HOTSEAT On the road again

Well, I was completely. Even though I know how much people love Peter, I was still worried that they would just be bored with the two of us stuck in a car and I might be responsible for Peter’s first TV flop.

So I was overwhelmed at how much everybody enjoyed the show and the characters.

Me too, I was completely surprised. I always believed in Car Share but like Sian I was always worried that viewers may not have the patience to stay with such a simple idea of two people commuting to work, especially in this fast-paced day and age with so many options to watch, so yes I was completely surprised.

Casting Sian was the best decision I ever made and I was grateful that the BBC trusted my decision as I knew if we could capture even just a fraction of our friendship then maybe that would be the magic that people would enjoy the most. That’s nice.

It’s true, besides Sheridan Smith was busy filming Cilla.

No, not at all, because we’d already written most of the new series in 2014, which was a bit of a gamble as we didn’t know if the BBC would want a second series.

But we just loved spending the time writing it together.

What he said (laughs). You’ve known each other for a number of years now and have worked together before. How did you get along in this series?

We speak to each other every day anyway so working together just saves our phone bill.

True. Our relationship has never changed since our college days, we are still as silly and childish so obviously whenever we work together we get along perfectly as always. Peter Kay and Sian Gibson are back behind the wheel for a new series of Car Share. checks the petrol gauge for the comedy road trip in one sitting.

I do that, I watched the full series of The Missing in one day.

I know, it tipped you over the edge.

I couldn’t stop watching it. I had to know what happened.

That’s exactly what I mean about bingeing. I couldn’t wait to get back in the car because we had such a great time making the first series. This time felt even better because like Peter said we were much more familiar with everything.

They can expect the unexpected. Ooh that’s a bit cryptic.

The one thing we pride ourselves on the most with writing Car Share is that it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen and that’s hard to achieve, especially with comedy. Do you select the songs on Forever FM that feature in the show and do they have any special meaning to either of you?

We spent ages going through the music and reminiscing. It was the most enjoyable part of writing. We both have the same taste in music.

No we don’t. We do mostly.

Old stuff we do but you always say if I was any more middle of the road I’d get knocked down. (Laughs) When did I say that?

We did spend a lot of time selecting the music, probably more than writing. We’re both fond of One Step Further by Bardo, which is in episode one of the new series.

We both made our own video to it back in college in 1995.

Was it really 1995? I feel so old.

I’m very fond of them all but probably Rush Hour by Jane Wiedlin would be my favourite as we were both in the video together.

I agree with Peter, I loved all the 50s costumes and the routine in Rush Hour but I think I had the best deal out of the pop videos – Anastasia, Cindi Lauper – and also being in my own animation, swimming under water to Mmmmbop by Hanson.

That was a first. The new series will be available on BBC iPlayer in its entirety immediately after episode one airs on BBC1. Why have you decided to do that?

I have watched all of Inside No 9. I love how they are all so different and quite dark. I am also obsessed with Catastrophe, I think Sharon Horgan is amazing.

I think (Inside No 9 creators) Reece (Shearsmith) and Steve (Pemberton)’s writing is fantastic. I don’t know how they keep the stories so consistent and varied, which is hard enough, but to have to make them funny on top makes it even

harder. I’m not that bad I just suffer with a lack of spatial awareness. And you drove into that curb at M&S the other night. Alright, it was just a tap, what about when you sneezed and drove through a wall. (Laughs) I had bad hay fever. You don’t get hay

I know it’s sounds corny but I found my Car Share buddy 23 years ago and I’d be happy sharing a car with Sian anywhere in the world….as long as she wasn’t driving.

Aww – obviously it would be with Peter... or Idris Elba.

We’re currently on our Dance for Life tour, where we hold three-hour dance-a-thons in arenas around Britain, with all the profits going to Cancer Research UK. We both love our music and these nights are such a blast.

Yes, we’re having a ball. Then hopefully we will work together again in the future...Peter?!

I’m sure we’ll always work together. We’re the modern-day Terry and June!