Sex Lives of the Potato Men

Dave and Ferris drive their worn out van to the market to collect a load of potatoes. Although set in Birmingham, the film starts elsewhere . . . . as the A312 painted onto the road gives away.

'Hand signals' are exchanged between Dave and a learner driver's instructor. Bath Road near Heathrow Airport in Hounslow, Greater London.

When a market trader gives Dave (Johnny Vegas) a nice fresh apple, he offers it to Ferris (Mackenzie Crook) before throwing it away. The Western International Market on Hayes Road, Southall. The site of the market was moved a few hundred yards in 2008.

Outside the market, Dave and Ferris lark about whilst the van is loaded. The Western International Market in Southall, Greater London.

Antony Blair took this view adding "This is the new western International market which is sited a couple of hundred meters away from the original scene, which is now a car park for Costco."

Dave drives the van over grass to make the first delivery. Facing west along Bourne Avenue from Bourne Circus in Hayes.

Antony Blair found that the tree has disappeared sometime during the last 16 years.

The van is parked on the pavement outside Mr. Liu's Fish Bar. Gloucester Parade on Bourne Avenue, Hayes.

The scene as it looks today by Antony.

The fish bar owner signs for the delivery. Gloucester Parade in Hayes with Tenby House in the background.

Antony provides this comparison.

A well deserved break sees Dave and Ferris sitting on a pair of scooters outside the pub . . . . until their owners return. The Music Box public house on Bourne Circus, Hayes.

The location provided a less colourful image for Antony Blair.

The potato men reach their next call, 'Fishy Fingers'. Neil continues his success with this film and establishes the delivery to be at 153 Manor Road, Chigwell in Essex. A clearer view of 'Fishy Fingers' can be seen in Capture 39. (RL)

An aerial view over the estate where Dave and Ferris are walking back to the van. Neil now takes us to Worcestershire advising that this was filmed from Dowry house 389 Rubery Lane, South Cofton Hackett, B439SH. View is towards Waseley Hills Country Park across New Inns Lane. (RL)

The shot pans across the rooftops. Following on from the previous capture Neil pans across the houses on the Doweries. Below Dowry House, Rubery Lane. (RL)

Ferris tells Dave that it's a great feeling when your wife leaves you. Bourne Circus, Hayes with Gloucester Parade in the background.

Antony Blair's modern view remains much the same.

Dave asks "Who's purple?" when Ferris says that he'll sleep with anyone no matter what colour. Bourne Circus at the junction of Bourne Avenue, Conway Drive and Carnarvon Drive.

Antony captured a matching scene.

"Martians!" Looking at properties on Carnarvon Drive from Bourne Circus in Hayes.

The same corner taken by Antony who spotted what looks like the same car in the drive!!!

After another days work, Ferris arrives home. The view over West Heath from the top of Hobbis House on Redditch Road Birmingham B38 with Redhill Road running diagonally from the bottom left corner.

Ferris enters the house belonging to Joan . . . . his ex-Mother-in-law! Neil Rigby continues work on this film to identify 18 Fawn Road, Chigwell in Essex IG74HG. (RL)

Another day, another bar, another pint.

Evening draws in and Dave arrives home where his wife Vicky has had enough and asks him to leave.

In town, Jeremy waits for his girlfriend Ruth. Looking out from the car park above Snow Hill station onto Livery Street in Birmingham.

Looks like they're extending upward from the building undergoing refurbishment. (PW)

The camera pans left. Edmund Street with The Old Contemptibles public house on the corner of Livery Street in B3.

A similar view in this shot taken just twelve years later. (PW)

After Jeremy surprises Ruth (Lucy Davis), she tells him that if he doesn't leave her alone she will call the police. Neil continues his time in East London for us to advise that Jeremy and Ruth are in Ivimey Street looking towards Pollard Row, London E26. (RL)

The next day dawns with a shot of the flats where Dave has moved in with Tolly. Seen from Tennyson House in Northfield, Birmingham, to the left runs Fairfax Road while Wordsworth House stands on the right.

Deciding to make the most of his new found freedom, Dave makes his way to Poppy's house. Pershore Road South near the junction with The Green, Redditch Road and Wharf Road in Kings Norton, Birmingham.

The church to the right is St. Nicholas' and the building on the left was once the Co-operative Hall. (PW)

Dave rings the bell and the door is opened by a man. Another from Neil, 1 Burslem Avenue, Ilford, IG63EH. (RL)

Before leaving, Dave asks Poppy's brother to tell her that he's split with his wife. Still at 1 Burslem Avenue in Ilford, Essex as per the previous capture. (RL)

Back at the flat, Tolly talks on a chat line while Dave eats his breakfast. This is from where Neil established captures 10 and 11 were taken, the top floor of Dowry House. The view starts north across Rubery Lane, then pans left. (RL)

While on another break, Ferris receives a text message that his cousin has been killed in a car crash. Pershore Road South, Birmingham B30.

