Peter Kay & Sian Gibson talk about the new series of Car Share

How does it feel to be back behind the wheel in the new series?

Peter: It was an absolute joy to be back in the car again as after the first series everything was much more familiar. Also the weather was particularly kind to us, we had plenty of sunshine and only had one days of rain which is pretty rare in the north west of England.

Sian: 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.

What can viewers expect?

Peter: They can expect the unexpected. Sian: Ooo that’s a bit cryptic.

Peter: 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.

Sian: What he said (Laughs)

Can you give us a little tease on how John & Kayleigh’s relationship will develop?

Sian: I could tell you but he’d bump me off
Peter: Who me? Charming. No, I can’t answer that she’d kill me Sian: That’s nice
Peter: What? (high pitched)

Do you select the songs on Forever FM? Do they have any special meaning to either of you?

Sian: 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.

Peter: No we don’t Sian: We do mostly

Peter: Old stuff we do but you always say if I was anymore middle of the road I’d get knocked down

Sian: (Laughs) When did I say that?

Peter: Ages ago

Sian: (Laughs) That’s really funny, I don’t ever remember saying that. Well it’s true....I’m joking

Peter: 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.

Sian: Was it really1995? I feel so old
Peter: You are
Sian: Hey! (Laughs) It did bring back at lot of memories singing it again.

In the first series, you recreated a number of pop videos, did either of you have a favourite one?

Peter: 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.

Sian: I agree with Peter I loved all the 50’s 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 – Hanson.

Peter: That was a first

Where you surprised at how successful the first series was?

Sian: 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 Peters first TV flop. So overwhelmed at how much everybody enjoyed the show and the characters.

Peter: 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 the 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

Sian: That’s nice
Peter: It’s true, besides Sheridan Smith was busy filming Cilla Sian: You’re funny

Car Share was the most watched new sitcom of 2015, did that create additional pressure when writing the new series?

Peter: 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.

Sian: 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?

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

Peter: True

Sian: 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: What she said (laughs)

Series one was made available on BBC iPlayer first and the new series will be available on BBC iPlayer in its entirety immediately after episode one airs on BBC One. Why have you decided to do that?

Peter: Because viewers love to binge watch and it's great being able to watch as many episodes as you like in one sitting

Sian: I do that, I watched the full series of The Missing in one day Peter: I know it tipped you over the edge
Sian: I couldn’t stop watching it. I had to know what happened Peter: That’s exactly what I mean about bingeing

Sian - It was recently announced that you will be guest appearing in new BBC One comedy, Hospital People, can you tell us a little bit about that?

Sian: It's a really funny script and an amazing cast so I'm very excited to be a part of it. My character Hilary is very different to Kayleigh so it was great to be given the opportunity to do something so different. It was lots of fun.

What comedies do you both enjoy watching at the moment?

Sian: I have watched all of Inside Number 9 - I love how they are all so different and quite dark. I am also obsessed with Catastrophe, I think Sharon Horgan is amazing.

Peter: I think’s Reece and Steve’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.

How good a driver are you?

Peter: Erm.......
Sian: We are both very bad drivers.
Peter: I’m not that bad I just suffer with a lack of spatial awareness
Sian: And you drove into that curb in M&S the other night
Peter: Alright, it was just a tap, what about when you sneezed and drove through a wall Sian: (Laughs) I had bad hay fever
Peter: You don’t get hay fever!
Sian: Oh

Peter - Car Share won two BAFTA’s and also saw you win a BAFTA for Best Comedy Performance (check award titles), how did that feel?

Peter: Well it was obviously a shock, which was made clear from my lack of speech. I never thought I’d win and it’s still not sunk in.

So what’s next for Peter and for Sian?

Peter: We’re currently on our Dance For Life tour, where we hold three hour dance-a-thon’s in arenas around Britain with all the profits going to Cancer Research UK. As I said earlier we both love our music and these nights are such a blast, we love doing them.

Sian: Yes we’re having a ball doing Dance For Life, we just have the best time. Then hopefully we can work together again in the future....Peter??

Peter: What? (Shrugs) I’m sure we’ll always work together. We’re the modern day Terry & June

Finally, if you could go on a road trip anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would you share the journey with?

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

Sian: Awwwwwwww - obviously it would be with Peter..........or Idris Elba Peter: You’re funny

Sian: You’re not so bad yourself

Interview supplied  by the BBC.