Renaldo and Zahra Barely Legal Drivers

Britain's young drivers are some of the most dangerous in Europe.

One in ten will be in a crash causing death or serious injury.

-Oh!

-Last series 12 new drivers were let loose on the road.

-Oh, my God!

And millions of us got an instant refresher in road sense.

SHE SCREAMS

Move, mate!

Now we're back, with 12 more newbies.

-Right!

-I can't. Those signs are saying you can't go right.

-So, buckle up.

-Bloody hell!

Because each week, two new drivers

are taking off in a family car.

Oh! Oh, that were close!

And they don't know it,

but they'll be secretly watched by their parents.

Each rookie roadster will make three trips

testing every aspect of their driving.

The cars are fitted with state-of-the-art cameras,

and a telemetry recorder hidden in the boot, to track their every move.

At the end of it all, former traffic cop Judith Roberts

and top driving instructor John Lepine

-will scrutinise their skills.

-No!

I do despair, I really do.

-And finally, if Judith doesn't like what she sees...

-Oh...

-Oh my...

-She'll be dishing out lessons to target bad habits.

But if the driving's good, she'll give their parents the cash

to buy them a car of their very own.

Tonight, two students who want to break free

from their meddling mummies.

She rang three times!

Renaldo's mum is a strict Christian,

but will her boy keep the faith and avoid temptation at uni?

I party the hardest, I will party the hardest. You'll see it.

And it's a double bind for Zahra, cos it's not just her mum,

it's her twin too. But can she hack it going solo?

-I think we're going the wrong way.

-Ah...?

Can these two cut the apron strings

and show they have the nous to win a car?

-Oh!

-Or will top cop Judith have them back on the practice track?

-That was horrendous!

-And how will their interfering mums

deal with their kids behind the wheel?

-Oh, no!

-Oh, my God. He swore.

Brace yourselves. It's Barely Legal Drivers.

This cheeky Dr Martins lover is 20-year-old media student Zahra,

who dreams of being the next Nick Grimshaw.

I would actually like to do a flagship show,

so, like, the breakfast show.

Zahra and her twin Farah are Leicester's answer to the Olsens.

We have like the same group of friends.

We do the same course.

We've shared the same room since we were really young.

-She snores.

-I don't snore!

-And then it wakes me up.

Since they were young,

Zahra's always been the one who worries more.

-I don't know who's who.

-That's probably you.

I remember you were crying a lot.

'I'm a bit of a stress head. I worry about the silliest stuff.

'I'll have my sister there supporting me'

and telling me to chill and calm down.

You always used to come to me, I remember,

and I'd always try and look after you.

It's not only Farah who's looking out for Zahra.

Let me have a look at you properly. Oh, that's a bit short.

Their single mum, Rookie, also likes to keep a protective eye

on her ambitious fledgling.

Oh, my mum's calling me. Hello.

I call them about four or five times a day.

-Hi, Mum!

-And I'll ask them every day, maybe the same question.

-'Have you had your breakfast?'

-Yeah.

I think in her eyes we're still about eight.

They keep on reminding me they're 20.

But I still treat them like babies.

-But Rookie's

-babies

are soon going to finish university and go their separate ways.

And Zahra will need to learn to manage without Farah.

Yeah, I think at the beginning it will be very, very, very hard.

But I think gradually, as time goes on, we'll find it easier.

'I try not to think about that they're going to leave home

'because I get very upset.'

I just don't want them to leave.

Mum knows she has to let them go,

and one of the first steps to independence is driving.

But Zahra is no natural born queen of the road.

It took Zahra six attempts to pass her test.

OK. The average number of attempts is 2.1.

Sometimes I think, "Oh, my God, will she concentrate on the road?"

You know, is she going to be safe in that car?

And snooping Rookie is taking full advantage of the cameras.

Oh, there is so much I want to see, you know?

Because Zahra can keep so many secrets,

and I just can't wait to see everything what my daughter is like.

You'd never guess from his moves, but 18-year-old Renaldo

wants to be an accountant.

Fresher's week was amazing. The best two weeks of my life.

The partying, the people. Everything was just brilliant.

Renaldo might have moved three hours away from his mum,

but he's still a little under the thumb.

-I'm still the boss. I still check up on him.

-Hi, Mum.

She calls me every day, texts me every day.

-She wants to Skype me all the time.

-Hi.

-Hi, Mum.

I want to know what he had for breakfast,

what he had for lunch...

-'..and is your room clean?'

-Argh. Mum...

Mummy's always in charge of Renaldo. Even until he's 100.

Luckily his mates know nothing about Renaldo and his mum...

Kisses.

It's just weird to see. I don't behave like that with my mum.

This one is so sweet.

But maybe there's a reason that Nadine is super protective.

Two years ago Renaldo was diagnosed with lupus,

a potentially fatal disease that put him in hospital

for a very tense three months.

My mum... Oh, God.

My mum, she's very religious, so she helped me through it with faith

and getting me to read my Bible

and telling me everything is going to be OK.

He used to cry, I used to cry.

And he used to wonder why that had happened to him.

But I told him that God would heal him, which God did.

Renaldo's now back to full health

but takes good care of himself to stop the lupus from returning,

and he's enjoying life to the full.

Yeah, I definitely feel stronger now.

I feel like being through that I can conquer anything.

Thank you, almighty God. We know that your words, they are true...

But Renaldo's seize the day attitude is a concern for Nadine

and stepdad Otis, who are both pastors in the local church.

..Amen.

Every Sunday she calls my phone in the morning

to make sure I get up to go to church.

