More than 12m people tuned in each week to follow the exploits of learner driver Maureen Rees in the BBC’s Driving School programme. She consistently failed her driving test but always booked straight in for another.

But now even the most skilled learner drivers could face a wait of up to four months for a test, thanks to a shortage of driving examiners, which has created a huge backlog in tests.

Following pressure from ministers, the Driver Standards Agency is training 300 new examiners and plans to recruit another 300 next year in a bid to tackle the shortage.

Government guidelines say learners should wait no more than six weeks for a test, but the the backlog may take as long as two years to clear.

Full-time driving examiners start on £18,432 a year, and have to pass an extended version of the driving test before they can qualify as a driving examiner.