Episode 8 Celebrity Driving Academy

Driving Academy is back with a bump and this time with added celebrity!

-So mean!

-We've got stars who are disasters in cars

plus their kids helping them to become better drivers

by joining them on a one-week crash course behind the wheel.

Yesterday, impressionist Debra Stephenson

and son Max faced our Barrels of Fun Challenge with ease

and cemented their position at the top of our leaderboard.

It wasn't so straightforward for comedian Rowland Rivron and son Ned

as they battered through the barrels and ended up in second place.

But things went from bad to worse for singer

and TV presenter Jamelia and daughter Teja

as they couldn't quite judge when to brake,

which meant they faced the Wash of Shame.

Can our celebrities overcome their bad driving habits?

And which can improve their driving enough to become

champions of Celebrity Driving Academy?

Hello, I'm Joe Swash and this is Celebrity Driving Academy.

We've just two more days to sort out our celebrities' dreadful driving

because at the end of the week, we'll be putting our teams'

new skills to the test in the monster Superskills Challenge.

Whoa! That's a pedestrian crossing, there. Crazy!

Welcome back to Celebrity Driving Academy, guys.

It's Day 3, I wish all of you the best of luck.

Let's get this show on the road.

Coming up on Day 3 - our teams are tested on their car control in

the Superskills Trifle Challenge.

The more skilful and smooth their driving,

the more points they'll get.

But first they'll need to learn how it's done.

Today's lesson is all about staying in control.

Showing our rookies how it's done is top driving instructor Vicky Lovell.

She is our authority on road safety.

They're doing four things at the same time.

They're using their eyes, their hands, their feet,

their steering, so they realise how difficult car control can be

out on the real roads.

Just in case they get a little bit distracted, we'll be using

private roads and Vicky's got a set of dual controls at her feet.

On today's challenge our rookies will need to learn how to drive

smoothly across the mini Ramp of Doom.

They'll need to control the clutch, accelerator and brakes

as they drive up it and then wait for it to tip

before driving off smoothly.

First to give it a go is Max.

OK, what we're going to do now is

-we're going to drive over this ramp.

-Yeah. Cool.

On yesterday's challenge, Max braked too early on his first attempt,

but was spot-on in his second.

I can tell he's eager to give this a go.

Keep moving, you need to climb up the ramp.

-Good, well done, well done.

-First time as well.

I was quite confident and the dummy really helped.

I knew that dummy would come in useful for something!

I think Max is getting the hang of this.

I hope we can say the same for Ned.

He and his dad Rowland share a desire to drive fast.

Rowland faced the Wash of Shame on Day 1

because of his reckless driving.

They'll need to control that on this challenge.

-Oh, what's happened now?

-I stalled it.

It's not like you not to put your foot down, Ned.

Can you even see the ramp?

No, are we on it?

-Yeah.

-Just don't stop!

Well done.

As I came down, I just freewheeled and just squeezed the clutch down.

Well, that seemed to work. What about the Greens?

They didn't do too well yesterday and finished in last place.

Today, they have one chance each to get it right.

Clutch down a bit again, you're going a bit fast.

Ooooh!

Don't steer whilst you're doing it, sweetie.

Oh, Teja needs to straighten up!

Oh, she's gotten over the ramp, but Teja also burst a tyre.

I popped the tyre.

I was just like, "OK, this isn't going to go very well."

It can't get much worse.

Actually, it's the Greens we're talking about, so it could.

Time for the dummies to change the tyre and set up today's challenge.

Today is all about staying in control.

The dummies have built this crazy obstacle course

to test our teams to the limit.

To make things worse there's a massive bowl of trifle on the car.

And like all good trifles it's full of cherries.

There are 100 red cherries throughout the course.

After squeezing through tight gaps

and over the bumps, our teams will face the dreaded Ramp of Doom.

The team with the most cherries at the end wins.

Keeping an eye on how our teams perform is

the Academy's examiner Sandra Dodson.

She expects a high standard of driving from our teams.

You're not just in control of a motor vehicle,

but you're in control of your environment all around you.

But before they take to the road,

let's have a look at the leaderboard.

After two days, the Greens are languishing at the bottom

on just two points.

The Blues are doing better on four,

but the Oranges are at the top with six.

First up it's the Orange Team.

Max is in the driving seat and he's starting at a snail's pace.

Oh, that was close.

Oh, careful, darling.

You're fine at this side.

Working as a team should definitely help,

now all he's got to do is go over that speed bump.

It's not as easy as it looks, especially when you've got something

on top making it a trifle difficult.

What do you need to do if you can't get over it?

Clutch down a bit?

I was going to say reverse, or drive over it.

