Paul Merton's Secret Stations
Paul Merton's Secret Stations is a British travel documentary that aired on Channel 4, starting on 1 May 2016. Presenter Paul Merton visits Britain’s small, rarely used train stations that work as request stops.
The show was inspired by Dixe Wills’ 2014 book Tiny Stations, and Wills is interviewed in the first episode. There are about 152 request stops in Britain, making up around 6% of the 21,000 miles of track. The series visits 17 stations, mostly in rural areas, though some are in cities. Each episode explores the station’s history and the people or places connected to it.
The series was made by Brown Bob Productions Ltd for Channel 4, with Jacqueline Hewer as executive producer and Ewen Thomson directing. It makes heavy use of aerial filming.
Paul Merton is best known as a comedian and as a panelist on Have I Got News For You, but he has also presented travel documentaries since 2007. He says he loves railways, and his father was a London Underground driver. He hadn’t heard of request stops before making the show, but his enthusiasm helps carry the series.
The show and Merton’s approach were generally well received. Critics praised the unusual subject and his energetic, friendly style, calling it a charming addition to travel programs. Some reviews noted the premise is niche, but still enjoyable. A few critics wished the episode featured Dixe Wills more. After the first series, Wills suggested there are many more interesting stops that could be explored in a second series.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:34 (CET).