Mind the Gap: The Official TfL Podcast

Transport for London
  • 4.7 (3)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Join host Tim Dunn on a journey to discover the amazing stories behind London’s iconic transport network. From the Tube to the Overground and beyond, Tim speaks to guests who have personal connections with the system that keeps London moving - from engineers to celebrities, and artists to footballers. Series three celebrates the 25th anniversary of TfL, and explains the incredible innovations, key moments, and behind-the-scenes stories with members of staff and guests including Heather Small, Olympian Pete Reed, Babatunde Aléshé, and DJ Jaguar. Series two uncovers the significance of the new names for London’s Overground liness, and series one celebrates the 160th anniversary of the London Underground. An official podcast from Transport for London.

  1. TfL 25: Mr Dunn goes to City Hall - with Deputy Mayor Seb Dance and TfL Superfans

    10/09/2025

    TfL 25: Mr Dunn goes to City Hall - with Deputy Mayor Seb Dance and TfL Superfans

    Tim puts on his very best moquette socks and accepts a generous invite into the heart of City Hall, to chat with Deputy Mayor of London for Transport Seb Dance about a couple of big questions, including: How much has cycling and air quality changed in London since the year 2000 when TfL was born? The answer is: quite a lot, actually. From riding a Santander hire bike through Canary Whard to jumping on the DLR and the Overground and beyond, Tim is on a mission in this series finale to uncover the secrets of TfL's environmental improvements and active travel: zero emission buses , ULEZ, energy efficiently in TfL buildings and so so much more. Tim also takes a quick stroll over to the magnificent London Transport Museum to meet some young people who perhaps represent the future of London and won a competition to have their own voices on TfL public announcements: The TfL Superfans! And finally - Tim ends his epic journey on board a beautiful London Tram, another jewel in the TfL crown. _________________________ Mind the Gap is the Official podcast of Tfl, created by TfL _________________________ A special thanks to the TfL25 corporate sponsors of this special edition podcast, they are:  A.J Wells, Alstom, Arriva, First Bus, Go Ahead London, Keolis Amey Docklands, Links Signs, Metroline, Siemens, Stagecoach, Stewart Signs and Transport UK

    31 min
  2. TfL 25: Innovation, new trains, and nightlife! - with DJ Jaguar

    10/02/2025

    TfL 25: Innovation, new trains, and nightlife! - with DJ Jaguar

    What's the biggest innovation of the last 25 years on public transport in London? Is it the Elizabeth line, the contactless revolution, the Overground line naming, electric buses, new trains that are incoming on the Piccadilly line and DLR - or something else? What about the Night Tube? Tim Dunn dives headfirst into the spectacular world of TfL innovation, from deep in the Elizabeth line tunnels and new stations, to a secret room underneath Tottenham Court Road tube station. DJ and Radio 1 presenter Jaguar sits down with Tim for a chat about another major TfL innovation: The Night Tube - how it's changed London's nightlife, her own life, and made things better. Tim also meets the most qualified person in London to talk about contactless technology: Chief Technology Officer of Transport for London Shashi Verma, to discover a bit more about the magic of that system and how on earth it all works. _________________________ Mind the Gap is the Official podcast of Tfl, created by TfL _________________________ A special thanks to the TfL25 corporate sponsors of this special edition podcast, they are:  A.J Wells, Alstom, Arriva, First Bus, Go Ahead London, Keolis Amey Docklands, Links Signs, Metroline, Siemens, Stagecoach, Stewart Signs and Transport UK

    39 min
  3. TfL 25: The Eyes of the World on London - with Heather Small and Pete Reed

