Carpool (TV series)

Lore & Background

News of the TV version of Carpool first came at London Film and Comic Con in July 2009, when Danny John-Jules, Llewellyn's Red Dwarf co-star, mentioned that RDF Contact had been commissioned by UKTV to produce the show for broadcast and that Llewellyn was shooting episodes in high-definition. On 30 June 2010 it was announced that the new shows would appear on Dave, with extended versions online on Llewellyn's YouTube page and on iTunes after broadcast, and that the format would remain unchanged. The show is filmed using high-definition cameras mounted within and outside the car, and Llewellyn drives his guest to a destination of their choosing as they talk informally about various subjects.

Reader's Guide

Carpool represents a notable example of a web-to-television adaptation, maintaining its informal, unscripted interview style while transitioning to broadcast. The show was fully funded by Toyota, who also sponsored it, and was shortlisted for best content partnership in Broadcast Awards. Its broadcast slot was unusual: it was usually hidden as an Easter Egg at the end of the last broadcast of the evening on Dave (around 0240 hrs) and not mentioned in TV listings. In an August 2011 update of the web series, Llewellyn announced that the show would stay as a web-exclusive and that no more made-for-television episodes would be made, marking a return to its original format. The series' significance lies in its demonstration of how low-budget, personality-driven content could cross platforms, though its television run was brief.

Did You Know?

• The show was first broadcast on Dave on 11 November 2010.
• It was produced by RDF Contact for UKTV/Dave with Toyota as a sponsor, not the sole funder.
• Episodes were usually broadcast as an Easter Egg at around 0240 hrs, not mentioned in TV listings.
• In August 2011, Llewellyn announced that no more made-for-television episodes would be made.