Plymouth cabbies make national TV debut

A BBC South West documentary which charted the weight loss attempts of two Plymouth-based taxi drivers is to receive a national TV premiere on BBC One on Monday, 19 June at 7:30pm.

Aired on BBC South West in April 2016, Supersize Cabbies followed the fat-busting fortunes of Roger Laughton and Mike Davis from Plymouth taxi company Need A Cab as they embarked on a six-week community weight loss programme to try to reverse the damage done by years of poor diet and little exercise.

Following a punishing regime of diet and exercise devised by uncompromising fitness trainer Gavin Seymour at Morgan's Fitness, they struggled to change the bad habits of a lifetime and to resist the junk food that is part of many a cabbie's life. For 18-stone Mike it was all about overcoming the overeating that started when he was bullied as a child for wearing a hearing aid and being ship shape for the imminent birth of his baby son.   For 30 stone Roger, the challenge was to survive. His health was already on the edge, with his internal organs badly damaged by the impact of obesity.

Leo Devine, Head of BBC South West says: "We are excited that TV viewers around the country will be able to watch this BBC South West film which focuses on two, very real local people. Roger and Mike's journey's will be familiar to anyone whose work situation makes it difficult to follow a healthy diet and exercise routine and their efforts will resonate with viewers across the UK".

Viewers in the South West will already be familiar with Roger and Mike's stories and whether they were successful in their attempts to slim down and now it's the turn of national TV viewers to follow their battles to beat the bulge.