    09/25/2025

    TfL 25: The Eyes of the World on London - with Heather Small and Pete Reed

    The biggest events in London's recent history have all had TfL at their centre, everything from the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, to the 7/7 attacks, and regular planned events like Notting Hill Carnival and Pride - and Tim Dunn is on a whirlwind transport mission to meet four key personalities who were, as they say, in the room where it happened. Legendary singer Heather Small sits down with a very starstruck Tim to chat about her role in London 2012 (including her famous rendition of her song 'Proud', as well as her passion for London and how she'll never leave the neighbourhood where she was born. Tim also speaks with gold medal winning Olympian Pete Reed, one of the heroes of the London games, to hear about his memories of that glorious summer. Pete suffered a spinal stroke in 2019, which means he now uses a wheelchair. He campaigns for better accessibility, and speaks about the importance of better provision on public transport, and the challenges that remain, as well as a unique traffic light project he worked on with TfL. Tim also speaks with TfL's Mark Evers, the former Director of Games Transport in the leadup to the Olympics and Paralympics, before heading to meet the one-and-only Joan Saunders-Reece, Emergency Planning Manager and the first female train operator on the Victoria line, to hear more about her incredible career and involvement in major London events - including the response and experience of the London bombings on 7/7. _________________________ Mind the Gap is the Official Podcast of TfL, created by TfL. _________________________ In her interview, Heather Small mentions that she is currently on tour, and more information can be found via her social media at https://www.instagram.com/heathersmallmpeople/ _________________________ A special thanks to the TfL25 corporate sponsors of this special edition podcast, they are:  A.J Wells, Alstom, Arriva, First Bus, Go Ahead London, Keolis Amey Docklands, Links Signs, Metroline, Siemens, Stagecoach, Stewart Signs and Transport UK

    45 min
  4. TfL 25: Millennium Origins and TfL Memories - with Babatunde Aléshé

    09/18/2025

    TfL 25: Millennium Origins and TfL Memories - with Babatunde Aléshé

    Do you remember where you were at the dawn of the new millennium (if you're old enough to remember, that is) Tim Dunn takes you back to the year 2000 to chart the origins of Transport for London, which was created that year. In a whirlwind trek across London, Tim is joined by guests including comedian Babatunde Aléshé outside the O2, TfL boss Andy Lord in the high-security Surface Control Centre, and Archives Manager Tamara Thornhill deep in the archives office, to discuss what TfL is, what makes it so special, what came before and what might be coming next… This is episode one of a brand new four-part series on TfL 25, celebrating the 25th birthday of Transport for London. _________________________   Mind the Gap is the Official Podcast of TfL, created by TfL. _________________________ In his interview, Babatunde mentions his tour and his website, which you can find here: babatundealeshe.com _________________________ A special thanks to the TfL25 corporate sponsors of this special edition podcast, they are:  A.J Wells, Alstom, Arriva, First Bus, Go Ahead London, Keolis Amey Docklands, Links Signs, Metroline, Siemens, Stagecoach, Stewart Signs and Transport UK

    40 min
  5. Season 3 Trailer - Welcome to TfL 25

    TRAILER

    Season 3 Trailer - Welcome to TfL 25

    Tim Dunn is ready to take you on a whistle-stop tour through the last 25 years of London and TfL's history in the brand new series of the official TfL podcast: Mind the Gap, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary year of Transport for London. He'll be joined by singer Heather Small, Comedian Babtunde Aléshé, DJ Jaguar, gold medal-winning Olympian Pete Reed, and many more, as he charts the achievements, successes, innovations, and important moments in TfL's history. Follow the podcast NOW to ensure you don't miss an episode. And please, Mind the Gap.   A special thanks to the TfL25 corporate sponsors of this special edition podcast, they are:  A.J Wells, Alstom, Arriva, First Bus, Go Ahead London, Keolis Amey Docklands, Links Signs, Metroline, Siemens, Stagecoach, Stewart Signs and Transport UK

