Fare Trade

As part of BBC Radio 2's continuing Comedy Showcase series, Richard Wilson stars as frustrated taxi driver Frank Ross, who thinks he's too good for his job.

Frank used to be a Latin teacher and he used to be married. In fact, Frank used to be a lot of things, but now he drives a mini-cab to make ends meet. Adding to Frank's woes his ex-wife, Barbara, is the cab controller at the firm where he works.

Barbara left Frank for local businessman Derek, who owns Town and Country Cars - the mini-cabbing job was a favour to Frank. But it now means he spends more time than ever with Barbara, a situation that pleases no one. And then there's his feckless, layabout son Sean (Ralf Little) who slobs around the house resolutely refusing to get a job.

Frank is forced to act as a budget hearse while trying to arrange a meeting with a Russian oligarch, who wants a tutor for his son. Could this be Frank's escape route out of the vulgar world of mini-cabbing and back into the refined vocation of teaching the classics? More importantly, will Barbara ever get the coffee machine fixed?