1 9 8 8 (UK)
26 x 5 minute episodes
Oxford Circus Tube Station in London was the home of four mice – Vernon, Toaster, Squeak and Bubble.
Minder stars George Cole and Dennis Waterman provided the voices of Vernon and Toaster, respectively. They were joined by Sheila Hyde (voicing Bubble) and Rupert Farley (providing the voice of Squeak).
The streetwise rodent spiv Vernon sported a quiff, pink brothel creepers and a yellow teddy boy coat lined with watches.
His long-suffering sidekick Toaster was a not-too-bright mouse with a punk haircut, a gold earring and red spectacles, and a preoccupation with food.
Bubble, a black female field mouse who came to town and stayed, spent most of her time trying to keep her friend Squeak (a middle-class field mouse, reminiscent of Terry-Thomas) out of trouble.
The mice lived by a strict Mouse Code and furnished their homes with odds and ends dropped by the humans passing through the station.
Tube Mice was the work of Sara and Simon Bor of Honeycomb Animations, who had already had a hit with their animated BBC children’s TV series Mop and Smiff. The series debuted on Monday 5 September 1988 and ran on ITV four days a week.
Vernon
George Cole
Toaster
Dennis Waterman
Bubble
Sheila Hyde
Squeak
Rupert Farley