About the making of Road Trip

Is Bath as clean as its name?
Sam Wollaston
Saturday February 21, 2004
The Guardian

Thank God for Jennifer. Kelly is standing on an Edinburgh street with a microphone in her hand, trying to stop passers-by. She's trying to say "excuse me" but she's disabled, has a serious speech impediment, and it comes out more like "ikuhmi". A look of blind panic comes over most of the people she approaches. What is this? Is it Trigger Happy? Sacha Baron Cohen's new character? Or is it really a disabled person? Which is worse?

Suddenly they have urgent meetings to go to, they raise a hand apologetically or they just choose not to notice. Kelly gets more frustrated and her ikuhmis more desperate. But then Jennifer comes along, recognises not only ikuhmi, but also that "werherdarwihmi" means: "Would you dance with me?" So she does. Jennifer, a young woman on the street in Edinburgh dances with Kelly. It's a little bit awkward, but it's beautiful, too.

There aren't too many awkward moments in Road Trip (Channel 4), the story of six friends - Kelly, Ono, Janet, Pino, Danny and Paul - and their journey from London to John O'Groats on a double-decker bus. They interview people as they go, to find out more about their country. All six of them are disabled and sometimes their line of questioning is a little untraditional. Can you get sausages from that cow? Is Bath as clean as its name? If you were wearing a kilt and I put my hand up there, what would I find? Can you get sausages from that guinea pig? (Pino is mainly interested in sausages.) But the result is a lovely, brave film that is not just a film about six close friends going on a journey together but one that says a lot about the attitudes towards the disabled in this country.

On the whole we're not too bad. Most people are incredibly nice - friendly, relaxed, patient without being patronising. The little girl in Blackpool possibly holds her guinea pig more tightly after the sausage question but remains calm. Even the businessmen on the Mersey ferry are cool, if a little confused. But Kelly is more obviously disabled and harder to understand than the others, and so she causes a little awkwardness. Some way to go then. Thank God Jennifer is there to save the situation.

EMAILS

I have just finished watching the channel 4 programme, and feel it was some of the best T.V. I have seen.

I almost feel as if I know the "stars"; which is exactly what they are. Shining examples of real human beings, and they could teach most of us a thing or two about life, and mostly....how to have fun.
I would love to meet them sometime.
take care and love from an admirer.
Please give them my love.
Yvonne. (in Scotland.)

Fantastic programme - thanks. Billy

What a brilliant programme... best I've seen in ages... sorry Nessie didn't put in an appearance , or did she!?

When is u'r next trip, where too and when is it on!

Can't wait!

best wishes,

Roger
C-T.

We were very impressed by this evenings programme 'Roadtrip'. It was a wonderful example of TV at its best. We are a British couple living in Germany and it was great to see a TV show so well presented. The idea of touring the UK was brilliant and each of the individuals presenting added a really interesting personal touch.

More of this please.

All the best

Steve and Justine

Hello and congratulations on the film Road Trip which I've just seen on Channel 4. I'm wondering if I can get a VHS copy of it to show to my students. I think apart from being a very well made film, it has a lot to teach young people about different ways of seeing the world than the limited ways we usually see in the mainstream media.
Thanks - and thanks for the film.
John

Dear all,
Can you pass on my thanks to the team that made 'Road Trip' It was the best TV program I have seen in a long time, if not ever.
I was so touched, it is so seldom you see a program just about real people. No one ever listens to anyone anymore.
Regards and thanks
Patrick Leonard

Hi
I thought your film was excellent. Is there anywhere we can buy a copy on video or dvd?

I work in a day centre and we made our own video last year. We'd be happy to send you a copy. We hope to make another one soon.
thank you
Steve

Very inspiring film. Thanks all of you for sharing your lives.
i am a double amputee so know something of disability
myself. you all did great!
keep up the good work!
Geoff

Channel 4 and the wonderful Road Trip gang,
I don't think I've been so moved by a program before.
More power to the big red bus.
Do more,
James.
(Harrogate)

The best programme on T.V. that I've seen in many a year, real reality television, thank you.

