The classic BBC documentary Driving School that made Maureen Rees from Cardiff a household name can still be enjoyed<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n\n09:05, 23 Mar 2026<\/span>Updated 09:24, 23 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n![\"Maureen](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article17526260.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/53905556_2012-12-19_HAPPY-MOTORING_-DRIVER-_mark_MAU.jpg\")
<\/div>\nMaureen Rees starred in the BBC show Driving School(Image: Nick Treharne)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Long before the phrase ‘reality TV’ was popularised by early 2000s shows like Big Brother<\/a>, Popstars and Survivor, there was a television docusoap that captivated the nation – BBC’s Driving School<\/a>.<\/p>\nDriving School paved the way for the fascination with programmes documenting real-life situations, even turning one of its participants into a star.<\/p>\n
Debuting on the BBC<\/a> in 1997, Driving School was a fly-on-the-wall documentary following a group of learner drivers around Bristol and South Wales. Despite being produced on a shoestring budget, it was aired during primetime and gave rise to one of the first reality TV celebrities, Welsh icon Maureen Rees.<\/p>\nThe series was conceived and directed by British film and documentary maker Francesca Joseph, with narration provided by Quentin Willson, who would later host the similar programme, Britain’s Worst Driver.<\/p>\n
A quarter of a century after its premiere, all six episodes were made accessible on BBC iPlayer and viewers can still enjoy the episodes, reports the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Maureen](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33641075.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_Maureen-Rees.jpg\")
<\/div>\nMaureen from Cardiff was a fan favourite(Image: Carlton Television)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
READ MORE: Channel 4’s ‘epic’ new reality series branded ‘perfect’ as fans left wanting more<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Rich House, Poor House mum in tears over child’s life-threatening operation<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nOn IMDb, reviewers have lauded Driving School as “hilarious” and a “milestone” in television. One reviewer noted: “It’s largely forgotten now but this series marked a change in TV documentaries.<\/p>\n
“It was conceived as a simple documentary about the trials and tribulations of teaching people to drive but as the footage came in it became apparent that the stars of the show were the learners not the instructors. Maureen Reese (sic) rapidly became the pupil that everyone tuned in to see. Each week we wanted to see what danger she would encounter.”<\/p>\n
They continued: “A small milestone in the story of TV.”<\/p>\n
Another commented: “Doesn’t anybody remember this documentary? It was hilarious! In fact, most of it doesn’t even stick in my mind but I remember Maureen Rees as the mad welsh woman always arguing with her husband and nearly decapitating everyone else on the road. Plus, she failed her driving test about 8 times! It really was a good watch.”<\/p>\n
The popularity of Driving School resulted in a four-part celebrity edition which was broadcast in 2003 to support Comic Relief. Presented by Mel Giedroyc, famous faces taking part included Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, television legend Paul O’Grady, EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy and Big Brother star Jade Goody. They discovered live during the Red Nose Day appeal whether they had been successful. None of them had.<\/p>\n
09:05, 23 Mar 2026<\/span>Updated 09:24, 23 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/div>\n Maureen Rees starred in the BBC show Driving School(Image: Nick Treharne)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Long before the phrase ‘reality TV’ was popularised by early 2000s shows like Big Brother<\/a>, Popstars and Survivor, there was a television docusoap that captivated the nation – BBC’s Driving School<\/a>.<\/p>\n Driving School paved the way for the fascination with programmes documenting real-life situations, even turning one of its participants into a star.<\/p>\n Debuting on the BBC<\/a> in 1997, Driving School was a fly-on-the-wall documentary following a group of learner drivers around Bristol and South Wales. Despite being produced on a shoestring budget, it was aired during primetime and gave rise to one of the first reality TV celebrities, Welsh icon Maureen Rees.<\/p>\n The series was conceived and directed by British film and documentary maker Francesca Joseph, with narration provided by Quentin Willson, who would later host the similar programme, Britain’s Worst Driver.<\/p>\n A quarter of a century after its premiere, all six episodes were made accessible on BBC iPlayer and viewers can still enjoy the episodes, reports the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n Maureen from Cardiff was a fan favourite(Image: Carlton Television)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n READ MORE: Channel 4’s ‘epic’ new reality series branded ‘perfect’ as fans left wanting more<\/a><\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Rich House, Poor House mum in tears over child’s life-threatening operation<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n On IMDb, reviewers have lauded Driving School as “hilarious” and a “milestone” in television. One reviewer noted: “It’s largely forgotten now but this series marked a change in TV documentaries.<\/p>\n “It was conceived as a simple documentary about the trials and tribulations of teaching people to drive but as the footage came in it became apparent that the stars of the show were the learners not the instructors. Maureen Reese (sic) rapidly became the pupil that everyone tuned in to see. Each week we wanted to see what danger she would encounter.”<\/p>\n They continued: “A small milestone in the story of TV.”<\/p>\n Another commented: “Doesn’t anybody remember this documentary? It was hilarious! In fact, most of it doesn’t even stick in my mind but I remember Maureen Rees as the mad welsh woman always arguing with her husband and nearly decapitating everyone else on the road. Plus, she failed her driving test about 8 times! It really was a good watch.”<\/p>\n The popularity of Driving School resulted in a four-part celebrity edition which was broadcast in 2003 to support Comic Relief. Presented by Mel Giedroyc, famous faces taking part included Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates, television legend Paul O’Grady, EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy and Big Brother star Jade Goody. They discovered live during the Red Nose Day appeal whether they had been successful. None of them had.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Jade](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.walesonline.co.uk\/article33641074.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_EHP_CHP_050819big-brother-3-uk_740JPG.jpg\")
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