-29)
Millie cooks for the French chef, Marcel Le Magnifique, who arrives on Paris.
20"A Change Is as Good as a Rest"Diane Redmond30 June 2006 (2006-06-30)
The trains decide to swap lines, but Pippa doesn't hear the announcement.
21"Elementary, my dear Bakerloo!"Jan Page13 November 2006 (2006-11-13)
A jumble sale saves the nature reserve.
22"The Magic Lamp"Louise Kramskoy14 November 2006 (2006-11-14)
Is this a genie I see before me? A theatre prop spreads confusion.
23"How Great The Art"Ross Hastings15 November 2006 (2006-11-15)
Modern art – who wants it? How about a squashed wheelbarrow for Brooklyn?
24"The Mayor's Visit"Ross Hastings16 November 2006 (2006-11-16)
Mr. Rails gets the wrong end of the stick and the mayor gets stuck.
25"Techno Trouble!"Lisa Akhurst17 November 2006 (2006-11-17)
Osaka gives Jubilee some Japanese technology that is just too good.
26"Snow Go"Barry Quinn23 December 2006 (2006-12-23)
The Underground suffers from the wrong type of snow as Moscow visits.

Broadcast

Channel 4 were originally slated to show the series, but after a lot of deliberation, the BBC bought the rights to the series in 2005. In its premier run, Underground Ernie would be broadcast at 9am on BBC Two, followed by a repeat on the CBeebies channel at 4:30pm that afternoon.

BBC Four showed an episode as part of their themed "Tube Night" on 18 March 2007.

Merchandising

Toys

In November 2005, Halsall International Ltd. announced that they had secured the rights to produce merchandising linked to Underground Ernie . The products became on sale by September 2006, with a comprehensive range being available in 2007. The use of London Underground names and trains is a deliberate step to lead into merchandising suitable for children's gifts, the revenue from which was shared with Transport for London. Halsall International Ltd has, since 2009, stopped making 'Underground Ernie' models.

From 2007 up until 2009, Bachmann produced an HO scale Underground Ernie range, which was discontinued after the show was taken off air.

DVDs

Warner Vision International released four compilation DVDs of the show, which were later compiled into a boxset forming the complete first series. These releases are now out of print, and are very hard to find.

Day Out with Underground Ernie

In 2008, one railway in Hampshire called the Eastleigh Lakeside Steam Railway secured the rights to hold children's days involving Underground Ernie, and held four Underground Ernie events a year called: Day Out with Underground Ernie.

Miniature versions of 'Jubilee' and 'Ernie 1' were created which passengers could ride behind, as well as meeting a larger than life version of Underground Ernie. The last Ernie event was held during late December 2009, ending in early January 2010. Day Out with Thomas took over where it left off.

Underground Ernie charity evenings

As well as Days Out with Ernie, in 2008 and 2009, two Underground Ernie fundraising events were held at the railway which were hosted by The Karen Ingram Foundation With over £3,500 raised on the night at the first event, which raised money for the hospital which cared and looked after Karen Ingram, for whom the events were in memory of. Co creator John Deery also attended the special charity evening, along with his family.

With Eastleigh no longer hosting events involving Days Out with Ernie, a final fundraiser was held at the railway in 2010, however this was not themed to Ernie, due to the railway no longer having the Ernie characters available to use.

Theme song

The show's theme song, performed by members of The Wonder Stuff under the name "HRB Music",[3] is called "The Importance of Being Ernie". This is a reference to Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest (Ernie is short for Ernest).

Future

A second series has been on the cards since 2006. Co-creator John Deery has been seeking a £5.5 million investment in a bid to break the US market, with funds raised from that going towards making a second series. This hasn't happened yet, however.

According to creative director Adam Batham, the strained relationship between 3D Films and Joella Productions prevented another series from being made.

References

  1. "MIPCOM News: Fremantle to Bounce New Animated Concepts".
  2. "Tube trains get lines in series". BBC News. 10 October 2005. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  3. Roach, Martin (2006). The Eight Legged Atomic Dustbin Will Eat Itself. Independent Music Press. p. 107. ISBN 0-9549704-0-3.
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