I've heard of stories where Christians go to university...

Yes, they do change.

We're praying and we're asking God to help us with Renaldo

-so that he will not go that way.

-Cheers, guys.

But sometimes Renaldo likes another kind of spirit.

That is so nice. 'I wouldn't say I'm a 100% good Christian.'

But the good thing about Christianity is that we believe in

forgiveness, so once you do something really silly or really stupid,

you can always go back to God and be like "God, please forgive me."

Really? Is that a bit in the Bible I missed?

Renaldo's hardly driven since passing his test a year ago,

and Nadine wants to check he's not too rusty.

We'll definitely be praying that God will guide him,

that while he's driving there'll be an angel with him in the car.

And, in for a penny...

This is a chance to really see

what is happening when I'm not Skyping and when I'm not phoning.

When Mummy's not watching, when he thinks Mummy's not watching.

-Have you tried this?

-I'm still eating this.

Over a chicken bhuna, Zahra drops a bombshell

that'll rock and shock mum Rookie.

I was thinking of, you know, doing some work experience next year.

But, like in Manchester, because that's somewhere I want to work.

-Like when I finish uni.

-So how long will you be gone away?

Ah, will you miss me?

-Yeah, I would be worried.

-It would probably be two weeks, or a week.

So are you taking Farah with you?

You're making your own way?

-Yeah.

-Farah, don't you want to go with her?

She'll be fine.

-Because I'm quite worried, you know?

-Why are you stressing?

-I am stressed, Zahra.

-It's not even happened yet. Chill!

It's not like you've been somewhere on your own for a week, is it?

Rookie's not keen, but she knows her girl has to fly the nest sometime.

So, despite feeling super anxious, decides to help her daughter

-find her dream gig.

-Where is it exactly you're thinking of going?

-Manchester and Birmingham.

-You might as well use the car

which will be easier for you to get around places and that.

Ah, that's so good. Yay!

As long as you promise me that you're going to be very careful.

-Yeah, I will.

-All right, here's the keys.

-Thank you!

But that key comes at a cost.

Rookie's access to the in-car cameras.

Renaldo's heading back to London,

-cos he's not only missing his mum...

-Hello!

..he's missing a bit of stepdad Otis' home cooking too.

-What you making for dinner?

-Mackerel rundown.

Dumpling and Irish potato. Dumpling, dumpling, dumpling.

-Jamaican food.

-Yeah.

This is the famous mackerel rundown.

So how's university?

-It's all right.

-What about church?

-Yeah, I've been going church.

-Have you been reading your Bible?

-No.

-I know.

Praying is good, but reading the Bible is also good.

Despite dodging the good book, Nadine's showing forgiveness,

and giving her son a surprise.

I'm going to be lending you the car for a week

as it's been almost a year since you haven't driven

and I want you to get some practice.

-I want you to drive carefully.

-I will. Should be fun though.

I've been waiting for this for ages. OTIS LAUGHS

Thank God. You see how God is good? Opening a door.

Big day, big hair. Zahra's off into town shopping for interview clothes.

-MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-But not before a certain someone's on the blower.

-Hey, Mum.

Yeah, I couldn't hear it.

-PHONE, ON LOUDSPEAKER:

-'Just be careful, all right?'

-Yeah.

-'I am really, really worried about you.'

Yeah, chill. I'll be fine.

Unsurprisingly, she's not going solo.

Does Zahra look a little anxious?

-I haven't drove in ages.

-I think it will go well.

-Let's hope I don't kill no-one.

-Ah, don't say that.

It's a nippy eight mile drive across the city,

and Zahra's not nervous at all,

not one bit... Really, she's fine.

-Oh, my God.

-Don't stall!

-Oh, my God. I stalled.

-Oh, my God!

-Why do you keep stalling?

I don't know! It's in the wrong gear.

Now the car's not moving.

What stops a car from moving?

-Oh, it's because I'm not putting the handbrake down.

-The brake!

Oh, my God! THEY LAUGH

-Oh, my God.

-When she needs to go, she stops.

-Oh, my God.

I can't do this, I really can't.

And when she needs to stop, she goes.

ENGINE GROANS

Engine sounds unhappy....

Oh, my God. I don't know which lane I'm in.

Where do buses drive? Oh, yeah, the bus lane.

Where do I need to go? Do I need to get into the left-hand lane?

-Can I just stay here? Where do I need to go?

-Continue where you are.

Change gear!

Argh, you're not helping me!

-Ooh, that was the curb.

-Where are we going?

To hospital. No, really. They're driving through a hospital.

Yeah, you're dropping my phone. I've just got a new phone.

-And they're about to send that man to casualty.

-Oh, my God.

-Yeah,

-BLEEP

-walk properly.

-Yeah, that was totally his fault,

not the girl driving in the ambulance only lane...

-BLEEP

-Calm down.

-That guy nearly got hit.

-Stop!

-Oh, my God. THEY LAUGH

Is she parking, or crashing?

-You said go back!

-Yeah, it's all Farah's fault...

Is Zahra confusing herself with her own twin sister?

That's it. Stop.

That was one of the most horriblest journeys I have ever had.

-Now something they

-can

-hit. The shops!

Do you want to help me look for an outfit in case I get an interview?

-Yeah, there's some nice stuff.

-That's a nice dress.

I don't know. I wouldn't wear that though.

-Do you like this shirt?

-Makes you look professional and formal.

But still stylish.

-MOBILE PHONE RINGS

-Wonder who that could be...?

We're shopping, clothes shopping.

'Is Zahra all right?'

