How Coogan Dodged a Ban

Actor Steve Coogan has managed to avoid a driving ban after being caught speeding at 97mph, convincing magistrates that losing his license would significantly disrupt the production of his popular TV series The Trip.

The 59-year-old comedian, known for his role as Alan Partridge, was stopped while driving his Range Rover on the M6 motorway last July. With six penalty points already on his record, Coogan faced the possibility of an automatic driving ban. However, he presented a case to Birmingham magistrates, explaining that the filming of the upcoming season of The Trip — which heavily features road trips—would be in jeopardy if he were disqualified from driving.

In his statement, Coogan explained, “I am set to appear in a well-known TV series called The Trip (alongside Rob Brydon), which, as the name suggests, involves a lot of driving.”

To lessen the impact, Coogan asked the court to impose five penalty points instead of six, narrowly avoiding a six-month suspension. He also highlighted the potential financial strain on the production team, from camera operators to sound engineers, who depend on the show for their livelihoods.

The court ultimately sided with Coogan’s plea, adding five points to his license, instead of six. He was also fined £2,500, along with £90 in court costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge.

This isn’t the first time Coogan has leveraged his career to avoid a driving ban. In 2019, he successfully reduced a possible long-term disqualification by arguing that it would halt the production of a new Alan Partridge series.

A known driving enthusiast, Coogan has faced multiple speeding fines over the years, including a 28-day ban in 2016 for driving almost double the speed limit in Brighton. Despite his past violations, he maintains that he has adhered to speed limits since last year’s incident and voiced frustration over the delayed prosecution.

Thanks to his legal efforts, Coogan is now free to continue filming The Trip, with reports indicating that a new season is in the works — despite director Michael Winterbottom previously suggesting the series had come to an end.