Driven (TV series)

Infobox television
show_name = driven


caption = The driven logo
format = Motoring
picture_format = 720x576 (anamorphic 16:9)
runtime = 24 minutes (approx.)
starring = Mike Brewer
Penny Mallory
Jason Plato
Jason Barlow
James May
country = UK
network = Channel 4
first_aired = October 13, 1998
last_aired =
December 15, 2002
num_episodes = 80
producer = IWC Media
related = Top Gear, Fifth Gear
website = http://www.channel4.com/4car/
imdb_id = 0776966
tv_com_id =Unreferenced|date=February 2008

"driven" was a motoring television programme launched by Channel 4 in 1998 as a rival to the successful and long-running BBC series "Top Gear".

The style was similar to its rival, but with additional features such as the "driven 100", a road test of three cars in the same class, where each car would be given marks for qualities such as Practicality, Desirability and Cost of Ownership. The car with the highest total score would be the winner. The programme launched with the concept that the presenters should interact with each other rather than present items on their own, as was then the case on "Top Gear". The first series also featured a "headquarters", a racing team truck, set on a former air force base at which cars were put through their paces. These concepts resurfaced in the re-born "Top Gear" soon after.

Originally presented by Mike Brewer, James May and Jason Barlow, subsequent series also featured the rally driver Penny Mallory and the racing driver Jason Plato. Jason Barlow left the show in order to join BBC's "Top Gear". Not long after he joined it, "Top Gear" was temporarily axed, leaving "driven" briefly as the only motoring show on mainstream British TV. James May later went to the BBC too, joining the "Top Gear" team in the second series of its new format.

Following the creation of "Fifth Gear" and the revival of "Top Gear", "driven" was cancelled by Channel 4 in 2002. Jason Plato would go on to present "Fifth Gear", Mike Brewer presents ITV's "Pulling Power" and Penny Mallory can be seen on ITV4's "Used Car Roadshow".