    2 min
  6. Naming the Overground: The Weaver line

    10/23/2024

    Naming the Overground: The Weaver line

    Tim Dunn enters a world he admits he knows absolutely zero about: the world of weaving. Plus - did you know that the fabric on TfL seats, moquette, is also woven? Travelling on what will become the London Overground Weaver line to Bethnal Green station, Tim meets fine artist and maker Anna Ray, who has a special family connection to weaving and the incredible and dramatic history of textile production in east London that dates back to at least the 1700s. Tim then discovers that the moquette seats he sits on every day on Overground trains, tubes, trams and buses are also all woven. After another quick train ride, Tim meets Honor Clough from Camira fabrics, who explains how they weave this amazing and historic material. Then Tim sits down for a chat with TfL designer Claire Dilnot-Smith, who has a very enviable job: she designs the patterns for the moquette seats. _____________ Follow Tim Dunn Follow Anna Ray Follow Camira Fabrics _____________ Weaving and textiles in East London have deep roots dating back to the 16th century, when Protestant Huguenots fled religious persecution in France and settled in Spitalfields. Skilled silk weavers, they helped to transform the area into a major centre for the silk industry. By the late 17th and 18th centuries, the weaving trade flourished, with workshops and homes intertwined in this East London district. Spitalfields silk became renowned for its high quality, worn by the English aristocracy, and complex and beautiful patterns and designs would be woven into the cloth on the loom by the silk weavers. However, competition from imported textiles and changing fashions led to the decline of the silk industry by the late 18th century. The rise of mechanized cotton mills in northern England further undercut traditional hand-weaving practices in East London. In the 19th century, new waves of immigrants, including Irish and Jewish communities, revitalized the textile industry, focusing on tailoring and garment production. East London’s Whitechapel and Bethnal Green districts became hubs for garment manufacturing, catering to London’s growing fashion markets. However, by the mid-20th century, global shifts in production led to the decline of East London’s textile and garment industries. Despite this, the area’s rich history of weaving and textile production left an enduring legacy, influencing London’s fashion and creative industries to this day. In recent decades, the district has seen a revival of craft and design, with local artisans and designers drawing inspiration from its weaving heritage. Today, East London is known for its vibrant fashion and creative scene, a modern echo of its historical textile roots.

    33 min
  7. Naming the Overground: The Windrush line

    10/01/2024

    Naming the Overground: The Windrush line

    Levi Roots and Arthur Torrington are Tim's guides on the incredible and ongoing history and impact of the Windrush generation. Celebrity chef and entrepreneur Levi Roots' life has been shaped by his personal Windrush story, and he sits down on a London Overground platform on the new Windrush line to discuss it with host Tim Dunn. Levi speaks about what it was like to leave Jamaica and his grandmother to join the rest of his family, as well as how his life as a boy in Brixton prepared him for his Dragon's Den triumph. Tim is also joined by influential activist, campaigner and organiser Arthur Torrington, co-founder of the Windrush foundation, who explains the context of the Windrush history, including the Windrush scandal and how that affected those involved, and talks about the 'game changer' of having a line on London's transport network permanently named after Windrush.

    32 min
  8. Naming the Overground: The Suffragette line

    09/06/2024

    Naming the Overground: The Suffragette line

    With guests Helen Pankhurst and Cally Beaton. Tim Dunn travels the entire length of the newly named Suffragette line to interview two incredible guests about the legacy of the Suffragette movement. At the new Barking Riverside station, Tim meets Helen Pankhurst. Helen is the great granddaughter of original Suffragette organiser Emmeline Pankhurst, and the granddaughter of East End Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst. She is also a scholar, an activist, and a CBE - and quite possibly the best qualified person on the planet to speak with Tim about the legacy of the movement and what the Suffragettes mean to people still fighting for equal rights for women in 2024. Then right at the other end of the line, at Gospel Oak, Tim meets stand up comedian, writer, podcaster and former TV exec Cally Beaton. She speaks to Tim about how gender equality runs through her work, her amazing career, how Joan Rivers inspired her to move into comedy later in life than some, and why it's so important we're still talking about the Suffragettes. ____________________________________ Helen Pankhurst discusses her work with CARE International and Centenary Actin - more information on both organisations can be found here: https://www.careinternational.org.uk/ https://centenaryaction.org.uk/ Discover Cally Beaton's amazing podcast at: https://callybeaton.com/podcast/ And you can follow Cally on Instagram TikTok and Threads: @callybeatoncomedian

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Join host Tim Dunn on a journey to discover the amazing stories behind London’s iconic transport network. From the Tube to the Overground and beyond, Tim speaks to guests who have personal connections with the system that keeps London moving - from engineers to celebrities, and artists to footballers. Series three celebrates the 25th anniversary of TfL, and explains the incredible innovations, key moments, and behind-the-scenes stories with members of staff and guests including Heather Small, Olympian Pete Reed, Babatunde Aléshé, and DJ Jaguar. Series two uncovers the significance of the new names for London’s Overground liness, and series one celebrates the 160th anniversary of the London Underground. An official podcast from Transport for London.

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