Les Jones

Hi,

Is Road Trip going to be repeated at all on Channel 4? It was excellent!

Dan.

Hi,

I run a pottery for learning disabilities in Tunbridge Wells. Unfortunately our pottery has got to close and we are desperately trying to find somewhere else.

I have this past year been trying to change the pottery and use the slip-cast vases and functional ware as a vehicle for my clients' personality and feelings.

It has been a slow process and just when I feel that we are getting somewhere the pottery will probably close.

I found your documentary very inspiring so maybe it will give me impetus to push further to get the pottery we deserve.

I love the fact that your people have found their voice. I would love my people to find their voice and better still get people to listen!

Will you hear my little voice!

Maggie

This programme should be shown again, so more people could see it, it was very good, my wife was watching Coronation Street...so I never got to see the beginning, you should show this programme again on a Sunday afternoon when there is nothing else on tele and advertise it first...it would help other people understand that they too have a story to tell , I felt very humble, WELL DONE.

I saw your film on TV last night... the second half 'cos I was out until 8. It was brilliant!
I was laughing one minute and crying the next.
Thanks for making the film.
Mike Bryan
Lancaster, UK

Hello
My name is Dee Watson. I work for Kent County Council. I am a project manager with Kent working on the modernisation of day services, employment and person centred planning.
I watched and really enjoyed "Road Trip". I think the film could be used to great effect in showing a real story of people with learning disabilities, how they can work together, do thing people feel they can't and have a true positive effect on others in society.
I would like to get an official copy of "Road Trip" for use in my work with people with learning disabilities across Kent.
Please could you contact me with information of how I may obtain a copy.
Many Thanks
Dee Watson (Mr)

Great program

Thanks

Peter Denega

Hello
I taped the last half of your film the other night, and watched it today.
I'm sorry I missed the first half, as I really enjoyed it. I hope Channel
Four repeat it soon.
Trish
Dublin, Ireland

Never done this before, but just felt compelled to write and say Friday nights Road Trip was one of the most inspiring pieces of television I have ever seen. Good work everybody and keep enjoying your lives as much as you appear to be.
All the best and thank you
Matt Link

Just been all over your web site... love Heart 'n Soul music. BIG stuff.

Wow.... didn't know anything about you... but now I have found out the connection with NWDAF in Liverpool, I will get involved.

Best wishes,

Roger.

PHONE CALLS

"Absolutely enchanting, more programmes like this please."

"This sort of programme is wonderful. It's a joy to watch. There is so much ignorance, and I think that we need more programmes like this. Please, please can we have more programmes like this?"

"This is the most movingly wonderful programme I have ever seen. It's just great. And you are showing real people. It really is fantastic and I want to pass on my compliments to everyone involved."

"I would like to thank you. It's very refreshing to see something like that. It was funny and heart-warming. Well done."

"I was just calling up to say what a great programme this was. It really made me smile!"

"This was a lovely programme. It was difficult to comprehend in some ways, but it was a lovely programme, and something we could do with a bit more of."

"I just want to congratulate you. This was stunning and moving.. It was brilliant. It was lovely. A treat. Those people deserve so much more in life."

"I thought this was absolutely incredible. It was affecting and brilliant. I was moved by the whole thing. When the blonde woman was trying to get people to stop and talk to her it was painful to watch. The questions were totally unpretentious. All six had something to contribute. It was beautiful and I was very moved. It would be awful if this was a one off."

"This was very interesting and the end was very moving. It was so well done, it should win an award. There was one point when a young girl was trying to interview people and no one would stop to talk to her. It was heartbreaking. A brilliant programme."

"I have to phone and say how much I enjoyed this. It was so refreshing. We could do with more things like this. It was so lovely to see these people taking part. It was delightful."

"I thought this was fantastic. It was enjoyable and touching. I didn't plan to watch it but it came on after the news and it was just so appealing."

"It's one of the most amazing things I've seen in years. It was astonishing. It blew my mind away. Thank you."

"I'd like to commend you on this most wonderful programme. It was really well done. Thank you."

"Fabulous documentary."

"I really enjoyed it. It was an unbelievable experience. The people that took part were marvellous. Thank you very much."