Don't Forget the Driver
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. 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 | 
| Distributor | BBC Studios | 
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two | 
| Original release | 9 April – 14 May 2019 | 
Plot
    
Set 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
    
- 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
    
| No. | Title [6] | Directed by [6] | Written by [6] | Original air date [6] | UK viewers (millions) [7][lower-alpha 1] | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
    
For 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]
Broadcast
    
The six-part series began airing in the UK on BBC Two at 10pm on 9 April 2019 and continued weekly.[9] The series performed well in the 10pm slot attracting over 2.2 millions viewers.[10] The series was made available in its entirety on iPlayer on 9 April.[11]
Reception
    
The show won the 2019 Venice TV Award for Best Comedy.[12]
Notes
    
- Viewers across the first 28 days of broadcast on TV, PC/laptop, tablet or smartphone are counted. Pre-transmission figures are included.
References
    
- 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!'" – via www.theguardian.com.
- "Don't Forget the Driver Series 2 cancelled because of Covid - News". 14 May 2021.
- "Don't Forget the Driver". Sister Pictures. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- Lawson, Mark (4 April 2019). "Don't Forget the Driver: the show to help you come to terms with Brexit" – via www.theguardian.com.
- "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.
- "When is Toby Jones comedy Don't Forget The Driver on TV?". Radio Times.
- Guide, British Comedy (14 May 2021). "Don't Forget The Driver Series 2 cancelled because of Covid". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- "Don't Forget the Driver - Series 1: Episode 1" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- "Winners 2019".