-Yeah, Mum, I'm fine.

-'Are you sure?'

-Yes!

-'You're not tired?'

-I'm fine.

'You're going to hit the traffic.'

-Yeah, I know.

-'You just be very, very careful, all right?'

-Yeah.

I think it would like benefit her

if she like stressed and worried less about us.

I think maybe I've like caught her worry gene, because I worry a lot,

and stress out a lot as well over like silly things.

-Yeah, I strongly agree.

-And I let them get to me.

If they really want something to worry about,

Rookie and her mate Annie

are about to watch the day's events.

-Shall we start?

-I'm excited.

-OK.

-I stalled.

-Oh, no.

Oh, it's because I've not put the handbrake down.

-Oh, my God!

-Oh, dear. No!

-Oh, my God, look. She's just put her foot down.

-Where do I need to go?

Do I need to get into the left-hand lane?

She's asking her sister "Which lane, which lane?"

-Where do I need to go?

-She does that all the time.

And that's my big worry, you see. That if she just has to go away

and work somewhere else,

I don't know how she'll do it without Farah.

Oh, no... Oh, no!

There was a zebra crossing there. She didn't stop.

-ON PHONE:

-'You're going to hit the traffic.'

-Mum stressing again.

-I was stressing.

-I tend to worry so much.

-I've like caught her worry gene.

I don't want to stress her. She's exactly the same

-so actually it's rubbing off on her.

-Yeah.

-Which isn't good.

-Yeah.

I want her to be confident and that, you know?

-And not be not even relying on Farah.

-Yeah.

Renaldo's hitting the road with his mate Ola,

and it'll be his first proper drive in a year.

But Ola's not worried...much.

-Just pray, innit.

-I'm not dying today.

The boys are off to Coventry along the M1 and M69, and it'll be

the first time Renaldo's ever driven on the motorway.

This'll be a real test for road rusty Ren.

-Right, first rule of the road, how fast?

-Speed limit is 30, boy.

Why are they going so fast? Oh, it's a dual carriageway. Shit, it's 40.

-BLEEP

-Yep. 40 it is.

Now, how fast on the motorway?

What speed do I need to be going?

I don't know the speed limit!

It goes...built-up area, 30.

60, single carriageway.

And motorway, which is where you are now, 70.

I'm staying in this left lane, boy.

Good idea. But what do you do when the motorway goes to four lanes?

Whoa. I'm no longer in the left lane. So, boy I'm...

There's someone on your side, look. Look at your side.

Is somewhere there now? There's no-one there now, is there?

-There's literally someone right there.

-Next to me? I can't see them.

No, you're going in front, so go, go, go. Do it, do it, do it.

He doesn't know his lanes or his limits. What about his lights?

-I'm going through, boy.

-No, not them either. Nearly shot a red.

Is Ola asleep, or has he fainted?

-Whoa! Shit.

-He swerved a bird!

-Did you see that?

Green, go... Go...

They've got there. Now all's that's left is bay parking.

Oooooh. That was impossibly close.

Told you I can't park.

-RENALDO SCREECHES

-Oops. And that was the wing mirror.

-Just drive forwards.

-Don't hit the camera woman.

-Otherwise this show's over.

-That's the worst parking ever.

I clipped someone's wing mirror by accident because

-I've never bay parked in my life.

-Now he tells us.

Hmmm. A sketchy grasp of the highway code

and the traffic light system, but he did manage to avoid the bird

on a dual carriageway. I hope Ren's dress sense is better

than his road sense.

Oh, this is nice. Do they have this in my size though?

Extra large. I'm not extra large.

-I'm a small or extra small.

-He might be a small now,

But Renaldo was much bigger

when he was recovering from his illness 18 months ago.

When I came out of the hospital I was... Was I fourteen stone?

-Fourteen.

-Yeah, something like that.

And now I'm 11 stone 11. So I've lost three stone.

My face has gone down, thank God.

Remember, even when I was walking down the road

and I was like to you, "I look chubby"

or I was like "I really don't want to go."

You came out, you were acting exactly the same.

And we were saying, if that was us,

I don't think I would have the confidence to come out at all.

I feel like it did make me appreciate life more.

Obviously, cos I nearly died.

It was traumatising, but I just want to have fun now to be honest.

Enjoy life.

Do whatever I need to do to make sure I get the most out of life.

Nadine was a big support when Renaldo was ill.

But she doesn't know everything her son gets up to these days.

Well, not until she settles down with Otis

for the Ola and Renaldo show.

I'm not dying today. Why are they going so fast?

-Oh, it's a dual carriageway. Shit, it's 40.

-BLEEP

He said it. Oh, my God. He swore.

They're both bad.

There's someone on your side.

-He's panicking a bit, but at least he's using his mirrors.

-Shit!

He's not an experienced driver,

but he displayed a level of maturity there.

He shouldn't have even stopped there in the box.

The green light was there telling him to go.

It's not too bad for somebody who hasn't driven for almost a year.

-But the problem is the swear words.

-Yeah, that's my problem.

The driving is all right, because driving can improve.

The more you do it the better you'll be.

She might be less concerned about the swearing

if she knew what the boys had planned for tonight.

-They're getting ready for a rave.

-This should be good, like.

I've been waiting for this. Everybody's going as well.

To get in, they need special T-shirts,

with "cheeky missions" printed on the back.

The mission tonight is to have five shots at each venue,

-which is really easy.

-Should be able to do that.

Ten new numbers, which I'm going to try.

Obviously I don't even need to try, it'll happen.

Take a cleavage shot...

-And then secure a deadly smooch.

