| Airport | |
|---|---|
| Format | Documentary |
| Narrated by | John Nettles (1996-2005) Liza Tarbuck (2005) |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC |
| Original airing | 1996 |
Airport is a British documentary television series based at London Heathrow Airport, the world's busiest international airport,[1] broadcast by the BBC and syndicated to UKTV People, part of the UKTV network. The show is a fly-on-the-wall series following a handful of passengers and staff based at the airport, who work for the airlines, BAA, (the airport operator), the animal reception centre, which handles all animals arriving and departing through the airport, the ambulance, fire and police services serving the airport, customs and immigration, resident press and others. The airlines and staff featured tend to change from series to series. However, certain staff feature in multiple series. The first series of Airport aired on BBC Two in 1996. Originally intended to be a low-key behind-the-scenes documentary, the emergence of several memorable recurring characters gave the show a docusoap feel. As a result. the series was transferred to a primetime BBC One slot the following year. Special fame was gained by Jeremy Spake, an Aeroflot employee, whose flamboyance earned him a series of short 'bumpers' on UKTV People explaining how to best use airports. Other airlines featured throughout the series are Aer Lingus, BMI, Canadian Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Czech Airlines, El Al, Emirates Airline, Gulf Air, Icelandair, Jat Airways, Kuwait Airways, PIA, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic. There have also been several special Airport programmes over the years featuring airports other than Heathrow, such as Frankfurt and Edinburgh. The opening titles and music were given a make over for the start of the new series in 2005. In addition, Liza Tarbuck replaced John Nettles as the show's narrator. Celebrities who have been seen on the show include Stephen Fry, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Joan Collins, Michael Jackson, British boy band Blue, Marillion, Brian May, Tom Jones, Kate Winslet, Engelbert Humperdinck, David Beckham, Al Pacino, Erin O'Connor and several heads of state including Queen Elizabeth II, The Latvian President and President Bill Clinton.
Contents |
Regular Contributors
John Cull, Qantas Airport Manager, appears in 17 episodes of the series. He also presents the Breakfast Show on Brooklands FM, available on www.brooklandsfm.co.uk. The newest radio station broadcasting in North West Surrey.
Production status
Repeats of Airport are shown almost daily on UKTV People and Dave, and they will often run an Airport day or weekend, showing back-to-back episodes for the duration of the day or weekend. Repeats can also be seen on BBC1, although less frequently. There was a new series broadcast in the first half of 2005, which finished in July 2005. Several episodes were broadcast, before a gap of about a month, then the rest of the series was shown. It is not yet known if another series will be produced. Airport is also shown once a week on the Australian Lifestyle channel, a feature channel on Australia's Foxtel Digital network and also screens on the AUSTAR cable/satellite network. It is also aired on free-to-air network the Nine Network.
Similar programmes
- Airline - (UK / USA)
- Animal Airport - (UK)
- Luton Airport - (UK)
