Press releases

They're not the stars you tend to associate with the silver screen, but Arriva's buses are starting to get a bit of a reputation as screen luvvies.

With broadcast appearances in soaps and documentaries to roles in Hollywood blockbusters, the buses are fast emerging as extras with x-factor.

An Arriva bus was even spotted on the latest Bridget Jones' movie 'The Edge of Reason' (it travels past Bridget as she stands soaking wet in a London street).

Catherine Mason, customer services and marketing director of Arriva's UK Bus division, said:

We've reached the point now where it is not unusual to see our vehicles on TV – and this is the second time we know of that they've made it to the silver screen.

An Arriva bus was featured in Hollywood blockbuster '51 st State' with Samuel L Jackson and Robert Carlyle. And appearances on Coronation Street , Jane Goldman Investigates and Merseybeat are not unusual.

But it's TV adverts and backdrop coverage on news broadcasts where Arriva really gets its air time. Advertisements for Fiat, Peugeot, Wind-eze Gel Caps and Aunt Bessies Steak Pies are all reported to have featured a discreet Arriva bus in the background.

True, many of the appearances are based on luck and being in service at the time and location of filming, however Arriva receives dozens of requests every year from film production companies who want to use its buses to play a part in their productions.

"We're very selective"

said Catherine Mason.

Like any star, our buses have a reputation and, like any agent, we check out all opportunities to see whether each one is appropriate.

And its not unusual for customers to give Arriva a quick call to advise them that they've spotted their local heroes of the road on TV.

Catherine Mason said:

The Arriva brand, which was born only seven years ago, now travels across eight European countries on some 12,000 buses, giving us a major presence in a variety of regions.

Ends

Note to editors

Arriva buses have been spotted on the following programmes and films as well as a significant amount of news broadcasts. Most of these items were sourced from www.busstation.net.

• 'The Edge of Reason' – Bridget Jones
• '51st State' – with Samuel L Jackson and Robert Carlyle
• TV advert – Aunt Bessies Steak Pies (remember the rabbit that went missing?)
• TV advert – Fiat Punto
• TV advert – Peugeot
• TV advert 'Wind-eze Gel Caps'
• Music video – Zero 7
• Top Gear (BBC)
• Banzai (E4/C4)
• Nice Guy Eddie (BBC) with Ricky Tomlinson
• Coronation Street (ITV)
• The Bill (ITV)
• Jane Goldman Investigates (Living TV)
• Merseybeat (BBC)
• Painting the Past (Yorkshire TV)
• Red Mist (ITV documentary)
• So What Do You Do All Day? (BBC documentary)
• The Tweenies (BBC Children's programmes)
• What Happened to the Housemates? (Channel 4 documentary)
• Your Money or Your Life (BBC financial advice series)
• Chewin' the Fat (BBC)