The spire to the right belongs to The Cotteridge Church. (PW)

Dave spots two girls in the van's mirror. Pershore Road South in Cotteridge with the sign indicating Kings Norton railway station in the centre.

From a similar viewpoint. (PW)

Dave doesn't receive the reply that he wanted after saying hello to the girls. Looking towards the junction of Middleton Hall Road with Pershore Road South.

Still a busy junction. (PW)

An establishing shot of the Birmingham suburb where much of the story is set. The junction of Cropredy Road and Fairfax Road, Northfield.

Ben Marshall from Birmingham captures the location as it appears now.

Dave leaves a newsagent after receiving a message from Poppy that she will see him. Gloucester Parade on Bourne Avenue in Hayes with Bourne Circus in the background.

Antony Blair revisited the location.

Returning to Poppy's house, Dave doesn't quite get what he expected. Properties on Sant Road B31 stand in the bottom left and the Longbridge car plant dominates the top right in this view from Hobbis House.

The next day, Dave has problems starting the van. Fairfax Road in Birmingham B31.

A closer view of the same corner by Ben from Birmingham.

A hammer and a large spanner don't seem to work.

On Saturday morning Dave makes his way to see Ferris at home. As identified by Neil Rigby in capture 16, Fawn Road, Chigwell IG74HG (RL).

Ferris is attempting to lay crazy paving outside the house. 18 Fawn Road, Chigwell in Essex as identified by Neil. (RL)

The two take stock of their situations before heading to the pub. Naturally, 18 Fawn Road, Chigwell IG74HG once again, as identified by Neil. (RL)

Dave goes with Ferris to visit his cousin's widow Helen at St. Pancake's Hospital. Neil even finds demolished buildings, this was St Andrew's Hospital, Bromley by Bow, London E33NE. (RL)

Ferris moves out of Joan's house and into the store room at 'Fishy Fingers'. As advised by Neil in capture 9 this is 153 Manor Road, Chigwell IG7 5QA. (RL)

Sitting in the van with Ferris, Dave ponders his chances with Helen after she returns home from hospital. Neil resolves another location and tell us that this is 279 Brocket Way, Chigwell, IG74LU. (RL)

Once inside Helen's house it becomes apparent that there's already another man in her life. As the previous capture, we are at 279 Brocket Way, Chigwell IG74LU, thank you Neil. (RL)

In an attempt to pick up a couple of birds, Dave and Ferris go to the club. Neil finds the New North Road, Community Centre, 628 New North Road, Hainault IG63TQ. (RL)

Dave visits his wife at home and pleads with her to let him come home. Looking west towards Longbridge from Tennyson House with Turves Green Boy's School in the bottom right and tower blocks standing on Walnut Way in the background.

In the park, Jeremy meets Shelley and the two get to know each other over a drink. The Lakeside Pavilion on Old Ford Road in Victoria Park, London E9.

Pity about the stack of tables but this is the south-east corner of the West Boating Lake. SJ

Jeremy (Mark Gatiss) recalls the time when his prospective in-laws discovered that he wasn't a dentist. Neil Rigby sticks with the 'Potato Men' and tells us that here we are at 126-128 Lauriston Road, London E9 7LH. (RL)

Looking south with Morpeth Road gong off to the right. SJ

Ruth and her Parents (Natasha Ward-Davis and Ed Newbrook) stare in disbelief. As with the above capture, 126-128 Lauriston Road, London E9 7LH. (RL)

Now looking the other way to the junction with Rutland Road. SJ

Shelley takes Jeremy to see her horse.

Tolly is contacted by Gloria through a dating phone line and she takes him to a swingers party. Neil Rigby places this as 16 New Forest Lane, Chigwell IG75QN, corner with Stradbroke Drive remarking that 'Bing birdseye' would suggest that both this and the house opposite have been enlarged. (RL)

Gloria (Kay Purcell) rings the door bell as Tolly (Dominic Coleman) tells her that he hasn't been to a party in ages. 6 New Forest Lane, Chigwell IG75QN, corner with Stradbroke Drive as identified by Neil in the previous capture. (RL)

Gordon (Nick Holder) pressures Ferris to have sex with his wife in the car whilst he hides in the boot.

Dave helps Ferris deal with Gordon's demands.

Ferris goes to Joan's to discover that Dave has moved out of Tolly's flat and into the house.

Vicky (Angela Simpson) and his daughter Katie (Betty Trew) find Dave finishing off the crazy paving in Joan's front garden. We return to 18 Fawn Road, Chigwell IG74HG as identified by Neil. (RL)

Dave and Ferris take the van back to the railway arch where they are based. Neil Rigby switches to the other side of London, where here, we are near 47 Bourne Avenue, Hayes UB3 1QN (RL)

The two mates take a break with Tolly and their boss, Jeremy. Neil Rigby has tracked down 'The Potato Men' base to Unit 355, Laburnam Street railway arches. E2 8BB, near Kingsland Road. (RL)

Neil provides a Google Earth View of a tidied up site to support his find. (RL)