Knowledge stuns viewers after Cabbies pass hardest exam
Can you recall 100,000 landmarks in London and thousands of streets off the top of your head, and endure the gruelling pain of having to memorise it all?
Well, that's what hopeful London cabbies have to eat, sleep and breathe in the hope of getting their dream job, as showcased on last night's (April 12) Channel 4 documentary The Knowledge.
The show gave viewers a behind-closed-doors look at probably the hardest test that there is, which involves having to navigate the quickest route between landmarks off the top of their head.
And that's only the first stage, which includes recalling every street name and turn, as well as taking into account one-way rules and so forth.
There's also a written exam and one-on-one interviews on top of that, and we were pretty nervous just watching it, to be honest.
"If it's not taking over your life, you're not doing it properly," one person said. In short, it's bloody intense.
The hard work and effort was most certainly not lost on viewers, who were captivated by the show and had a newfound respect for cabbies:
So much respect for black cab drivers anyway, but especially after watching #TheKnowledge -what a phenomenal intellectual effort!
- NewGardener (@Budget_Gardener) April 12, 2017
I feel so guilty for being so disrespectful about the cost of a black cab shame on me .They deserve every penny .#theknowledge
- Anita Barzey (@AnitaBarzey) April 12, 2017
Channel 4 #TheKnowledge shows why London cabbies are the best on earth. Uber can't come close.
- David Ferguson (@djf42) April 12, 2017
Watching #TheKnowledge was to emotional for me. I spent the last 20mins crying! Incredible skill, I can't wait until I'm next in London.
- Katy Schofield (@SchofieldKv) April 13, 2017
Just watched @Channel4 #TheKnowledge so much respect for London cabbies
- Mary Folan (@maryfolan2013) April 13, 2017
I hope lots of people watched #TheKnowledge just to appreciate the hard work, grit and determination of the Iconic London Taxi Driver
- samantha goldstein (@samgoldstein96) April 13, 2017
"#TheKnowledge is as much work as a medicine degree" nothing I've had to do at med school has been nearly as hard as that looked tbh 😬
- Joanna Dearden (@JoDearden) April 12, 2017
I'll never get in a cab and take it for granted again #TheKnowledge #RESPECT
- Jon Kaneen (@JonKaneen) April 12, 2017
London black cabbies 👏🏼👌🏼🇬🇧 #TheKnowledge pic.twitter.com/ZnJycAZxEU
- Kimberleigh Roberts (@HairyMary11) April 12, 2017
Nobody should ever complain about sitting tests or exams ever again.... like, bloody hell... Kudos to these guys! #TheKnowledge
- Hannah Kennedy (@hckennedy_) April 12, 2017
No doubt about it. #London has the best taxis in the world in our Black Cab drivers. #TheKnowledge
- SaffronKim (@SaffronKim) April 12, 2017
Hats off to all the black cab drivers. Their test is bloody hard! 👏🏽👏🏽#TheKnowledge
- Roopal Bharania (@RoopalBharania) April 12, 2017
The Knowledge airs on Channel 4.
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