Pipe handling apparatus comprising: a frame, a support element, and a pipe drive mechanism; the pipe drive mechanism comprising a first pipe urging element and a second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element each rotatable relative to the frame; said pipe handling apparatus configured to receive a pipe such that a received pipe is supported by the support element and is gripped between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element, and said pipe drive mechanism configured, in response to operation thereof, to urge a received pipe in a drive direction; the pipe drive mechanism comprising a first pipe urging element engagement arrangement providing a first operative connection between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element engagement arrangement configured to guide rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) during operation of the pipe drive mechanism, the first pipe urging element engagement arrangement comprising a first toothed gear portion of the first pipe urging element and a second toothed gear portion of the second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element arranged such that the first toothed gear portion and the second toothed gear portion mesh together, characterised by: the pipe drive mechanism further comprising a second pipe urging element engagement arrangement providing a second operative connection between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element the second pipe urging element engagement arrangement configured to guide rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) during operation of the pipe drive mechanism; whereby the pipe drive mechanism is configured to effect rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) without relying on the meshing between the first and second toothed gear portions (107, 108) of the first pipe urging element engaging arrangement. a frame, a support element, and a pipe drive mechanism; the pipe drive mechanism comprising a first pipe urging element and a second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element each rotatable relative to the frame; said pipe handling apparatus configured to receive a pipe such that a received pipe is supported by the support element and is gripped between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element, and said pipe drive mechanism configured, in response to operation thereof, to urge a received pipe in a drive direction; the pipe drive mechanism comprising a first pipe urging element engagement arrangement providing a first operative connection between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element engagement arrangement configured to guide rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) during operation of the pipe drive mechanism, the first pipe urging element engagement arrangement comprising a first toothed gear portion of the first pipe urging element and a second toothed gear portion of the second pipe urging element, the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element arranged such that the first toothed gear portion and the second toothed gear portion mesh together, characterised by: the pipe drive mechanism further comprising a second pipe urging element engagement arrangement providing a second operative connection between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element the second pipe urging element engagement arrangement configured to guide rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) during operation of the pipe drive mechanism; whereby the pipe drive mechanism is configured to effect rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) without relying on the meshing between the first and second toothed gear portions (107, 108) of the first pipe urging element engaging arrangement. the pipe drive mechanism further comprising a second pipe urging element engagement arrangement providing a second operative connection between the first pipe urging element and the second pipe urging element the second pipe urging element engagement arrangement configured to guide rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) during operation of the pipe drive mechanism; whereby the pipe drive mechanism is configured to effect rotation of the first and second pipe urging elements (105, 106) without relying on the meshing between the first and second toothed gear portions (107, 108) of the first pipe urging element engaging arrangement.