Max likes to do things his own way, and it seems to be working for him.

Be careful of those ones on your right, Max!

Oh, no, he was far too close to those

and that's two more red cherries down.

He's got to be extra careful not to lose any more.

It's all right, it's all right, you've not spilt anything.

-That's going to go.

-Is he about to lose another two cherries?

-Oh, well done!

-He's doing well so far.

He needs to go slow over those speed bumps.

Pretend it's a very expensive Ferrari you're driving in

and you don't want to ruin the suspension!

-He's lost two reds there, look.

-That was quite fast.

He'll need to slow down for the mini Ramp of Doom.

The dummy is going to help you to line up.

Just reverse back, give yourself a nice easy run up.

Max needs to drive super smoothly otherwise he'll lose the lot.

Really slowly, darling.

-Slowly does it.

-Nice work, Max!

That looked very well done indeed!

My strategy was to go up relatively fast

and then roll down with no power, just roll down.

And that strategy may have paid off.

We'll find out later when we'll reveal

how many red cherries are left.

But before that, it's time for Debra to give it a go.

She's been very overcautious in the Academy so far,

but that might serve her well in today's challenge.

I think she's a bit more confident now

and I think if she controls, she'll be OK on this.

No. Oh, she's just got through there, didn't she?

-Keep going.

-OK.

Yes, you're perfect on here.

Taking it slowly seems to be working well for Debra,

she's got through the first part relatively unscathed

and is about to take on the roundabout.

Around the roundabout.

You're doing absolutely fine.

-So far so good, no spillages.

-I think this suits her.

I might be proved wrong, but I think she's going to do well at this.

This is so narrow, isn't it?

Much more narrow than it looks.

You're fine, you're perfect, you're absolutely fine.

So in each bowl there's two cherries,

and in the giant bowl on top of the car there's 76 cherries.

You can reverse.

Now this is a bit dodgy.

Come on, Debra, don't let us down, you can do it.

It looks all right in the mirror.

-Yep, you're fine.

-And I've got to go on this lumpy bit,

this could be tricky with the balls on top.

Slowly.

Perfect. Nothing fell off there, I don't think.

-We lost a couple.

-That wasn't a cherry, though.

D'oh!

-That's not bad. Did you see red ones?

-I saw red ones go there.

The whole lot could go on this, so we've got to be careful.

Debra's approaching the Ramp of Doom.

Is she going to be able to control the car?

Is she going to be able to get this over safely?

It's a steeper incline.

Oh, it is, you've got to go for it to a degree

otherwise you'll not get up there.

-Oh, I think she's stalled it.

-It's all right.

We will do a hill start, a very steep hill start.

45 degrees, I'm not going to get hot and bothered.

That was not good.

Oh, she's lost a lot of cherries. That wasn't very smooth.

That could have cost her.

Right, how did you find it?

Yeah, it was all right, apart from the ramp,

that was really, really tricky.

But was it enough to avoid the gunge?

The red cherries have been counted and out of the 100 the Orange Team

started with they've held on to just 39.

Well done, Orange Team.

Next up we have Rowland and Ned.

But first of all has anyone seen Sandra?

There she is.

Back in her office under the all-seeing eye of James May.

What's she doing?

I say, these high-visibility jackets. They are so on trend.

On trend? Who's that at the door?

I hope it's not the fashion police.

Wait!

It's the ever-clumsy Mr C.

He has accidents so you don't have to.

BELL RINGS

Proceed.

Oh, Mr C, I despair. Pray tell what foolishness this time?

Mr C listening to his favourite songs on the radio really,

really loudly.

Meanwhile Bob the Bunny has just been to the supermarket where they

had a two-for-one deal on carrots.

Mr C, stop dancing and pay attention.

Otherwise you'll...

Oh, no!

Oh, no!

Mr C, dancing while driving?!

I mean, really. What would James May say?

I'm sure he'll have good advice.

Tell him, James.

Always keep your hands on the steering wheel.

I mean, like, duh, it's a no brainer!

And loud music?

Loud music can be distracting - turn it down!

Now get out, go on, get out, out.

Back to our Superskills Challenge - it's now the turn of the Blues -

Rowland and Ned.

That's it, keep going straight and sort of do a left.

He's going quite fast compared to the others.

He's doing very well indeed.

Brilliant. Straighten up, straighten up!

-That's it. Turn it, go that way.

-Look there, Dad.

I know, but you're right against the one there.

Go backwards, reverse and go into it again.

Ned's really close to those red cherries.

Not only does he need to squeeze by,

he also needs to get over the tricky speed bump.

Oh, oh, there goes two cherries.

Ned can't afford any more mistakes like that,

if he wants to avoid a gunging.

