“They were just a ball of flames flying towards you. Cameramen had to run out of the way, crew were shouting at them to stop, but they would keep coming at you.”

“Some of these guys and girls were just possessed by the Devil.

“Even the vast spaces we had weren’t big enough to contain the anger and fury which came over these people, turning them into bullets.”

Tim Shaw has worked on more than 13 radio stations including Century FM, Magic Radio, Kerrang! Radio and his current station Absolute Radio.

He was first page news in 2005 when his wife sold his Lotus Esprit for 50 pence at auction after he propositioned glamour model Jodie Marsh live on air.

His latest TV presenting role sees some of the most challenging drivers in the country taught to drive by their partners, with a new car up for grabs for the most successful learner.

“Filming Britain’s Worst Learners has been has been absolutely hilarious, because I cannot believe how terrible some drivers on the road are.

“We even had cars up in the air. It has been a real eye-opener.”

Hitch hiking

So was Tim’s own learning experience a smooth one?

“I went on holiday to New Zealand for three months because my parents wouldn’t let me drive their car and I knew I could use my provisional license over there.

“I got picked up hitchhiking by a helicopter while I was stood at the side of the road carrying a big English flag.

“The guys were crop spraying, they flew me to this dude's farm and I went in there, met all the guys and they ended up giving me a Hillman Hunter.

“I learnt to drive on his property over there and became quite good at driving.

“And then I came home and passed my test, it was my second attempt.”

Mini near-death experience

And, if hitchhiking in a ‘copter is the strangest roadside experience Shaw has had, what is his oddest behind the wheel?

“Driving home after passing an MOT in a Mini, the mechanic clearly hadn’t noticed it was leaking brake oil and when I hit a roundabout I couldn’t stop.

“Me and my mate made it around the first quarter of the roundabout, went straight through a motorway sign, four or five sapling trees, another sign, a fence and actually overtook a car which was in front of us on the roundabout and ended up back on the road.

“It was the most amazing fluke of luck ever, and in an A-reg Mini.”

Shaw is a hardened petrolhead, rebuilding his first car – a Volkswagen Mk3 Karmann Ghia – bolt for bolt, so what does he drive now?

Teutonic tuner

“I’ve got an E46 BMW M3, which I absolutely love.

“I’ve had it re-trimmed in white leather and I’m having it supercharged to try and take it up to about 550bhp.

“I’m also doing up a Volkswagen 1303 S Beetle which we are giving away on my Absolute radio show.”

And, his ultimate car is something a little bigger, but even more powerful – a V10 engined, 572bhp Audi.

“My dream car is an Audi RS6, because I have a family and I don’t like my kids in the back of the BMW M3 with its white leather seats.

View our Audi RS6 Avant slide show

“The Audi RS6 is great because I could adjust my mirrors so I couldn’t see my wife and kids and pretend I’m a young man in my twenties again.

“It will do 0-60mph in less than five seconds. You’ve got the acceleration and feel of a fast car, but it’s a practical car too. That’s what I want to get.”

Shaw is a certified speed junkie, breaking the magic 200mph barrier recently.

“A friend of mine has just turbocharged a BMW M3 and we hit 204mph on the 3-mile straight at Bruntingthorpe race track.

“That felt really quick.”

He also has also had plenty of opportunities to drive fast in his role presenting his first series of Fifth Gear, and he let slip he is hoping to be involved in the next series, which airs in January.

“Doing fifth gear was always a bit of a dream, because I grew up with it to some extent, and I always watch it and thought, wow they look like they have a laugh.”

To see the mayhem which ensues on Britain’s Worst Learners, tune into Virgin1 tonight at 9pm.

View our Britain's Worst Learners slide show