Paul Merton, Secret Stations

plymothian · 7 Oct 2015

Paul Merton (of Have I got News for you fame), is taking Dixe Wills' book Tiny Stations to More4.

Paul Merton is to make a documentary series about Britain’s smallest railway stations.

There are about 150 ‘request stop’ stations across the country, so small that require passengers to stick out their arm to hail the train, as if it was a bus.

In Paul Merton’s Secret Stations, the Have I Got News For You captain will visit a selection of these remote platforms to find out why they’re there and who uses them.

The show will air on More4, which says: ‘The series will be packed full of living-memory history, pub quiz-type facts, and fabulous locals brimming with anecdotes and remembrances.’

This is the latest travel documentary for the Have I Got News For You captain....

He's already been spotted at Lapford, is he coming to a station near you soon?

RailUK Forums

Ash Bridge · 7 Oct 2015

plymothian said:
Paul Merton (of Have I got News for you fame), is taking Dixe Wills' book Tiny Stations to More4.

He's already been spotted at Lapford, is he coming to a station near you soon?

He was on Reddish South a couple of Friday's back, took the train to Denton I believe.

Cletus · 7 Oct 2015

There's a wait until Spring 2016 to see the programmes.

http://wearestockport.co.uk/transpo...-his-destination-of-choice-for-new-tv-series/

The Friends of Reddish station welcomed Have I Got News for You star Paul Merton to their station for the series which focuses on request stop stations like Reddish South & Denton.

Brown Bob Productions were commissioned to make Paul Mertons Secret Stations, 3 x 1-hour programmes which are scheduled for transmission in Spring 2016.

Kite159 · 7 Oct 2015

Just to More 4 rather than the main channel 4? (Or is channel 4 to busy with 8 out of 10 cats does various gameshow?)

Will hopefully be good as Paul is a good presenter.

pdq · 7 Oct 2015

He was at Penally a few weeks ago. He spoke to my father about old WW1 training trenches within the firing range. Dad didn't have a clue who is he was, having never watched HIGNFY nor listened to Radio 4. I assumed this was something to do with history and WW1, but maybe it was to do with request stops.

TheNewNo2 · 7 Oct 2015

I got given that book for Christmas, it's quite enjoyable. I will look forward to this programme, and handily someone here will tell me when it's on!

Howardh · 8 Oct 2015

Sounds like it will be an interesting programme. Tucked away on a backwater channel might not be the end of it - if it's taken well then repeats could well be on the main channel and then a second series.

Although at some stage I expect to see Merton, Tarrant and Portillo all bump into each other at the same station!

TheNewNo2 · 8 Oct 2015

Howardh said:
Although at some stage I expect to see Merton, Tarrant and Portillo all bump into each other at the same station!

I can only assume that will end up something like Who Made Huckabee?

Pinza-C55 · 8 Oct 2015

If the stations are secret how does he know about them ?

Henbury Loop · 8 Oct 2015

I look forward to seeing this.

Minilad · 8 Oct 2015

If the series is as enjoyable as the book it will be well worth a watch

Skimpot flyer · 8 Oct 2015

Pinza-C55 said:
If the stations are secret how does he know about them ?

Ha! Very Merton-esque

backontrack · 9 Oct 2015

This made my day.

Gathursty · 10 Oct 2015

The only famous people I've encountered on my rail journeys are Chris Eubank and Alex Salmond. I'd love to bump into Tarrant, Merton and the Portillo at some point.

craigybagel · 10 Oct 2015

He was at a few stations on the Heart of Wales a few weeks ago. Pontardullais, Pen y Bont and Knucklas.

DarloRich · 12 Oct 2015

Minilad said:
If the series is as enjoyable as the book it will be well worth a watch

i thought it was a really good book and well written

Kite159 · 16 Mar 2016

Any latest news on airing dates (seeing as Spring is here)?

urbophile · 16 Mar 2016

Hope he manages to catch the last train at Berney Arms.

Mojo · 25 Apr 2016

This is on Sunday at 20.00 Hrs on Channel No 4.

backontrack · 25 Apr 2016

Will he go to every station in the book, I wonder? It sounds like he may be going to some different ones.

Kite159 · 25 Apr 2016

Mojo said:
This is on Sunday at 20.00 Hrs on Channel No 4.

Excellent, it's been given a promotion from the deepest darkness depths of "More 4"

grumblingalong · 26 Apr 2016

On the subject of TV programs I was very excited to get an email from my manager saying I'd be picking up the Great British Railway Journeys crew at Halesworth and taking them to Saxmundham, got myself all polished up, even dusted off my jacket, only to be met by Portillo's cameraman taking some library shots!! Damn I was going to ask him for a job....oh well, keep your eyes out for me seeing us away from Saxmundham when it gets broadcast!

Requeststop · 26 Apr 2016

Sounds like a programme and book I'd really enjoy. I wonder if he'd make a visit to my old local station. (See left)

DeparturesBeck · 26 Apr 2016

This Sunday's episode:

Paul Merton begins a tour of Britain's many railway request stations in the Scottish Highlands and Cumbria, before heading to Pembrokeshire and a wishing well in Cornwall (Ep1/3)

Source: Channel 4 website

Mikey C · 26 Apr 2016

grumblingalong said:
On the subject of TV programs I was very excited to get an email from my manager saying I'd be picking up the Great British Railway Journeys crew at Halesworth and taking them to Saxmundham, got myself all polished up, even dusted off my jacket, only to be met by Portillo's cameraman taking some library shots!! Damn I was going to ask him for a job....oh well, keep your eyes out for me seeing us away from Saxmundham when it gets broadcast!

I'm amazed he's still got new lines to explore!

CharlieSpotted · 26 Apr 2016

Gathursty said:
The only famous people I've encountered on my rail journeys are Chris Eubank and Alex Salmond. I'd love to bump into Tarrant, Merton and the Portillo at some point.

I saw Portillo once. Him and his crew got on at Smethwick Galton Bridge and off at Wolverhampton. Not the most glamorous / interesting journey, that.

Not the most interesting story either. I'll get my coat.

GrimsbyPacer · 26 Apr 2016

Secret Stations? Does this mean he'll show up at request stops only or can he show up at old closed stations, or stations in use but not advertised?
Anyone have the list?

Mikey C · 26 Apr 2016

CharlieSpotted said:
I saw Portillo once. Him and his crew got on at Smethwick Galton Bridge and off at Wolverhampton. Not the most glamorous / interesting journey, that.

Not the most interesting story either. I'll get my coat.

I bet you dined out on that story for weeks :lol:

Most importantly though, what colour jacket was he wearing?

CharlieSpotted · 26 Apr 2016

Mikey C said:
I bet you dined out on that story for weeks

Most importantly though, what colour jacket was he wearing?

Kind of a cream with thin vertical coloured stripes.

It was very nice.

GrimsbyPacer · 26 Apr 2016

Will Merton be visiting Knapford station?

Paul Merton, Secret Stations

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