Smoothly does it around the roundabout.

But getting around the barrels isn't as easy.

That's it, quite a lot of room this side.

He's slowing right down to squeeze through.

Go on, straighten up now.

He's putting himself in a nice position.

-He's very controlled.

-He's got to be careful here...

Go on. Look, watch what you're doing because you've got to...

-Oh, fortunately.

-That's it, straighten up.

He's nudged his way, though, just the last two barrels remaining.

Oh, is this one going to go?

So that's OK. Phew, that's the worst stuff over!

Not quite, you've still got the rookie Ramp of Doom ahead of you.

But first it's the speed bumps.

A bit more welly, a bit more accelerator.

He's over the first bump, but he's crashing into the cones.

It's bumpy enough already, don't make it any harder, Ned!

He's away!

Oh, none of them have come out so far, he's done well.

The last one will tell. The last one will tell.

I think maybe get a little bit of speed through the bumps helps.

Just a little bit.

Yeah, you see it does, otherwise you rock back and forth.

It looks like he has stalled the car too.

It seems Ned's taking some time to compose himself

before pushing through.

Oh, he's going a bit too fast now, he's lost another cherry.

He's about to approach the Ramp of Doom.

The trick here is to drive slowly and smoothly up the ramp

so the car can fall gently.

He's lined it up very well.

-Remember what we said we're going to do?

-Here we go.

Oh, he's done very well!

That was brilliant. Ned couldn't have taken that any better.

I don't think the trifle even moved.

As I came down I just freewheeled and just squeezed the clutch down.

I think I did quite well with the cherries, I hope.

I think I had quite a lot left.

An almost perfect performance from Ned,

but can Reckless Rowland do as well?

This is going to be the test, though.

If Rowland can get through quite clear they're safe.

But I've a feeling it's all going to go to pot.

Something's telling me you may be right, Joe.

Rowland has a habit of going a little too fast.

He'll need to really control that on this challenge.

I have to say he's done that pretty well.

Rowland is a very good driver.

He's maintaining a nice, even speed

and he took the roundabout with ease, but getting past

the barrels won't be as easy.

Oh, this is going to be tricky.

Oh, this is looking tight.

Will he make it? I don't know!

And he's clear!

Now on to the bumps.

This is where things can go wrong.

Oh, oh, I think he hasn't lost any yet.

He needs to be very careful here

and take each bump as smoothly as he can.

Do you know what I think?

I think he's absolutely determined not to lose one of those

little cherry trifles.

Can he maintain safety throughout a whole challenge?

That's the question.

Rowland hasn't been the least bit reckless on this one.

He's managed to hold on to every single cherry.

But can he keep up the good work on the Ramp of Doom?

Come on, I really want him to do this, you know.

Here we go, here we go!

Oh, he's done all right.

Oh, and the cherries go everywhere!

But I don't think he's lost too many red ones.

He was just a trifle too fast going over the Ramp of Doom.

-How did you find that?

-It was good.

I have to say, your dad didn't let you down today, did he?

What do you mean by that?!

I mean, today you done really well. You didn't let him down.

-You might, you might not get gunged today.

-Really?

Yeah, I've got a feeling you might be all right.

That's a result.

The judges have tallied up the

red cherries and the Blues saved 67.

Congratulations, Blue Team, well done.

Next up to face the Ramp of Doom is Teja and Jamelia, but first

I think we've got about enough time for another slice of Pieway Code.

The Pieway Code is all about the Highway Code.

Today, we're testing our rookies on road markings.

Get it wrong and they get pied in the face.

Yuck!

Today's question is...

Is it...

Tough one!

It's never for Ned.

What do you mean never?

We mean never, never!

What other kind of never is there?!

Teja's going for never too.

I think I'm going to take this.

Max is saying never as well.

Well, I can tell you that the correct answer is...

So that means it's a pie in the face for Ned, Teja and Max.

You three had better swot up for your next Pieway Code!

It's all sticky. Urgh!

Last to take on today's Superskills Challenge is the Green Team.

They were rubbish at reversing on Day 1,

really bad at braking on Day 2, so how will they get on today?

-Teja's first behind the wheel.

-Are you a bit nervous?

-Yeah.

-Don't be, you just have to go for it,

you've got to get to the end, be confident.

Good advice from mum Jamelia.

Teja needs to be confident and careful on this challenge.

At the moment she's going at a snail's pace.

Oh, here we go, here we go. Oh! She's done amazing!

She judged that perfectly.

She's taking the roundabout with ease too.

You did it with no casualties!

-Yeah.

-Well, I think she's showing some lovely skills,

and she's doing that really nicely.

