Bus Life facts for kids

Bus Life is a fun English mini-series that aired on Disney Channel in England from 2003 to 2004. Each episode is super short, lasting about five minutes, and often played between commercials. It's also been shown on Disney Channel Australia.

What's the Show About?

Bus Life shows the everyday adventures and funny problems of secondary school students. These kids are on their way home from school. The show features different groups of friends, often called 'cliques'. These include 'The Brainy Kids', 'The Skaters', and 'The Goths'. The show is unique because the characters sometimes talk directly to the audience, which is called 'breaking the fourth wall'.

Meet the Characters

Here are some of the main characters you'll meet on the bus:

• Rick (played by Ashley Cavender-Jones) - Rick is a popular and athletic kid. He often helps solve problems on the bus. He is respected by everyone. It's hinted that he might like Sally in some episodes.
• Sally (played by Katie Angelou) - Sally is a quiet, shy, and friendly girl. She seems to like Rick in a few episodes. She is very smart in school, but sometimes struggles with real-life problems.
• Eddie (played by James Bird) - Eddie is the youngest and most playful of the group. He feels very cool sitting on the top floor of the bus with the older kids. He is Jess's younger brother and is known for being funny.
• Jess (played by Nancy Wallinger) - Jess is Eddie's older sister. She cares a lot about how she looks and is often on her cellphone. She is friends with Sally, but sometimes feels shy to talk to her in front of her boyfriend.
• Goth (played by Daniel Bickerdike) - This character is the leader of the Goths. He is usually quiet and stays with his group. He often competes with the skateboarder girl.
• Skate (played by Clare Thomas) - Skate is the leader of the skateboarders. She is very outgoing and is considered the smartest of her group. She often competes with the head Goth.
• Fleabag (played by Joseph Gritt) - This boy on the bus has very bad hygiene. Because of this, people often avoid him, and he usually sits by himself.
• Bruiser (played by Daisy Evans) - Bruiser is the school bully. She also sits by herself because she can be intimidating to others.
• Posh Girl (played by Elizabeth Holme-Gwillin) - This girl sits at the front of the bus. She often rolls her eyes in frustration in every episode.
• Big Nose - This boy appeared in one episode. He could help solve mysteries by using his strong sense of smell, like a detective.
• The "Foreign" Kid - This boy appeared in one episode. He pretended to be from another country to get the seats the main characters usually sit in. The main characters had to trick him to get their seats back.
• T - T is Jess's boyfriend. She talks to him on the phone a lot, but he never actually appears in any episode.

Bus Adventures

Here are some of the fun and tricky situations the kids faced:

• Eddie forgot to pay for a chocolate bar, and the other kids put him on trial.
• The bus broke down, and the kids had to figure out how to survive, like in the book Lord of the Flies.
• Someone stepped in something gross.
• A new kid sat in the back seat, which was where the main group always sat.
• Jess got bubble gum stuck in her hair, and her friends had to help her get it out.
• The group missed their bus stop and ended up being driven all the way to the bus depot.
• Rick had to keep his birthday a secret to avoid a silly birthday tradition.
• Eddie missed the bus and forgot about his detention in an episode called "Requiem of Eddie."

Awards and Nominations

• Bus Life won a Grand Jury Prize at the New York Television Festival in 2004.
• It was nominated for Best Drama at the British Academy Children's Television Awards.
• Ben Ward, the creator, was nominated for Best Original Writer at the British Academy Children's Television Awards.