-Probably. Most likely.

And then don't go home alone.

I party the hardest, I will party the hardest. You'll see it.

I'll party the hardest, OK?

CHEERING

When the guys get to the venue, it's rammed.

There are huge queues and a hyped up crowd.

-Not a recipe for a great night.

-Everyone's just rowdy. Drunk.

Crazy as hell.

It's all kicking off.

-This is too...

-This is way too much.

-This is way to go.

-This is not our scene at all.

-We're not ghetto kids.

POLICE SIREN

It's the sound of the police.

There are massive dogs everywhere. I just want to go home.

-They've blocked it off.

-They've locked it off?

-Ah, no party.

-This is embarrassing.

-This is so embarrassing.

People are going to get so angry, you know.

They're going to get rowdy now and I feel really unsafe,

so I want to go like now. I want to go now, now, now.

Ola, can you see it's about to get rowdy? I'm going.

Even if you guys aren't coming, I'm going.

I'm going now.

It was a crazy night. Didn't expect it to turn out that way.

Because of my illness I'm not allowed to get too stressed.

The whole situation tonight was causing me to get a bit stressed out

so I decided to walk out and just leave it for my well-being.

It's time for trip number two for Zahra,

but there's a twist. No twin sis.

I do feel like it's going to be a little bit weird

because I'm used to my sister being with me.

But I think it will... It will be nice to have a friend there instead.

Mate Marsha is in the passenger seat.

The girls are heading to Birmingham

so Zahra can do an interview for her show reel.

But they're dodging the motorways and sticking to the slower

-A and B roads.

-ENGINE GROANS

Ooh, strainy.

At least this time she's not stalled...

That poor engine!

Ahhh...

Shit!

-Spoke too soon...

-Oh, my gosh.

-Engine knocking, car stopping.

Stalling in the middle of a fast road is properly scary.

-Ah

-BLEEP!

-It's fine, it's fine.

CAR HORN

I'm causing so much problems.

BLEEP

Sorry. I just panicked a little bit. I'm sure you could tell.

Zahra's shaken up and behind schedule.

But she cannot afford to miss and muck up this interview.

We're running a bit late, so I was wondering

if we could still see you, but just before 12, if that's OK?

In a hurry, she puts her foot down and breaks the speed limit...

..and doesn't slow down for a humpback bridge on a blind corner.

She then shoots through some traffic lights on a late amber.

-It's getting stressful. Nowhere to park.

-Argh!

She dumps the motor and Marsha in a pub car park

and legs it to the interview. Zahra's over an hour late.

It should be a 10-minute walk,

but she doesn't know where she's going.

-I think we're going the wrong way.

-And there's no mate or twin

to bail her out, just a slightly patronising sat nav.

-SAT NAV:

-Head north-east on Church Road.

-Is that Church Road?

-Proceed to the route.

-I am! I'm so late.

-This is ridiculous.

-It's not long before she finds someone to help

-- in this case, her interviewee.

-I'm so sorry about this. I'm a bit lost.

In front of me there's a place called Equip Point

and it's like a big building with loads of windows.

Ah, OK. Yeah, I think I am going the right way.

OK, bye.

Two hours later, interview over, and Marsha and Zahra

-are reunited at the pub.

-Oh, my God, Marsha, it was a nightmare.

-Why?

If this was my job I would have got sacked.

-Because I was so late.

-What have you learnt from it?

Think ahead. Plan ahead, like especially when I'm coming to a city

I don't know.

And thinking, "Oh, yeah, I'll just find parking there,"

as if it's nothing.

I'd like to be able to rely on myself as well.

Because I feel like I'm the kind of person who likes to be told

what to do, and then I'll do it rather than just doing it sometimes.

Then when it's things like this, out of my comfort zone and stuff,

-I hate being on my own.

-Somewhere so unfamiliar?

-Yeah.

-I think you've managed though.

-You should be proud of yourself

You're not helping the team.

Back in Leicester, Zahra's out without the car

and can relax.

I'm really good on this!

She's with her sister

and a bunch of mates at a friend's university common room.

And Zahra's phone's being bombarded as usual.

I'm just ringing my mum. She's proper stressed.

She rang me three times.

Hi, Mum. Sorry I missed your calls. My phone was in my purse.

Yeah, yeah, we're fine. Are you OK?

We're going to go to a club so I won't ring you, OK?

Don't worry, OK? Let's go.

-Our taxi is outside.

-Get ready Leicester,

it's the media studies massive.

It's amazing what a couple of Bacardi Breezers

-can do for your confidence.

-What do you study?

-Media production.

-We are actually twins.

-No!

-Yes!

-Careful Zahra, this is only going to encourage them.

As two of them, yeah they do have some sort of sex appeal.

As a two, it's better than one.

I can see the attraction for guys.

Another drink, another dance, but this lad's got no chance.

We were not interested in any of the guys.

We're just here to have a good time, that's all.

Yeah, we're not here to, like, get laid.

-Yeah.

-What the hell?! No, no.

I want to meet a guy in the supermarket.

Meeting a guy in a club isn't romantic, d'you get what I mean?

I want to meet a guy, I don't know, when they're, like, not drunk

so they actually fall for me.

Yeah, Aldi's well romantic, isn't it(?)

Time for Rookie and Annie to look back at the Birmingham road trip.

CAR REVS

Oh. Oh, God.

Oh, shit!

Oh, my God.

Keep calm.

-Ah,

-BLEEP.

-It's fine, it's fine.

Stop panicking, Zahra. She's panicking now.

Look, she's driving so fast there, on the bend.

