British Muslim women are hitting the road – taking their independence in both hands and putting their foot on the gas.

An entertaining BBC series, starting next week, tells their stories from home as well as their cars over the weeks and months as they build towards their driving test.

During the six episodes of Muslim Driving School viewers will get an intimate and revelatory insight into the lives of the women and their families from Burnley to Bradford.

The series has exclusive access to numerous driving schools across the North of England – from one-woman operations to schools with over 40 instructors – who specialise in teaching Muslim women.

The narrative is woven around a number of women learning to drive –and the women who are teaching them – and there is a lot at stake.

Driving isn’t just a pleasure pursuit – it confers freedom and status – and opens up job opportunities that would otherwise been unreachable.

The BBC publicity states: ‘For these women, driving has got a real, symbolic value –getting out of the home could be a first stop to becoming a mistress of their own destiny!’

Pt 1 – Tuesday 12th January: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two
Pt 2 – Tuesday 19th January: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two
Pt 3 – Tuesday 26th January: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two
Pt 4 – Tuesday 2nd February: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two
Pt 5 – Tuesday 9th February: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two
Pt 6 – Tuesday 16th February: 10pm – 10:30pm on BBC Two