We’d all like to think we’re pretty solid drivers, right?
Even though driving is a skill that often gets fine-tuned over a lifetime, most motorists you ask would likely say they consider themselves to be competent enough behind the wheel, even if regular passengers in their vehicle might say otherwise – but where exactly do the UK’s most ‘confident’ drivers call home?
In a bid to get to the bottom of this, the car insurance team at Compare the Market has carried out a new survey to find where those who are most at-ease on the roads live.
More than 2,000 UK motorists took part in survey, which was carried out last October.
Manchester drivers have been named some of the ‘most confident’ in the UK / Credit: Ryan Porter (via Unsplash) | MCC
Not only does the survey reveal where in the country is home to the most ‘confident’ motorists, but it’s also highlighted which scenarios and car maintenance tasks drivers feel the most and least comfortable with.
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Manchester motorists have found themselves sitting pretty in the top 10 ‘most confident’ list, claiming the pretty-impressive fourth position – with 84% reckoning their driving skills are decent.
Potentially surprisingly, Manchester is the only North West city to feature in the top 10, with other major cities on the list including Norwich, Glasgow, Belfast, and the English capital of London, but the top five spots are taken up by Cardiff and Plymouth in joint second, and Edinburgh and Bristol in joint third.
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Which UK cities are home to the most ‘confident’ drivers?
Rank
City
Percentage of ‘confident’ drivers
1
Southampton
88%
=2
Cardiff
87%
=2
Plymouth
87%
=3
Edinburgh
85%
=3
Bristol
85%
4
Manchester
84%
=5
London
83%
=5
Glasgow
83%
=5
Belfast
83%
=5
Norwich
83%
So, which city has the ‘most confident’ drivers then? Well, that title is being taken by Southampton.
The study has revealed that Southampton has the highest proportion of confident drivers, with 88% of motorists in the city describing themselves as such.
Interestingly, the survey also revealed the type of car can influence confidence too, as those who drive a petrol car were found to be the most comfortable on the roads, with 84% suggesting this to be the case, while those who drive an electric car are almost 10% less confident behind the wheel.
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When it comes to the conditions in which drivers weren’t the biggest fans of, winter weather was the top culprit – with one in three UK drivers saying they aren’t confident driving in ice (35%) or snow (31%)
Two-fifths (38%) of British drivers were found to be uncomfortable changing a tyre.
Some of the car maintenance tasks drivers feel the least comfortable with are driving abroad, driving in the fog, and driving after being involved in an accident.
BBC to air long-lost Morecambe and Wise episode this month to celebrate star’s 100th birthday
Emily Sergeant
A long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show is set to air on the BBC this month, after being ‘missing’ for decades.
In what is already gearing up to be a memorable moment, the episode – which was first broadcast on the BBC on 16 September 1968, and was thought to have been lost forever before being recovered – will be shown on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer in a couple of weeks time to coincide with when Eric Morecambe would have turned 100 years old.
The episode was discovered by Film Is Fabulous! – which is a charitable trust run by film collectors and television enthusiasts.
It was found in the estate of a former television industry professional, before being returned to the BBC.
Audiences tuning in to the episode can expect to see sketches written by Sid Green and Dick Hills – with Ann Hamilton appearing as Pauline in a sketch set in a nudist colony, while Jenny Lee-Wright plays Eric’s niece, a balloon dancer.
📢 ‘Missing’ episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show is coming to the BBC!
A long-lost episode first broadcast in 1968 will be shown on BBC Four and @BBCiPlayer on Thursday 14 May, to coincide with when Eric Morecambe would have turned 100
It also includes a musical performance from The Paper Dolls, who enjoyed hits in the 1960s.
This ‘lost’ programme is the third episode from Morecambe and Wise’s first series after returning to the BBC, following a period working with commercial television.
Eric Morecambe’s daughter, Gail, has described the recovery of the episode as ‘a lovely surprise’, adding: “I’m really looking forward to seeing it on a screen once again after so many years.”
Gary Morecambe, Eric’s son, added: “I honestly didn’t think there was anything out there left to find, and when something like this comes out of nowhere, it’s really quite wonderful. Hats off to Professor Justin Smith and his team, whose dedication and hard work brought this gem back to us. I’m very excited about seeing it for the first time since I was 12.”
Noreen Adams, who is the Director of BBC Archives, concluded: “We’re delighted to share this comedy gold that we thought was lost forever with viewers across the UK.”
This long-lost episode of The Morecambe and Wise Show will be broadcast on BBC Four at 8pm on on Thursday 14 May, and available to watch whenever you like on BBC iPlayer from then.
Featured Image – BBC | Film is Fabulous!
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs to play world’s biggest game of hide and seek
Emily Sergeant
‘Cunning’ Mancs are wanted to take part in the world’s biggest game of hide and seek, as a popular reality competition show returns.
The Hunt: Prey vs Predator is coming back to Channel 4, and producers have now put out a nationwide casting call for contestants to take part.
People from Greater Manchester are being urged to put an application in.
Described as being an ‘exciting’ reality series, The Hunt: Prey vs Predator is a psychological competitive adventure show where players are tasked with tracking down and hunting their rivals in the ultimate game of cat and mouse in the wild.
Channel 4 is looking for Mancs to play world’s biggest game of hide and seek / Credit: Channel 4
Produced by CPL Productions Ltd – the BAFTA award-winning production company behind Married At First Sight UK and Love is Blind UK – the show’s creators are now calling on ‘cunning’ people with the charm and skill to compete to get in touch and apply for the upcoming series.
A casting call on the Channel 4 website simply reads: “Do you want to play the world’s biggest, most exciting game of hide and seek?
“If you have the cunning, charm, and skill to compete, we want to hear from you.”
Think you’ve got what it takes? Applications for the next series of The Hunt: Prey vs Predator are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed.
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2024 