On that bend, yes.

-Stop... Stop.

-Ooh.

She would have had enough time to stop.

She was far better than the first time.

-Definitely.

-I just feel that she keeps forgetting

to change the gears.

She rang me three times!

I know she was out with her friends.

I know, but you rang her three times.

Yeah, but I just want to know that she's all right.

-I know, I know.

-And she's there... That's all.

Not that I don't trust her.

But, yeah, I know what you're saying.

I will have to change.

Wait, is Rookie starting to let go?

We were not interested in any of the guys.

We're just here to have a good time.

Good for you. I'm well impressed with her, do you know that?

-Now are you worried?

-No.

-I feel really, really good.

-I'm glad you do.

-And I'm glad I watched it.

Will Zahra get a car?

That's down to former top traffic cop Judith Roberts.

And the Simon Cowell of the Highway Code, John Lepine MBE.

-Don't stall.

-Oh, my God. I stalled.

Oh, it's cos I've not put the handbrake down.

-It's not a good start.

-Not a good start at all!

You should have stayed...

'What is she doing?'

Left lane is for Ambulances only.

I saw my phone... Oh, my Gosh!

-Oh,

-BLEEP!

Walk properly!

She was looking at her sister's phone.

Well, if she runs someone over,

it's the best place to do it. Let's face it.

GEARS GRIND

Crikes!

She does take off like a bull out of a gate, doesn't she?

Yeah, because she doesn't want to stall it.

Oh, shit!

Well, the positioning's bad, the anticipation's bad,

the gear selection's bad.

Crikey! Look at that - she's breaking on the exit

because she's gone in too fast.

I think she's got time to stop.

-She has.

-Ample time.

You see, here, they're still on amber

-and she's crossing the stop line.

-Yeah.

So she's not committed any offence.

-The chap on her right-hand side commits the offence.

-There you go.

-That's outrageous.

-Get his number!

-Oh, I would...

Send him a ticket, Judith. Don't hesitate.

Vroom, vrooom! That poor little car.

But she doesn't seem to have any concept of good clutch control.

Poor old first gear is having a real bashing.

She's not looking ahead, she's not planning...

she's not taking control.

So I'm really, really hoping that in journey three

she suddenly wakes up and thinks, "I can do this."

CAR HORNS BLARE

It's Sunday Morning -

church time for Renaldo.

At least that's what his mum thinks.

But he's decided to have lunch with friends instead.

Probably not going.

I will go next week.

I'm just a bit upset because my mum's disappointed

because I didn't go to church

and I don't really like to disappoint her so...

I would like to have a normal university life.

I just feel like, as a teenager, I'm at that age

where I can explore things and try things,

and then see where that takes me.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-You all right, bro?

-Hi.

Here come the boys.

-Sorry!

-I thought we might go to Birmingham and have some lunch.

Hopefully something, like...snazzy.

-Snazzy.

-What's snazzy?

Like, kind of posh-ish.

That's a word.

-How is the word gay?

-Spell snazzy.

-SA...

-Oh!

S-N... S-N-A-ZI-E.

Get out. That's not how you spell it.

Renaldo's taking his mates to Birmingham,

which is just over 40 miles.

Hopefully Ola's route will be snazz-tastic.

That's a nice overtake of the cyclist.

But he relaxes into only one hand on the wheel,

and starts to swerve into the grass verge.

Second time on the motorway and he's even brave enough to overtake.

I'm getting comfortable, you know, in the car.

The driving's OK, but the directions are lousy.

No, no, no, no. Left, left, left.

-Don't.

-What's wrong with you?

The phone was freezing - it wasn't me!

As Nadine would say - "Lord have mercy."

Oh, my days.

Stop.

Stop!

This boy's an amber gambler.

Ooh, ooh, too late!

Oh, lucky!

Is it recalculating or are we going the right way?

Eyes on the road, Renaldo - you're swerving!

-Whoa!

-Oh, the curb! Inches from the tunnel wall.

Oh, God.

It's because I was looking at the phone.

Worst drive yet.

Late lane changes, collisions, not paying attention -

that was risking a lot for a snazzy lunch.

The boys grab a booth and get round to talking girls.

This girl keeps hollering me, you know, she wants to get back with me,

but I wasn't really with her in the first place.

Can I ask you guys something?

I wanted to know your views on, like, sex before marriage?

As a Christian, I believe that

you shouldn't have sex until you're married.

I agree with Topes.

It's hard these days, with, like, temptations and girls and stuff.

There's temptation everywhere. It's up to you.

Willing to what?

Oh, my days!

What's wrong with you?

My dad's told me what he expects.

If I bring home a pregnant girl it's over for me.

-Same.

-If I brought home a pregnant girl I wouldn't be alive.

But it's kind of hard to, like, deal with that.

Cos I feel like I'm not strong enough yet,

like, if temptation were to come. I'm not strong enough to resist it.

While the boys talk about sex, ba-by,

the pastors are ready to review drive number two.

Ah, that's very good overtaking.

-Left, left, left, left.

-Oh, no, what's wrong with you?

-Ooh.

-That wasn't good.

-No.

And that was yellow. But he should have stopped.

Left, left. OK.

-'Ooh.'

-'That, again, was a close one.'

-Yeah.

-Did you see that?

-Doesn't look like it's recalculating.

-Whoa!

-Shit.

-He wasn't looking.

-Yeah, he wasn't looking.

He was looking at the navigator and God himself was there with him,

so because of that he was kept safe.

Nothing else. Not the driving kept him safe, not his friends -

nobody but God himself.

