Twofour's seven part series, Britain's Best Drives, for BBC Four goes out on Thursdays at 8.30pm. In it the classic comedy actor, Richard Wilson, steers six classic cars round the twists and turns of six of the best drives of 1958 as described in motoring guide books of the period.

Recent surveys of motorists found that the drives most people love nowadays are virtually the same as 50 years ago though far fewer go driving for driving's sake any more; the joy of the open road has worn off for most of us in the 21st century, as driving has become a chore rather than a pleasure.

Richard will be following the six routes using the dog-eared pages of a 1958 road map and meeting people along the way who will have insight into how these drives have changed over the years and how Britain has changed with them.  But one hurdle to overcome is that Richard has only driven automatic cars since passing his test back in 1981 and all the classic cars - which range from the Morris Traveller to the VW Camper Van and the Austin Cambridge to a Bentley - all have manual gear boxes hence an additional programme called Richard Wilson Learns To Drive (March 12 at 9pm) will see Richard struggling to get to grips with the driving experience of another age.  The six drives cover most regions of the UK and include: the English Lake District, the Cornish Coast, the Scottish Highlands, the North Yorkshire Moors, the Wye Valley and Snowdonia.
Programme information

Programme 1 - North Yorkshire Moors - 19 February

In this first episode, Richard Wilson begins his journey into the past, following routes raved about in motoring guides of 50 years ago. In a classic Morris Minor Traveller, he drives from Scarborough to Whitby via the moody and magnificent Yorkshire moors. He learns about the rise and fall of the British seaside resorts, takes a toll road through the great Dalby Forest, and checks out the Hole of Horecum; a mythical roadside wonder. He finds out how the village of Goathland now lives a double life, and meets the TV pilgrims that flock there. Finally, Richard ends up with a carload of Goths on their way to visit Whitby’s historic abbey.

Programme 2 - North Wales - 26 February

Richard takes the wheel of Ford Zodiac to drive circular route from Caernarfon that loops through some of Snowdonia’s most sensational scenery. He gets a welsh lesson at Caernarfon Castle, learns the significance of the awesome Dinorwic slate quarry, drives the mighty Llanberis Pass, meets 71 year old human fly Eric Jones, and takes a trip down memory lane at a former Butlins Holiday Camp.

Programme 3 – North Cornish Coast - 5 March

Richard struggles to get to grips with a retro VW Campervan as he drives the stunning coast road from St Ives to Lands End. He learns of St Ives’ 1950s abstract art heyday and meets a 95 year old painter still at work in the town’s famous Porthmeor Studios. He discovers why DH Lawrence was expelled from the county, and hears legends of Cornish mermaids. And Richard gets to know his camper intimately on a blustery but magnificent cliff top campsite.

Programme 4 – The Lake District - 12 March

This week Richard drives a sporty, convertible Triumph TR3A around some of the Lake District’s most famous roads. He get the low down on the area from author and resident Hunter Davies, takes on one of the regions most notorious roads, celebrates his birthday at one of Britain’s highest pubs, and learns how climate change is affecting this delicate landscape.

Followed by Richard Wilson Learns to Drive – 12 March at 9pm

When Richard Wilson decided to undertake 'Britain's Best Drives' for BBC Four he had driven an automatic for the past 30 years so it was the start of a very real uphill struggle.  Wilson would have to take to the road in six classic 1950's vehicles, and every last one of them would have a gear stick and, worse still, a dreaded clutch pedal! In Richard Wilson Learns to Drive, we follow his preparations for his great road trip as he gets to grips with a manual gearbox. He is put through his paces in a Vauxhall Chevette (the first car he owned), goes off-road, experiences the thrills and spills of the skidpan, and gets a lesson in driving high performance cars from 5 time Le Mans winner Derek Bell.

Programme 5  – The Wye Valley and Forest of Dean - 19 March

An Austin Cambridge is this week’s vehicle of choice as Richard explores an area that claims to be the birthplace of British tourism. He learns of life before the Severn Bridge, finds out why thousands of tourists flocked to the Wye Valley in search of the ‘picturesque’, and discovers how ancient customs are still practised  in the medieval forest. Richard’s journey culminates at one of Britain’s most renowned viewpoints.

Programme 6 – The Trossachs - 26 March

For his final drive, Richard returns to the country of his birth in a splendid 1950s Bentley. He drops in on his sister, returns to the original ‘Dr Finlay’ house, takes to the water to find out how Sir Walter Scott inspired a deluge of sightseers to the region, drives Scotland’s most famous road in the company of a bevy of vintage bikers, and discovers just what it is about great vistas that give us all such a thrill.

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