The Knowledge

The Knowledge is a 1979 British comedy-drama television film about a group of men and a woman doing "The Knowledge", the training required to become a London taxi driver. It was directed by Bob Brooks with an ensemble cast including Nigel Hawthorne, Mick Ford, Jonathan Lynn and Maureen Lipman. Plot Four out of work Londoners apply to do "The Knowledge" to become London taxi drivers. They have to contend with learning approximately 15,842 streets and 468 set routes as well as Mr Burgess, a notoriously sadistic examiner from the Public Carriage Office. Cast Nigel Hawthorne as Mr Burgess Mick Ford as Chris Matthews Kim Taylforth as Janet Jonathan Lynn as Ted Margolies David Ryall as Titanic Michael Elphick as Gordon Weller Maureen Lipman as Brenda Weller Lesley Joseph as Val Gary Holton as Eddie Hairstyle June Watson as Lilian Philippa Howell as Miss Stavely Production In 1978 Jack Rosenthal received a telephone call from Bob Brooks, an American who had lived in London for many years, wanting to make a film about something "exclusive to London". After some discussion they decided on "The Knowledge", the training and testing required to become a driver of a hackney carriage. They initially pitched the idea to Euston Films as a feature-length drama before settling on the concept of a comedy drama. Executive producer Verity Lambert agreed to commission a 90-minute television film, despite reservations that Rosenthal and Brooks would struggle working together. Rosenthal researched the story by accompanying taxi drivers around London to collect their stories about doing The Knowledge. Lambert later recalled "Jack Rosenthal and Bob Brooks had this good ideait was Bob's idea and Jack wrote it."