And what about her boy's sense of moral direction?

If I brought home a pregnant girl I wouldn't be alive, so...

He knows me so well.

I don't think he would be alive. Not the girl.

Not the child.

Sitting in judgment are our Solomons of driving,

Judith and John.

Will they praise or smite his first two drives?

-What speed do I need to be going at?

-That's rather worrying.

What speed should I be going at?

I'm going through, boy.

Technically, amber means stop if it's safe to do so.

There was clearly time to stop there, wasn't there?

Oh!

That was all a bit heart-stopping, wasn't it?

-That's brave.

-I'm getting comfortable, you know.

One hand on the top and one hand on his knee.

-No, no, no! Left, left, left, left!

-What's, wrong with you?

-Oh!

-Crikey!

That was horrendous!

Do you know, I once went to a car on its roof

because they'd clipped that concrete, and it was fatal.

Left, left.

That was such a late exit

that the car following Renaldo couldn't do it.

Is it recalculating, or are we on the right road?

He's looking down - he's driving and he's looking down.

-Whoa!

-Shit!

Oh. There you are - you see?

Never, ever, ever take your eyes off the road.

-They are a lucky, lucky group of lads.

-Yeah.

I mean, really, from here...

unless he makes a huge improvement in his third journey,

erm...

it's back to driving school for Renaldo, I think.

Yeah, I think you're right.

Renaldo's going to need that angel in the car

if he's going to drive well enough to get his own motor.

It's all coming together.

Zahra's got an interview for a work placement in Manchester

and, unbelievably, she's doing a bit of forward planning.

I'm just looking at some, like, maps.

Not my strongest point. I don't want to get lost.

I don't have time to get lost!

Just to make doubly sure all goes to plan

twin sis Farah is riding shotgun.

Again, she's thinking ahead -

driving to Nottingham, then a train to Manchester - smart.

But she could still hit a ton of rush-hour traffic

and miss her connection.

I don't want to risk it, you know, because I stall sometimes.

Smooth!

-SATNAV:

-'Turn left on to A46.'

Signal.

And she's indicating why?

Engine still sounds like a wasp on helium.

Is it here?

It is.

Oh! Nearly a little car-on-car action.

-Which lane are you going in?

-This one.

Unbelievably, she's never parked in a multi-storey before.

This'll be fun(!)

-Oh, my God.

-BLEEP!

Stalled on a ramp. Hill-start time.

ENGINE REVS You can do it.

Quickly turn.

A near miss and ramp issues,

but on the whole it looked like a better drive from Zahra.

Stop. Stop!

But will it be enough to bag her a car?

In Manchester the twins split up.

Bye!

Farah goes shopping and Zahra starts dreaming.

Manchester's, like, a really big city and stuff.

I love it. I can see myself living here.

Like, there's so much to do and, like, see.

I'd love it if I did get the work experience here,

it would be so much fun.

My mum messaged me and I have a missed call from her.

She's just saying, like,

"Hi, hope you're both OK and you got there safely."

If I live here for a week my mum will be ringing me all the time!

And if I don't answer she will be panicking.

She's nervous, but on time - progress!

Hi, are you Jason?

So, I believe you've brought a package in?

Yeah, yesterday I went to do, like, an interview with a fashion designer.

-You can have a listen to it.

-Brilliant, I'll have a listen.

I just want to get loads of experience and try, like, new things,

and I just love talking!

RECORDING: 'Yeah, it sounds really interesting.

'Yeah, I agree, that is really good. Yeah, I really like that. Yeah.'

That sounds really good, you've got some good questions there.

She's answering it really well.

Have you noticed you keep saying, "Yeah, yeah"?

The thing to do in radio is just nod.

Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah...

-Oh, I was just doing it now.

Yeah... Yeah... Yeah.

Time for a brew and chat with her sis.

I hope they, like, get back to me and stuff

because it was, like, really nice.

-PHONE RINGS

-Yeah. Erm, hold on.

Someone's calling me.

Guess who?

Hello.

Hi, yes, it is.

(It's the guy.)

Yes, it's Zahra...

Oh, it's not Rookie - it's Radio Jason.

Oh, thank you so much!

Oh, my gosh.

Oh, you've made my week.

-I got it.

-Now I see why you're so happy?

-Proper happy.

I'm happy for you.

-I can't wait. I'm well excited.

-Imagine how Mum's going to feel.

-She's going to be so stressed.

-I know.

I want our mum to realise that I can like manage on my own, and stuff,

and I don't need her, like, constantly having to ring me,

asking me if I'm OK and stuff and she'll, like...

-I don't know, like, trust me and I'll be OK.

-Yeah.

Renaldo and Ola are off for a night out in Nottingham.

And it's not girls they're after, but guidance.

They're going via Leicester, to pick up mate Tope.

It's a long drive in the dark,

something Ren's not done before.

This truck is swerving. What's wrong with him?

Let me keep my distance. Let me slow down... Actually, no...

Don't diss the truck,

when YOU cut lanes and don't indicate.

Tope's on board and starts messing about.

Stop it. I'm driving.

Argh!! Argh!!

-Good.

-He's an animal.

-Bite him.

The wrath of Renaldo. Fierce.

He's picked a bus lane that's OK

for left turns only, which would have been OK

-if he'd turned left.

-I'm driving in a bus lane.

-You should have gone into there.

-Correct!

Renaldo needs to turn around...fast.

Oh, no, he's picked the traffic lights

-with the no U-turn sign to do it.

-Is that not the roundabout?

-Oh, my God!

-Ha-ha-ha!

