A STUDENT who appeared on BBC's Driving School has revealed her love for one of the programme's learner drivers was a sham.

Fed-up Gillian Leech, from Leyland, near Preston, had to pretend to be head over heels with her ex, even though she had given him the boot.

The story centred on the couple's long distance love, with Bristol-based Danny Waring learning to drive just so he could travel to see Gillian.

Disaster struck when the pair split days before filming started, but they decided to go along with the original plot to please BBC bosses.

Gillian, aged 17, said: "We had to pretend we were the average happy couple. I had to kiss Danny and tell him I loved him over the phone.

"I even had to stop at his mum and dad's house for a week. Danny hadn't told his parents we'd split up. It was awful."

She explained: "After six months of seeing him, I'd had enough. He was possessive and always under my feet. I got sick of him ringing three times a night, asking me where I'd been and who with."

The couple had to come clean when producers wanted to film the journey to an emotional celebration in Blackpool after Danny had passed his test. The proposed scenes were promptly scrapped.

Their 'love' story was also set to feature in teen mag Just 17 but was cancelled after the pair had a furious row over the fee they were to be paid.

Gillian has since tracked down an ex-boyfriend and has been happily going out with him for the past few months. Trouble is, she now needs to pass HER driving test as it's another long distance relationship. New love Antony comes from Middlesbrough.

Gillian, who lives on Pendle Road, has been taking lessons with her aunt who is a driving instructor, and will take her theory test next week.

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