Learners

Infobox Television Film
name = Learners


caption = "Learners" poster
format = Comedy drama
director = Francesca Joseph
writer = Jessica Hynes
starring = David Tennant
Jessica Hynes
Shaun Dingwall
country = United Kingdom
language = English
producer = Ruth Caleb
Luke Alkin
runtime = 78 mins
network = BBC One
released = 11 November 2007
picture_format =
audio_format =
imdb_id = 1012897

"Learners" is a British comedy drama television film starring David Tennant and Jessica Hynes. The film was announced by the BBC on 3 April 2007 and was broadcast on 11 November 2007.cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk46/sun.shtml#sun_learners
accessdate = 2007-10-27
title = BBC Program Information Week 46
publisher = BBC] The DVD was released on 12 November, 2007.cite web
url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learners-David-Tennant-Jessica-Hynes/dp/B000TYCX2A
accessdate = 2007-07-31
title = Amazon.co.uk: Learners
publisher = Amazon.co.uk]

ynopsis

The film tells the story of a group of learner drivers. One of them, Beverly (Jessica Hynes), is a housewife that works as a cleaner at the police station and has failed her driving exams eight times, mainly due to the driving lessons of her impatient husband Ian (Shaun Dingwall). She decides to take driving lessons from Chris (David Tennant), a devout Christian driving instructor at Gear Change, with whom she falls in love. Chris however is in love with Fiona, his boss, who is having an affair with Beverly's colleague, policeman Gerry.

Beverly is trying to raise cash for her driving lessons, as Ian has spent all their money on a pair of owls, hoping to sell their offspring for a profit. She ends up looting her daughter's savings for university. During her ninth, secret, driving test, she runs into Ian on the street and as a result fails again. To make matters worse, Chris is leaving Gear Change because of Fiona's affair with Gerry, leaving all learner drivers without their favourite teacher. However, Chris returns when Fiona breaks up with Gerry.

When one of the owls gets sick, threatening the life of the eggs, Beverly is forced to drive to the vet's herself. She runs into Gerry on the motorway who escorts her to the vet. The owl and eggs are saved, reuniting the family and giving Beverly enough confidence to try her test again, which this time she finally passes.

Cast

* David Tennant — Chris
* Jessica Hynes — Beverly
* Shaun Dingwall — Ian
* Sarah Hadland — Fiona
* Megan Jones — Juanita
* Richard Glover — Examiner
* Kyle Summercorn — Toby

Cast notes

* David Tennant and Jessica Hynes previously appeared together in the "Doctor Who" episodes "Human Nature" and "The Family of Blood".
* Shaun Dingwall was a recurring guest star in series 1 and 2 of "Doctor Who".

Trivia

Beverly's house was filmed at Breach Barnes, Waltham Abbey behind First Avenue. Some of the mobile home's fences had to be demolished in order for actors to walk through.

References