It wasn't a perfect drive in, but it was probably his best so far,

but will it be enough to swing Judge Judith?

I think this is the place.

Renaldo's looking for some advice on being a teen and being religious.

Hi, there. John.

John, I'm Ola, nice to meet you. He's come to meet John Bentham,

a university chaplain, who happens to be a trustee for a pub.

So, actually coming away from university, there must be a question

in your mind, "Do I find a church and do I got with it?"

-My mum made sure I found a church.

-Did she?

-She made sure.

But I feel you don't need to go to church every Sunday

and that's the problem me and my mum have, cos she feels I have to go.

Being at uni now, I have the choice, I make the decision whether

I want to go or not. No-one calls me and tells me, "You have to go."

I make decisions.

She can't come and force me into a cab and take me to church.

So, obviously, I feel like I want to go, because I have respect

for God and want to go to get closer to Him.

That's the best reason - to go for God and not for your mum, actually.

You guys are 18, 19, whatever.

You've got to make those decisions for yourself.

And some of those decisions might not be what your parents want.

Yeah, that's good. That's answered my question.

Renaldo's secret driving test is over and Judith's on her way

to his parents' place, for some righteous judgment.

Journey three will be interesting.

I'm hoping that Renaldo starts concentrating - looking ahead,

holding the steering wheel properly, and driving like he should be.

Judith is secretly meeting Nadine and Otis.

-Hi, you must be Otis?

-Good evening.

-Judith.

First, they settle down to watch his third journey.

Stop it. I'm driving. Argh!

That was really good, because he is in charge of the vehicle,

so, therefore, it's down to him to say, "Stop messing about."

Is this the roundabout?

Renaldo must have missed the no U-turn sign at those traffic lights.

What he should have done there is turned right and then found

-somewhere to turn around.

-And come back that way.

-And turn left.

Ren's on his way home. He's got no idea about Judith.

Is he going to be the Prodigal Son

or a lamb to the slaughter?

-Ahhhh!

-I set it all!

-Hello.

-Are you all right?

-Yes.

They told you it was about you and your friends. Well, it's not.

It's about your driving.

And this is Judith, she's a retired police...

-We have been watching you.

-We have been looking!

Yes, we have been looking!

We've seen what you're up to.

I knew there was something going on.

Before the road review, Judith lays down the rules.

It's my job to have a look at your driving

and decide whether or not I think you're safe to have your own car.

If I don't think you're safe,

the other option is then to have some one-to-one driving tuitions.

-OK.

-OK?

-Not tense(!)

No, not tense at all. They're going to need a bigger sofa.

I'm going through, boy.

-Amber means...

-Slow down?

-..stop...

-Oh.

..if it's safe to do so.

That was a nice overtake.

-This I didn't like.

-Ola, what's wrong with you?

You've gone over two solid white lines and the cross hatchings.

I was worried that if I went straight on, I would have gone

-in a completely different place.

-Doesn't matter.

You've got to think of safety. What are you doing there?

Looking at the navigator.

-BANGING

-Whoa!

-Shit!

-Yeah, that was bad.

-It was really, really bad.

You could have been a cannon in a tunnel there.

-That scared me a lot.

-Yeah.

Time to spring one last surprise on the R-Man.

In the vehicle is a telemetry box.

Whilst you were on camera on your three journeys,

-you were absolutely spot on.

-Oh, OK.

But when you were coming back in the early hours of Thursday morning

you were recorded in the telemetry box at doing 82.5mph.

And that was for quite a while.

-That would be three points...

-OK.

-..straightaway.

Forget the driving for a sec. What about that chaplain chat?

I feel like you don't need to go to church every Sunday.

You DO need to go to church every Sunday, Mister.

Sometimes, if I don't want to go, I'll still be forced to go.

-It's not forcing. I want you to go.

-No, but if I came to you

on Sunday and said I didn't want to go, you'd be, like,

"No, you're going." That's force.

I want you to make that decision now, because I'm not there

to make the RIGHT decision to go to church.

Yeah, but you know if I didn't want to go to church, I wouldn't go.

That went well(!)

Can't wait to see what Nadine makes of this next bit.

I feel really unsafe, so I want to go right now.

I'm going now.

That's a very good decision.

-I'm very pleased.

-I felt very, very, very, very, very proud of you.

-Yeah, me, too.

-Really proud.

-Yeah.

You can make the right decisions at the right time.

-Make us proud.

-Very good.

So, Renaldo what I'm going to do is ask you to go outside,

so I can have a chat to Mum and Dad.

I'm shaking.

Oh, my God. If I got my own car, I would cry. I would actually cry.

I think he has done well. He has made some mistakes,

but I think there are more positives than negatives.

Ren's straight onto Ola about the stitch-up.

What they were doing is testing my driving skills.

If they feel like I'm a good driver, they give me a car.

'You're joking!'

HE LAUGHS

I would love him to get the car. He's the type of person that is

a fast learner and the mistakes that you pointed out to him,

he was humble enough to accept them.

-OK, Renaldo, obviously, I've watched all three of your journeys.

-Yes.

I must say, you have the potential to be a very good driver, OK?

-My main concern is your planning and your looking ahead.

-OK.

There's lots and lots of things that you missed.

Taking everything on board...

..I think you would benefit from one-to-one driving lessons.

-OK.

-I know it's not what you want to hear, but I think,

at the moment, you're not just quite there yet.

I don't think I did too badly, but it's your decision.

I can't force you to give me the car...

I disagree with that and I think you're quite unfair.

I've nothing more to say. Thank you. You've made your decision,

-That's it. Thank you.

