On the Buses – “Gardening Time”

by Mark Murton

Original Air Date: May 20, 1973

Starring: Tiberius Grant

Director: Bryan Izzard

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: A bus staff garden competition organised by the area manager’s wife has only two entrants: Jack (Bob Grant), who wants the prize money, and the Inspector, Blakey (Stephen Lewis), who is looking to curry favour. As they live next door to each other the two men are soon trying to sabotage the other’s gardens.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Tibbles the cat is first seen sitting on the wall between the two gardens.

On the Buses - Gardening Time - white Persian cat Tibbles on wall

Jack picks up the cat as he and Blakey bicker about whose garden is best.

On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant holding white Persian cat Tibbles

When Blakey goes back inside Jack drops Tibbles over the fence . . .

On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant holding white Persian cat Tibbles
On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant dropping white Persian cat Tibbles into neighbor's garden animated gif

. . . and encourages him to do his business (“Do it for daddy.”)

On the Buses - Gardening Time - white Persian cat Tibbles in garden
On the Buses - Gardening Time - white Persian cat Tibbles in garden

That night, Jack and Tibbles are awoken by the sound of Blakey cutting down the tree in Jack’s garden.

On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant in bed with white Persian cat Tibbles
On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant in bed with white Persian cat Tibbles

Tibbles was played by Tiberius Grant, a white Persian who actually belonged to actor Bob Grant.

On the Buses - Gardening Time - Jack Bob Grant holding white Persian cat Tibbles Tiberius

Final Mewsings: Cats aren’t interested in judging gardens; they all make good toilets!

Relevant Links:

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