Motoring Millican - 12 things that drive Sarah Millican

Comedian Sarah Millican came late to driving, but has a hugely passionate relationship with it. She told Victoria Coren Mitchell about her independence behind the wheel on Women Talking About Cars. This is what we learned.

Sarah has only beeped her horn once and that was by accident: she was sitting in a car park and she lifted her heavy handbag on to her lap and hit the horn by mistake.

As a child she threw up constantly on car journeys. Once in her dad’s pit helmet.

She’s only ever had diesel cars as she believes they are good for longevity. She sings a song called “Dieselmouse” to remind her which fuel to put in.

During the miner’s strike she grew out of her shoes and didn’t tell her parents as she knew there was no money for new shoes. Her mother noticed the blood from her feet all over the sheets.

She didn’t learn to drive until her early 30s and describes passing her test as the first time in her life she was truly independent.

Her favourite film is Thelma and Louise - it made her want to write and direct films. She refuses to watch it with her husband in case he talks in it and she’d “have to kill him”.

Cars are “functional”, she says, and doesn’t get the sense in having a flash car.

Heated seats make you feel as if you’ve wet yourself, in Sarah’s opinion.

She dislikes taxis: “Once I got the independence, I didn’t want to give it back.”

Caught short in her car, she created her own in-car urine container by hacking up a bottle with tweezers, then ended up peeing all over her own passenger seat.

So thrilled to pass her test, she drove so much she got callouses on her hands.

Listen to Sarah Millican talk to Victoria Coren Mitchell in Women Talking About Cars, online now.