Station Jim

Set in Victorian England, Station Jim is a family drama, full of steam trains, orphans, toothless gypsies and cheeky but polite young men, all of which provide a nostalgic background to The Littlest Hobo style adventures of Jack Russell Jim.

After eluding his brutish owners, chirpy performing dog Jim jumps on a train bound for the picture perfect village of Whatmidwell in deepest Devon. There he is befriended by Bob (Charlie Creed-Miles), a cheeky but sincere porter who is set on taking over from the retiring Station Master (George Cole) and winning the heart of the governess of the local orphanage, Miss Collins (Laura Fraser). The orphanage itself is under threat of closure if Reardon (David Haig), the greedy, unscrupulous son of the owner (Frank Finlay), gets his way. On top of this, Queen Victoria (Prunella Scales) is to visit the station, and Jim's owners are about to pitch up, determined to assassinate Her Majesty for the Republican cause. Jim is, of course, well up to the task of saving the orphanage, Bob's romance and the future of the British monarchy with the help of a few kids.

A magical mix from the pen of Mark Wallington, the writer of Happy Birthday Shakespeare and The Missing Postman. Starring George Cole (Minder), Charlie Creed-Miles (Essex Boxes, Nil By Mouth), Frank Finlay (Stiff Upper Lips), Laura Fraser (A Knight's Tale, Kevin & Perry Go Large), David Haig (Four Weddings And A Funeral), Prunella Scales (Fawlty Towers, Stiff Upper Lips) and John Thomson (Cold Feet, 24 Hour Party People).