She's desperate not to be gunged today.

This is where it starts to get tricky.

Can she squeeze past the barrels without knocking over

any precious red cherries?

Look where you're going on the right.

She's really close here.

She's doing a sterling job.

Steer away from it, Teja, away from it, a little bit.

That's it.

Carefully, Teja, on this side. Excellent!

Oh, she's done a fantastic job!

Now it's going to get really bumpy.

The momentum, when she keeps going the momentum's good.

Yes, yes, yes, keep going.

A bit more.

Don't be afraid of it, you're doing really well.

Go on, Teja, give it some, girl!

Oh! Any red ones?

Oh, she lost one of the red cherries,

but let's hope that's the only one she looses as she approaches

the Ramp of Doom.

Now this is where Teja might stumble.

Dummies are trying to guide her on, but she's still not quite straight.

That's it, straighten up now and go.

Go for it, Tej. Don't brake, don't brake.

Good girl.

Well done, Teja!

That was a incredible.

Teja didn't lose one single cherry going over the ramp!

When I was going over it, It felt like I was Harry Potter.

I felt like I was flying the car and it was really good.

The pressure's on now for Jamelia to match Teja's amazing driving skills.

You can't let me beat you.

You can't let me be better than you at driving.

I've been driving for what, three days?

Jamelia's been driving a lot longer than that, but her general lack of

concentration means it often doesn't seem like it.

I think with Jamelia she may lose her concentration,

Joe, that's the problem.

Watch out for that one because it's on the edge a bit.

She's got to get in that bend.

She's got room, she's got room.

She wasn't happy about that angle, so she's taking another shot at it.

This side, yeah.

She's through, and so far hasn't lost any red cherries.

It's around the roundabout before squeezing through the barrels.

Remember, each barrel has two red cherries on top.

You need to move a bit because this is going to rub off.

Slow, nice and slow. Your angle. Don't worry, don't worry about it.

The wing mirrors are pushing against the barrels.

She's past it, but now she's dragging the barrel with her.

This is a struggle for Jamelia.

Do you think I should sacrifice those two?

Em, no. It's up to you.

She's actually pushing the barrel and making the gap wider!

That's one way to get through, I guess!

You're fine on this side. Yeah, and over to the...

She's through that, she's through that lovely, beautiful.

Oh, I need to breathe, I need to breathe.

They both seem relieved it's over.

Keep going, keep going, keep going!

That's it keep going, keep going.

-She's doing well.

-She hasn't lost one cherry so far.

Oh, no, can't see no cherries.

Straighten up a bit, make sure you get as close as possible.

It's all about the Ramp of Doom now,

if they get through this, well, they're in a good position.

-OK, are you ready for this, Tej?

-Are you ready for this?

Jamelia's doing really well so far.

If she concentrates, she might just pull this off.

Come on, come on, and do not brake, do not brake.

There's a big spillage,

but I don't think she's lost too many red cherries!

Usually the words "Jamelia driving and concentration"

are never in the same sentence but on this occasion,

I guess it must be Driving Academy rubbing off on me.

I'm learning something, guys!

That was fantastic, well done.

Teja, come and talk to us. How do you feel?

-I feel really good.

-You feel good?

-Yeah.

Jamelia, did you feel pressure after Teja's good run?

Extreme pressure.

When we were at the barrels, she was like, "Knock them over, Mummy,"

I was like, "No, I can't."

I really, really wanted to do well today.

What a day it's been at Driving Academy.

We've had bumps, we've had scrapes,

but it's not over yet for one of our teams,

as it's time to find out who is facing the Wash of Shame.

I thought you all done an amazing job, but I'm not the one in charge

so I'm going to hand you over to the boss Sandra.

Well, I have the results and in first place with an amazing

67 cherries intact and a superb display of control

and self-control, I can't believe I'm saying this - Rowland and Ned.

-Well done, Ned.

-Well done.

In second place with 60 cherries intact -

Teja and Jamelia.

Well done, ladies.

In third place with a very commendable 39 cherries -

Debra and Max.

Oh, unlucky. Unlucky, Max.

I'm going to enjoy this.

While Max and Debra prepare for their Wash of Shame,

let's see how today's results affect the overall leaderboard at

the end of Day 3.

The Orange and Blues

are both in joint first place with seven points each,

but still at the bottom are the Greens with just four.

Coming up on the next Celebrity Driving Academy,

our rookies get trained in dealing with hazards for

the Superskills skid pan contest.

Mr C is in trouble with Sandra again

and someone gets a face full of custard in the Pieway Code.

Debra and Max are about to face the Wash of Shame,

but who'll be getting there tomorrow?

You'll have to tune in to find out!