Don't Forget the Driver is a 2019 BBC Two comedy series, co-created and co-written by Tim Crouch and Toby Jones, in which Jones also stars alongside Erin Kellyman. A second series was commissioned by the BBC for broadcast in 2020,[1][2] but was delayed and then cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[3] The show is produced by Sister Pictures and distributed by BBC Studios.[4]
| Don't Forget the Driver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Directed by | Tim Kirkby |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Production company | Sister Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two |
| Release | 9 April – 14 May 2019 |
Plot
editSet in Bognor Regis, Jones plays Pete Green, a depressed single father who works as a coach driver and discovers an asylum seeker after taking a coach party across the channel.[5]
Cast
edit- Toby Jones as Pete Green
- Erin Kellyman as Kayla Green
- Luwam Teklizgi as Rita
- Danny Kirrane as Squeaky Dave
- Jo Eaton-Kent as Bradley
- Dino Kelly as Lech
- Marcia Warren as Joy
- Claire Rushbrook as Fran
- Jo Hartley as Mel
- Bharti Patel as Manju
Episodes
edit| No. | Title [6] | Directed by [6] | Written by [6] | Original air date [6] | UK viewers (millions) [7][a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch | 9 April 2019 | 2.66 |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch & Toby Jones | 16 April 2019 | 1.68 |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch & Toby Jones | 23 April 2019 | 1.48 |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch & Toby Jones | 30 April 2019 | 1.66 |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch & Toby Jones | 7 May 2019 | 1.47 |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Tim Kirkby | Tim Crouch & Toby Jones | 14 May 2019 | 1.42 |
Production
editFor the role, Jones took Coach Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) lessons and failed his test twice, once for driving too fast and once for going too slowly.[5] In January 2020, Don't Forget the Driver was renewed for a second series of six episodes.[8] However this was cancelled by the BBC due to the Covid-19 pandemic a decision Jones described as “heartbreaking”.[9]
Broadcast
editThe six-part series began airing in the UK on BBC Two at 10pm on 9 April 2019 and continued weekly.[10] The series performed well in the 10pm slot attracting over 2.2 millions viewers.[11] The series was made available in its entirety on iPlayer on 9 April.[12]
Reception
editThe show won the 2019 Venice TV Award for Best Comedy.[13]
Notes
edit- ^ Viewers across the first 28 days of broadcast on TV, PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone are counted. Pre-transmission figures are included.
References
edit- ^ Bennett, Steve. "Don't Forget The Driver to make a return trip : News 2020 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide". www.chortle.co.uk.
- ^ Dickson, Andrew (21 January 2020). "Toby Jones: 'Actors talking about acting? It makes you scream!'". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Don't Forget the Driver Series 2 cancelled because of Covid - News". British Comedy Guide. 14 May 2021.
- ^ "Don't Forget the Driver". Sister Pictures. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ a b Lawson, Mark (4 April 2019). "Don't Forget the Driver: the show to help you come to terms with Brexit". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ a b c d "BBC Two - Don't Forget the Driver - Episode guide". BBC. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- ^ "Four-screen dashboard BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ "Don't Forget The Driver to make a return trip". Chortle. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
- ^ Jones, Ellen E. (6 December 2022). "People told us what a consolation it was' – Toby Jones on the return of Detectorists". The Guardian.
- ^ "When is Toby Jones comedy Don't Forget The Driver on TV?". Radio Times.
- ^ "Don't Forget The Driver Series 2 cancelled because of Covid". British Comedy Guide. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Don't Forget the Driver - Series 1: Episode 1" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Winners 2019".