Big Mac

**Big Mac** is a member of the *Star Fleet*, who sports a distinctively broad Glaswegian accent. He is used for a variety of tasks around Bigg City Port. He is known for his strength and often hauls heavy loads. Big Mac is based on the tugs of San Francisco waters from the 1920s.

## Biography

Big Mac's first appearance was in the first episode of TUGS, Sunshine. Since he was the strongest tug left in the Star Fleet (Hercules was busy down the coast), Zorran ordered Zip and Zug to put him out of action by stranding him on a mudbank, in a scheme to win the Z-Stacks the contract for the ocean liner Duchess. He was later rescued and looked for Sunshine. In the episode Pirate, Big Mac defended Ten Cents when he was falsely accused of stealing barges, and was part of Captain Zero's plan to catch the real thief.

In Trapped, Big Mac was trapped Upriver when Zug and Zorran got an old tramper jammed across the river. He stayed there until Billy Shoepack came and blasted through the tramper. Then, he along with the rest of the Star Fleet and Zug laughed at Zorran when he was trapped on some rocks. Later on in Regatta, Big Mac helped Top Hat, Ten Cents, and some other members of the Star Fleet save Grampus when he was going to be blown up in Navy practice by Bluenose. Afterwards, he enjoyed the Regatta parade. He had a minor appearance in the episode Munitions.

In Warrior, Big Mac and Warrior were working on the rock contract, transporting barges of rocks to the new construction site. He was tricked by Zorran into taking on too much stone, causing his barge to lie low in the water. It was later sunk by Warrior. Big Mac helps Warrior, Ten Cents, Top Hat and Lord Stinker rescue Izzy Gomez.

In High Tide, Big Mac came back from an early start to the day at the coal yards. He was mocked for his sooty appearance by Top Hat and the other Star Tugs. He and Warrior were given the job of transporting a large steel section across the harbour, competing with Zak and Zebedee for the Steel Company Contract. Big Mac were they would not be able to go under the low-hanging railway bridge with their tall load and the high tide, and the two went the long way around.

In Jinxed, he and OJ were at Lucky's Yard, ready to take Boomer when Ten Cents and Sunshine delivered him. However, the lights mysteriously went out when the switchers arrived. Big Mac ordered them to put their lights on, but the switchers had an accident anyway. He later is with the 3 again when Boomer is towed in by the Fire Tug.

In Ghosts, Big Mac was working late with Scuttlebutt Pete one night, with Scuttlebutt telling Big Mac ghost stories about the tugs who sank in the Great Storm of 1912. As he head home, Big Mac saw what he thought were the ghosts, and rushed back to the Star Pier to safety. The others did not believe him, and laughed at him. When the rest of the tugs saw ghostly goings on the next night, they finally believed him. Hercules cleared up the hysteria by explaining the ghostly tugs were the White Fleet - on an expedition following an iceberg with a galleon frozen inside. Later, the Star Tugs found they could joke about it.

In Up River, Big Mac was working with Sunshine and Ten Cents at the Logging Camp, tying up logs to be transported downriver. Big Mac warned Sunshine of the dangers of logs, but Sunshine ended up getting stuck in a chain reaction of falling logs. Big Mac told Puffa to go for help. Later, after Billy Shoepack used explosives to blow Sunshine out of the jam, the logs got loose and hurtled down the river. Big Mac was furious with Shoepack, and set off after the logs with Ten Cents and Sunshine to help when disaster strikes. Thankfully, Uptown was saved by Warrior, OJ, Top Hat and Little Ditcher.

## Personality

Big Mac can come across as a rude and stubborn tug, but he has a heart of gold, despite his tendencies to be gruff at times. He is very much willing to set aside his own safety for the sake of others, and usually remains level-headed when undergoing a strategy. Big Mac works mainly with his brother Warrior, and the two tugs have an extremely close friendship. Even though Warrior's clumsiness and simple thinking occasionally frustrate him, he still respects and cares for him. He also stands up for Warrior if anyone, especially the Z-Stacks, makes fun of him.

## Technical Details

### Basis

Like the rest of the Star Fleet, Big Mac is based on the tugs of San Francisco from the 1920s, and his name reflects his American origins.

### Livery

Big Mac is painted in the Star Fleet's corporate livery. This consists of a black hull, a yellow superstructure, white mast and an American flag-styled red white and blue funnel. His name is painted on the sides of his bow in white and he has the number "2" on his funnel. He wears a navy blue cap.

## Appearances

### Episodes

* Sunshine
* Pirate (*does not speak in TV version*)
* Trapped
* Regatta
* Munitions (*VHS version only*)
* Warrior
* High Tide
* Ghosts
* Jinxed
* High Winds
* Up River
* Bigg Freeze

### Books and Annuals

* Kidnapped
* Run Aground
* Nothing to Declare
* Treasure Hunt
* Loading Grain
* Mistaken Identity
* The Race
* Heat Wave (*cameo*)
* Ship In Distress (*cameo*)
* Naval Manoeuvres
* Ten Cents' Busy Day

## Voice Actors

* Sean Barrett
* Keiji Fujiwara (*Japan*)
* Pauli Virta (*Finland*)
* Elise Langenoja (*Finland; Up River only*)

## Trivia

* His name most likely derives from his Scottish heritage, but also ironically shares the name of McDonald's' popular and signature burger.
* Despite the fact that the other members of the Star Fleet are American, but portrayed with British accents, Big Mac is stated to be Scottish in a letter written by David Mitton, in-character as Top Hat, to a fan.
* Big Mac appears and speaks in every episode excluding Quarantine. However he does not speak in the TV versions of Pirate and Munitions.
* After TUGS' production ended, Big Mac's model was purchased by The Star Tugs Company, an organisation which aimed to restore and preserve the models.
	+ Prior to his sale, Big Mac's deck, superstructure, and wheelhouse were severely cracked. He was so damaged that his deck had split off the hull, which completely separated from the rest of his body. Thankfully, he was repaired shortly before the sale.
* He was only sold with his frustrated face mask, but he was later reunited with his other face masks when the owner attended one of The Star Tugs Trust events at the Battlefield Line Railway in March 2014.
* He is renamed **Big Stack** in Salty's Lighthouse, likely to avoid legal issues with the McDonald's fast food chain.

## Merchandise

* Port Set (*discontinued*)
* Kabaya Stamp (*discontinued*)
* Kabaya Toy (*discontinued*)
* Coin-operated Kids Ride (*discontinued*)
* Waddingtons Puzzles (*discontinued*)
* Pin Badge (*discontinued*)
* Thimbles (*discontinued*)

**Bigg City Port**

*\** **Television Series** *only* | *\*\** **Annuals** *only* | *~~---~~ Cut*