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Arena: Cab Driver
BBC FOUR
July 2008, TIME TBC
www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour
Following the success of Bus Night and Tube Night, flagship arts series BBC Arena presents Cab Night, featuring a specially commissioned Arena which explores the soul of the London Cabbie.
Unsurpassed in the world’s taxi pecking order, London cabbies carry a photographic memory of the city’s layout (following years on the notoriously gruelling Knowledge) and drive the most iconic cab in the world. Yet they are the most maligned characters on our city’s streets.
By eavesdropping on the cabman’s shelter in Russell Square and exploring the stories of five extraordinary cabbies, whose experience spans 70 years on the unforgiving streets of the capital, Arena: Cab Driver goes well beyond the average ten minute journey to unearth the soul of the London cab driver…
Among the characters Arena discovers are Roy Perkins (91) who took his first fare in 1938 and served out his wartime as a London cabbie. His adventures with the largely upper class clientele of that era included shifting gold bars for the Bank of England and fending off well to do ladies with a penchant for a bit of rough.
Len Fox (55), first fare: 1974. After starting a career as a Saville Row tailor, Len became a cabbie in the 70s. After 20 years on the job, Len found himself, against his better judgement, in a group therapy session just off the M1, recounting his hatred for the nine million Londoners he served. Len is now a qualified psychotherapist and plans to sell his cab later this year.
Harry Harris (44), first fare: 1988. After a cashed-up, champagne-fuelled 80s driving his cab, he went travelling round the world, only to return to a major recession in London. Endless nights fighting off other cabs for dwindling fares took its toll, and Harry suffered a nervous breakdown. Then his cab was stolen...
Arena: Cab Driver forms the centrepiece of Cab Night, presented by Robert Elms, and featuring key programming from the BBC's comedy, drama and news archive.
Cab Night will be a culmination of Arena’s London Transport Trilogy on BBC FOUR which celebrates transport in London. The season includes another chance to see the hugely popular Arena films: Underground on Saturday 12 July, Little Platform, Big Stage about the iconic Routemaster on Saturday 19 July.
Arena series editor is award-winning Anthony Wall. Arena Cab Driver has been directed by Zimena Percival and produced by Martin Rosenbaum of Lone Star Productions for the BBC. In association with London Transport Museum.
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