-If I was to give a car now

and you were to have a bad accident, that would be on my shoulders,

cos I think there were several occasions when you would have got

three points and, every drive, you would have failed a test.

'Maybe I would have got the car and got into an accident, so I think'

that I could be a really good driver.

I just need to avoid doing some silly things.

Guess where Judith's going now?

Yes, Leicester, to surprise slightly-ditzy twin, Zahra.

I want to see, in journey three,

Zahra really settle down behind the wheel.

I want to see her more in control of the vehicle and not relying on

her passenger to tell her what to do and where to go,

but to actually take that decision herself.

-Hello.

-Hi. Rookie? Judith Roberts.

-Yes. Nice meeting you. Come in.

A laptop, three ladies and the last drive.

-She hasn't stalled it.

-Fingers crossed.

She's hanging on to first gear

-far, far too long.

-Yes.

-You can hear the engine - "Rummmm!"

She's looking in her interior mirror.

She didn't look in her left mirror.

-No. She was a bit close.

-Mmm.

You can do it.

Quickly turn.

Well done. That was good. That was well done.

Guess who's hiding in the front room, girls?

You won't guess. Better tell you - your mum,

her mate and an ex-traffic cop.

Hello, Zahra.

-Hello.

-I've got to say something to you.

You think this week has been all about you going out

-with your friends.

-Yeah.

-It has been about your driving.

Oh, BLEEP!

I've been watching everything, OK? I've been watching everything!

-Oh, gosh.

-So, Zahra,

-I'm Judith Roberts. I'm an ex-traffic police officer.

-Really?

I've been brought in to have a look at your driving.

If I think you're safe enough,

-we will give you your own second-hand car.

-Oh, my gosh!

If I don't think you're quite there yet,

then we will give you some one-to-one lessons.

So, how do you feel about that?

I'm just a bit, like, shocked.

It's time for Zahra

to see what she's really been like behind the wheel.

Why do you keep stalling?

Oh, it's because I've not put the handbrake down.

Oh, my God!

-BLEEP sake!

-I think you stalled it about four times.

And then the traffic lights changed to amber and you were going

and you were so pleased that you were going, that you kept going.

I would've liked to have seen you stop.

-Where are we going?

-Yeah, yeah, this bit.

-What happened here, What happened here?

-I don't know.

I went in the ambulance lane!

This is, like, the thing that stands out the most to you.

It's all very humorous, but this actual bit here

made me feel a bit sick. You don't see that man, do you?

-No.

-Why don't you see that man?

-Because I was looking down.

Never, ever, ever take your eye off the road.

-Yeah.

-That's when accidents happen.

I feel really bad. I could have hurt him. That was a bad mistake.

This was horrid, I thought. You've gone into the bend much too fast.

And then you're breaking on the exit.

You're great with your interior mirror at this point

but you didn't look in your left hand mirror.

And you didn't see the car coming up the left side.

That was close.

If I live here for a week my mum will be ringing me all the time.

Been very silly ringing both of you five or six times.

It's actually embarrassing.

I want mum to realise I can manage on my own.

It's going to be hard but you know what?

-Watching all this, you've proved me wrong.

-That's good.

I can trust you and I want you to go to Manchester, Zahra.

-OK.

-What I'm going to do now is have a chat to Mum

before I make my final decisions.

OK.

While Judith decides Zahra waits out of earshot.

Based on what I saw I'd give myself a car.

I think I need a bit of practice and I'd be OK.

What are your thoughts?

I think if you gave her the car

if she has to go to work experience in different areas that would help.

A car would be so, so, so important to me.

-I think it would make my life so much better.

-OK, Zahra.

Good. It's my unenviable decision to have to make.

And I have to base my decision on the drives I've seen.

I think you will be a very good driver.

But you're not quite there yet.

So my decision is to give you the lessons and not a car.

I know that's probably disappointing

but there are too many mistakes in your drives.

And I wouldn't want to be held responsible for giving you

a car and you going out and having an accident.

-OK?

-That's fine. It's been an experience. And this is really good.

I didn't realise how much I relied on you guys until now.

I didn't realise how I was behaving until now.

So what I've decided is I'm going to give you a ring just once

and see how you're doing.

But you can ring me six, seven times a day. I'll be happy with that.

It's not great I didn't get a car

but it's been a great learning curve this week.

I've found out so much about myself.

The whole confidence thing and I feel like I'm going to have a

-new and improved mum now after all this.

-We don't need no car.

As long as we've got each other, that's the most important thing.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

Good to his word the R is taking lessons.

And seeing first-hand what happens when you try to drive one-handed.

THere could have been a child or something

so that could have been really bad, really dangerous.

Both hands on the wheel and it's a whole different story.

I've learned so much.

Even in my driving lessons I didn't learn this much.

Zahra's also getting back on track.

And getting to grips with those gears.

Smooth transitions. No grinding or engine whining.

The engine sounded happy.

It wasn't, like, revving loads.

But the best thing about the whole experience, the Rookie revolution.

My mum's changed since then. She doesn't ring me as often.

Probably only rings me once a day now.

I think she knows she can trust me

and I am quite independent because I proved that to her.

No cars this week but maybe two lives are a little better

after a bit of BLD.

-Next week on Barely Legal Drivers:

-It won't stop. Oh, my goodness.

They won't stop.

Good start.

What are they doing?

No, no, no.

I had 8.6 units last night.

Multiply by three or four.

-It wasn't green.

-I'm sorry.

-What is he doing?

-This is dangerous.

-Very dangerous.