Steve Coogan makes use of The Go back and forth to keep away from lengthier riding ban

Steve Coogan has been banned for riding for 2 months as an alternative of six, after telling the pass judgement on {that a} lengthier ban would have an effect on the filming of his in style TV comedy sequence The Go back and forth.

The actor and comic was once stuck going at 97mph, properly over the 70mph pace restrict, whilst travelling in a Vary Rover at the M6 in Staffordshire in July final yr.

In a letter to Birmingham Magistrates’ Court docket, the 59-year-old recommended the court docket to not disqualify him as he already had six issues on his licence and was once required to force as a part of filming a approaching sequence of the The Go back and forth along co-star Rob Brydon.

His request for 5 penalty issues to be imposed as an alternative of six – which might have resulted in a six-month ban which means “the manufacturing would most probably be not able to continue”, he argued – was once granted after he pleaded accountable to the offence on 30 January.

Coogan famous that the previous penalty issues on his licence could be because of expire in August 2025 and that he had caught to hurry limits because the incident.

The Night Same old, which first reported the tale, stated Coogan additionally expressed frustration it had taken virtually six months for the prosecution to be introduced.

The court docket in the long run determined to prohibit him from riding for 2 months as an alternative of six, which means the TV display may also be made as deliberate.

He was once additionally ordered to pay a £2,500 tremendous, plus £90 prices and a £1,000 sufferer surcharge.

Coogan’s letter to the court docket learn: “I’ve a chain of necessary movie commitments scheduled for 2025, lots of which contain riding as a central element of the paintings.

“I’m because of seem in a well-established TV sequence referred to as The Go back and forth which because the identify suggests calls for me to force.

“This begins filming in opposition to the top of June 2025 and if I have been not able to force, the manufacturing would most probably be not able to continue.”

He highlighted how the punishment would no longer handiest impact him, however “the many people depending on those productions for paintings”, together with digital camera sound, and lighting fixtures technicians, in addition to riggers.

The Go back and forth is a in large part improvised sitcom directed by means of Michael Winterbottom, which stars Coogan and Brydon as fictionalised variations of themselves, coping with existence and regularly doing impressions whilst taking foodie journeys round the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Greece.

Coogan gained the Bafta TV Award for absolute best male efficiency in a comedy function in 2011 for his section in sequence one, which – like every 4 – was once additionally edited right into a function movie.

His newest feedback seem to verify plans for a 5th sequence of The Go back and forth, which had no longer but up to now been introduced.

It was once concept that 2020’s Go back and forth to Greece – sequence 4 – were the finale, however Coogan stated on Brydon’s podcast in 2023 that they must make any other sequence, floating the theory of Wales, Eire and The united states as imaginable places.

“I feel surely there can be extra stuff to mention, as a result of heart age is other to simply getting outdated,” stated Coogan. “I feel we must do any other one, at a time and position to be decided.”

Brydon added: “I all the time say to folks, if Steve continues to be alive in 10 years, I’d [do another series]. They usually chuckle.”

Coogan up to now escaped a long riding ban, on any other instance in 2019, after effectively arguing {that a} new sequence that includes his much-loved persona Alan Partridge may no longer be filmed on public shipping.