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 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

Toby Jones as Pete Green
Erin Kellyman as Kayla Green
Luwam Teklizgi as Rita
Danny Kirrane as Squeaky Dave
Joni Ayton-Kent as Bradley
Dino Kelly as Lech
Marcia Warren as Joy
Claire Rushbrook as Fran
Jo Hartley as Mel
Bharti Patel as Manju

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.