0:00:05 > 0:00:07Everyone craves success.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08OK, perfect.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10We all love a winner.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12CHEERING
0:00:12 > 0:00:14But no-one makes it to the top on their own.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Behind every star is a team of people, immensely talented,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22powerful in their own worlds.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25- I need two crab on the pass now. - Yes, Chef!
0:00:25 > 0:00:28But invisible to us - until now.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Musical director!
0:00:30 > 0:00:32I am an absolute genius at what I do.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36These are the stories of the stars
0:00:36 > 0:00:39and the teams who strive to make them shine.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Job done.
0:00:42 > 0:00:43CHEERING
0:00:43 > 0:00:46This is the world of the VIP People.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52It's 6.32!
0:00:52 > 0:00:54You betcha. Jump in the shower.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55DRUMROLL EFFECT
0:00:55 > 0:00:59I've checked with my wife, and she doesn't mind.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01The Radio 2 Chris Evans Breakfast Show
0:01:01 > 0:01:04is the most popular radio show in Britain,
0:01:04 > 0:01:10broadcasting live between 6.30 and 9.30 every weekday morning.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Its winning formula of music...
0:01:13 > 0:01:17# ..Me somebody to love... #
0:01:17 > 0:01:18..celebrity guests...
0:01:18 > 0:01:21I'm not a practical man, we know that.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24- ..crazy jingles...- Yay!
0:01:24 > 0:01:26..and audience interaction...
0:01:26 > 0:01:28- Did any of the boys dress as girls?- No.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- What does that tell you? - That boys don't like girls.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34..attracts over nine million listeners.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36That's the same as Chris
0:01:36 > 0:01:40performing to 100 Wembley stadiums every single day.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42But obviously you can't think about that,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45because otherwise you'd be too nervous to speak.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51But being Britain's most successful radio DJ isn't a one-man show.
0:01:51 > 0:01:57Behind Chris is an expert team of VIP People working under pressure
0:01:57 > 0:01:59to deliver brilliant radio to his listeners.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Helping Chris serve up the best breakfast in Britain
0:02:04 > 0:02:07is the man in charge of what gets heard when,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09the Breakfast Show's producer.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Supporting him is a production team ready for anything,
0:02:14 > 0:02:16on air and off.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21There's a studio manager taking care of the technology
0:02:21 > 0:02:23during the live transmission.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28And finally, the sports reporter, who not only tells listeners
0:02:28 > 0:02:31the latest sports news, but is game for a laugh with Chris.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Ever since he was a young boy, Chris dreamt of being on the radio.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45I've always wanted to be a DJ. I used to give time checks when I was seven.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47To my mum. "Mum, it's 12 minutes past seven!"
0:02:47 > 0:02:50"I know. I'm a grown-up. I know what time it is, thank you."
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Chris became a professional DJ over 20 years ago,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59and that led to a hugely successful TV career.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Good evening, friends, welcome to your Friday One Show with Alex Jones!
0:03:02 > 0:03:04And Chris Evans!
0:03:04 > 0:03:07But he can't keep away from his first love, and he's been
0:03:07 > 0:03:11presenting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show for the past three years.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13Any better, I'd be twins.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16And to keep nine million listeners coming back each day,
0:03:16 > 0:03:21Chris and his team of VIP People have to be at the top of their game.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28All the producers on this team are like the SAS of radio producers.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Especially on Fridays.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35The biggest day for the Breakfast Show,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39when a top celebrity pops into the studio.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Recent guests include Kylie Minogue, Daniel Radcliffe
0:03:42 > 0:03:44and Robbie Williams.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Chris will be working his magic
0:03:47 > 0:03:50on Strictly star Darcey Bussell later on.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Morning!
0:03:52 > 0:03:55# Monday, Tuesday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday... #
0:03:55 > 0:03:57We're following the Breakfast Show team as they crank up
0:03:57 > 0:03:59the pace on Mondays
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and keep the craziness going all the way
0:04:02 > 0:04:04till their star-spangled Fridays.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06# Good morning! #
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- Hi, good morning.- It's 5am on Monday
0:04:12 > 0:04:16and the start of the working day for the Breakfast Show's team.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19The first person in the studio is producer Andy Warrell.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24It's his job to make sure Chris has everything he needs to go on air.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Part of my routine, as soon as I get to the studio, select the jingles,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30make sure the music is in the right order.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32Chris can be a bit snuffly first thing in the morning,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35so that should keep him going for the next three hours.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38You hear these noises on the radio, you may think he's playing them
0:04:38 > 0:04:41from one of these machines, no, he's doing them live. One, two, three.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Sometimes all together.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Producer Andy is in charge
0:04:48 > 0:04:50of planning the breakfast show each day,
0:04:50 > 0:04:55from what music will be played to which guests will appear on air.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59During the live broadcast, he's the only member of the team
0:04:59 > 0:05:01who communicates directly with Chris.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Growing up, Andy had sporting ambitions.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Until the age of 10 or 11 I wanted to be a professional cricketer.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Unfortunately, I'm no good at cricket.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21So he turned to his other passion, music, into a career in radio.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Going to give him a cheer?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Andy's been producing the Breakfast Show for the past year.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I'm in charge of everything that happens,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32really, during that three hours. Five times a week.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- What are we going to do now? - I'm thinking rapidly.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40So the listeners don't hear what's happening behind the scenes,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Andy is separated from Chris by a piece of soundproof glass.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48From this control room, Andy keeps everything on schedule, gives Chris
0:05:48 > 0:05:53information, and gets him anything he needs to make the show happen.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- It's really bad, the whistling on records.- Oh! Bad whistling.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59I'm the person at the front of everything,
0:05:59 > 0:06:00face to face with Chris,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03who obviously needs a lot of fast answers for when he wants to
0:06:03 > 0:06:06do his best possible performance on the air every day.
