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, but was delayed and later cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The show is produced by Sister Pictures and distributed by BBC Studios.

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.

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateUK viewers (millions)
1"Episode 1"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch9 April 2019(2019-04-09)2.66
2"Episode 2"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch & Toby Jones16 April 2019(2019-04-16)1.68
3"Episode 3"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch & Toby Jones23 April 2019(2019-04-23)1.48
4"Episode 4"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch & Toby Jones30 April 2019(2019-04-30)1.66
5"Episode 5"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch & Toby Jones7 May 2019(2019-05-07)1.47
6"Episode 6"Tim KirkbyTim Crouch & Toby Jones14 May 2019(2019-05-14)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. In January 2020, Don't Forget the Driver was renewed for a second series of six episodes. However this was cancelled by the BBC due to the COVID-19 pandemic a decision Jones described as “heartbreaking”.

Broadcast

The six-part series began airing in the UK on BBC Two at 10pm on 9 April 2019 and continued weekly. The series performed well in the 10pm slot attracting over 2.2 million viewers. The series was made available in its entirety on iPlayer on 9 April.

Reception

The show won the 2019 Venice TV Award for Best Comedy.

Notes

External links