Bognor Regis operator involved in new show exploring the ‘odd glamour’ of coach driving
Woods Travel assisted with the production of a new BBC Two comedy drama, Don’t Forget the Driver, that first aired last night (9 April).
The Bognor Regis operator was approached by one of the writers who wanted to understand more about what it is like to be a coach driver and the day-to-day running of operations. Woods also supplied one of its coaches for filming.
The firm’s Director, Tina Shaw-Morton, says: “Woods were consultants in the filming of the series when advice was needed for anything associated with coach operation and travel, and the legalities surrounding this.”
Don’t Forget the Driver is about an ‘everyday’ coach driver, Peter Green, played by The Hunger Games and Detectorists actor Toby Jones.
It explores the “odd glamour” of the coach driver – each day taking a diverse group of strangers to a different part of the country.
The series is co-written by Mr Jones and Tim Crouch – both of whom “share a love of coaches and driving them”.
Says Mr Crouch: “I grew up in Bognor Regis, but I live in Brighton, which has a coach park on the seafront. I used to jog along past the coaches and I would see the drivers hanging out, washing their vehicles, reading the papers and chatting to each other. I was intrigued by what the narratives of those people would be.”
Adds Ms Shaw-Morton: “It was quite a logistical challenge, but also very exciting to be involved in a new BBC series.
“Here’s hoping for a second series in sunny Bognor Regis.”