Fourth member of the crew of the Vital Spark is veteran comedian Rikki Fulton.

The archetypal puffer, the Vital Spark, appeared in the "Para Handy" books by Neil Munro and two television series of the same name.

The new Vital Spark is, in real life, Auld Reekie, built in 1946, which used to ply the Clyde.

Six 50-minute episodes of The Vital Spark will be broadcast on network BBC early next year.

The story was inspired by Neil Munro's short stories of the Vital Spark and her captain, Para Handy.

The Vital Spark is a fictional Clyde puffer, created by Scottish writer Neil Munro.

Although very obviously based on Munro's characters, the names of Para Handy, the Vital Spark, etc. are never mentioned, probably due to copyright issues.

Now in 2006 she proudly is the Vital Spark of Glasgow having been successfully re-registered.

In the Wake of the Vital Spark.

Possibly his best known role was as the mate Dougie in the TV series The Vital Spark.