Diagnosis Murder

Murder by the Busload is a one‑hour episode of the 1970s ITV anthology series The Crime Files. It stars John Thaw as Detective Sergeant Ellis and Sheila Hancock as the hard‑edged bus driver who’s forced to become an unwilling witness. The story opens with a disastrous crash on the M25, leaving a handful of survivors bruised, shaken and, as it turns out, very nervous about what comes next. The premise is simple enough: after the wreck, the police discover a dead body that wasn’t part of the original accident. Suddenly the crash victims are treated as suspects, and Ellis has to untangle a web of grudges, secret affairs and a missing briefcase that could have financed a shady deal. The episode moves between the cramped, smoke‑filled bus wreckage and the cosy, if slightly stale, police interview rooms, keeping the tension low‑key but persistent. No major twists are given away here – you’ll just have to watch to see whether the killer is a fellow passenger or someone pulling the strings from outside. Honestly, the show feels dated – the fashion is very 70s, the dialogue can be a touch on‑the‑nose, and the camera work is as static as a courtroom sketch. Still, Thaw’s dry wit and Hancock’s no‑nonsense attitude give it a proper charm, and the whodunit structure works better than many of its contemporaries, like The Sweeney’s more action‑heavy episodes. If you enjoy a slower, character‑driven mystery rather than high‑octane thrills, it’s surprisingly good; if you’re after slick pacing, you’ll probably find it a bit mental. Rated TV‑14 for moderate violence, occasional strong language and a few unsettling death scenes. First broadcast on terrestrial TV in 1976, it’s been repeated on the UK’s classic drama channels but never got a modern remake – so you’re watching the original. Fair warning: the pacing drags in the middle, but the period atmosphere and solid performances make it worth a sit‑down if you’re in the mood for a proper vintage whodunit.