Tugs (stylized as TUGS) is a British children's television series first broadcast in 1988. It was created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, Robert D. Cardona and David Mitton.[1] The series deals with the adventures of two anthropomorphized tugboat fleets, the Star Fleet and the Z-Stacks, who compete against each other in the fictional Bigg City Port.
The series was set in the Roaring Twenties, and was produced by Tugs Ltd., for Television South (TVS) and Clearwater Features Ltd.[2] The music was composed byJunior Campbell and Mike O'Donnell,[1] who also wrote the music for Thomas & Friends.[3]
Due to the bankruptcy of Television South, the series did not continue production past 13 episodes. Following the initial airing of the series throughout 1989, television rights were sold to an unknown party, while all models and sets from the series sold to Britt Allcroft. Modified set props and tugboat models were used in Thomas & Friends from 1991 onwards, with footage from the original program being heavily dubbed and edited for use in the American children's Salty's Lighthouse (Series).
| 1 | Sunshine | Gloria Tors | David Mitton | 20 min (VHS) 15 min (TV) |
| 2 | Pirate |
from a story by David Mitton |
David Mitton | 20 min (VHS) 15 min (TV) |
| 3 | Trapped | Chris Tulloch | Chris Tulloch | 15 min |
| 4 | Jinxed | David Mitton | David Mitton | 15 min |
| 5 | Quarantine | Tarquin Cardona | David Mitton | 15 min |
| 6 | High Winds | Chris Tulloch | Chris Tulloch | 15 min |
| 7 | Ghosts | Robert D. Cardona |
Robert D. Cardona |
15 min |
| 8 | Up River | David Mitton | David Mitton | 15 min |
| 9 | Warrior | Chris Tulloch | Chris Tulloch | 15 min |
| 10 | High Tide | David Mitton | David Mitton | 15 min |
| 11 | Munitions | David Mitton | David Mitton | 20 min (VHS) 15 min (TV) |
| 12 | Regatta | David Mitton | David Mitton | 20 min (VHS) 15 min (TV) |
| 13 | Bigg Freeze | Roy Russell | David Mitton | 15 min |
Voice cast[edit]
Patrick Allen as Captain Star/Narrator
Simon Nash as Ten Cents
Sean Barrett as Big Mac, Hercules, Zebedee, Captain Zero, Izzy Gomez, Sea Rogue, Fire Tug, and Blair
Timothy Bateson as O.J., Owner of the Municipal Garbage Corporation, Big Mickey, Lord Stinker, Little Ditcher, and Eddie
John Baddeley as Top Hat, Zip, Puffa, Shrimpers, Pirate Tug #2, and the Quarry Master
Mike O’Malley as Warrior, Bluenose, Frank, Mighty Mo, Sea Rogue’s Uncle, Scuttlebutt Pete, Jack the Grappler, the Princess Alice, Navy Ship, Old Rusty, Nantucket, Johnny Cuba, and Pirate Tug #1
Shaun Prendergast as Sunshine, Zak, and Philbert the Bell Buoy
Chris Tulloch as Zorran and Shrimpers
Nigel Anthony as Zug, Burke, and Davy Jones
Lee Cornes as Grampus, Billy Shoepack, Coast Guard, Boomer, and the Fuel Depot Manager
JoAnne Good as Lillie Lightship, Sally Seaplane, and Pearl
Sue Glover as S.S. Vienna
