Movies

Steve Coogan dodges driving ban after plea to save returning TV show

BBG News

Steve Coogan successfully argued against receiving a driving ban, explaining to the judge that a six-month suspension would interfere with his work on his television series.

Last summer, on the 29th of July, I found myself in a bit of a pickle while driving along the M6 – I was clocked going an overzealous 97mph! Given that I had six penalty points on my license from a previous misdemeanor, another six could have led to a six-month disqualification. Quite a lesson learned!

He penned a letter to Birmingham Magistrates’ Court stating that, should their judgment lead to a prohibition on driving, the fifth season of the travel series titled The Trip might not be able to commence filming. This could potentially disrupt his work and also affect the crew members who are involved in the project.

According to a statement he made (as reported by the Evening Standard), he has several critical movie projects lined up in 2025, with many of these requiring him to drive as a key aspect of the productions.

I’m set to show up on the popular TV series titled ‘The Trip,’ co-starring Rob Brydon, where the plot involves a lot of driving, as the name implies.

These projects play a crucial role, not just impacting my own income, but also providing employment opportunities for numerous others who rely on them.

This group encompasses camera operators, sound engineers, lighting specialists, rigging crews, and other workers who typically earn lower wages. They stand to experience project cancellations and severe financial struggles because rescheduling these types of jobs can be extremely complex and difficult.

As a gamer, I requested a break by taking on an extra burden – accepting five penalty points instead of six. This strategic move left me tantalizingly close to the threshold where a hefty six-month ban would be imposed. The judge, in his wisdom, granted my request, but not without consequence. Alongside the five points, I was also instructed to pay a fine of £2,500, cover additional costs amounting to £90, and a victim surcharge totaling £1,000.

In 2019, Coogan explained to magistrates in Crawley that a six-month ban would lead to the cancellation of a fresh Alan Partridge series. Consequently, he received a more lenient two-month suspension instead, enabling them to film the show as originally intended.

2016 saw the actor being penalized with a 28-day prohibition on driving and a £670 fine, following an instance where he drove nearly double the 30mph speed limit in Brighton.

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2025-02-07 14:19

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