Jake Quickenden, the singer and reality TV star known for finishing runner-up on both The X Factor and I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, avoided a driving ban by telling a court that the breakdown of his marriage had affected his ability to cope with penalty points. The case highlights how "exceptional hardship" arguments are sometimes used by public figures to escape totting-up bans, a defence magistrates can accept if losing a licence would cause disproportionate difficulty.

Quickenden, who rose to fame through his talent show appearances before building a career in television and music, argued that his personal circumstances warranted leniency, and the court agreed to spare him from losing his licence. The article did not provide extensive detail on the specific offences or points involved, but it centres on the celebrity's use of the exceptional hardship provision rather than any dispute over the underlying driving matters.