0:06:08 > 0:06:126:25 AM, and Andy is ready in the studio.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13Now back to my side of the glass.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18But with five minutes until he's live on air,
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- Chris is only just arriving in the building.- Morning!
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Chris is at his best when he's at his most spontaneous.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29It's my job to make sure that when he comes in,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32and there's only time for a quick hello and the microphone goes on,
0:06:32 > 0:06:34we both know that, yeah, we're ready for this show.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38And sometimes Chris can be a little bit too last-minute.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41There was one day that I didn't make it, but nobody noticed,
0:06:41 > 0:06:42so let's not talk about that.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47- Today, he's here just in time. - Thank you, Tina.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Morning, and welcome to the all-new same-as-last-year show.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56Now the show has started,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Andy's focused on everything that's happening on air.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04We have to hear the eight o'clock news on time,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06so I'm just lining up a few different options here.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08He's plotted out on paper
0:07:08 > 0:07:12a minute-by-minute plan of the three-hour broadcast,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15from what time news, sports and travel happen
0:07:15 > 0:07:18to how long Chris has to talk between songs.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20If you're looking at this and thinking,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24"Can't you just turn up and make it up as you go along?",
0:07:24 > 0:07:26there is an element to which we do that,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29but we do need to have a structure.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Without this kind of basis, it would be a complete shambles,
0:07:32 > 0:07:33and so would I.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Using his plan,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Andy alerts Chris to what's coming up next on the show.
0:07:38 > 0:07:4157:49 for that.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Because of the soundproof glass,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47they communicate with each other via a machine called a talkback.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I press that button and then using my little microphone here,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53what I say goes directly to his headphones.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Is that right? Five dives in 90 minutes? Seriously?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Was that the case? I can't believe that.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- It's eight o'clock now.- Hi there. Can someone check that out, please?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07And when Chris needs to grab Andy's attention,
0:08:07 > 0:08:11- he's got his own special nickname for him.- Superproducer Mr Tickle!
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Mr Tickle!
0:08:13 > 0:08:17He's cool, calm, collected, but of course, very long arms.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21I think my arms are a perfectly normal length, really.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24I can't believe Mr Tickle is defensive about his nickname.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26He knows exactly how he got it.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Somebody tie them down, please!
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Look at those arms!
0:08:29 > 0:08:33However long Mr Tickle's, or rather Andy's, arms are,
0:08:33 > 0:08:37they're not long enough to carry the whole show alone.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I'll do you a separate thing.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40I think it might be worth it, yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Aside from my own very long arms,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45there are a number of other tentacles, if you like,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47coming off those arms.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50Helping Andy make the biggest breakfast show in Britain
0:08:50 > 0:08:51is a small production team
0:08:51 > 0:08:54who all have different roles while the show is on air.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58We've got our newsreader Tina in there.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Lisa, who is here, booking all the guests
0:09:02 > 0:09:03and picking up anything we need.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07And Carlene, who is running around doing absolutely everything today.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10Making tea for Chris, very important job.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14- Lynn in here, doing the travel. Hello, Lynn.- Hello!
0:09:14 > 0:09:16And Graham in here, making the podcast
0:09:16 > 0:09:20and listening out for any other bits or clips that we need.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Graham is the man who's all over it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24All over it.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27And finally, our guide and next VIP Person,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30assistant producer Tom Billington.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32One of the beauties of this show
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and working with someone like Chris Evans as well
0:09:35 > 0:09:37is that every day is different.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Hi, Nick, it's Tom here from Radio 2.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46Tom is an assistant producer, or AP,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50working as part of the team that supports producer Andy
0:09:50 > 0:09:52while Chris is on air.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55He writes scripts, sources sound effects,
0:09:55 > 0:09:59and looks after the celebrity guest on the big Friday shows.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- There you go. - Like Chris, as a child,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Tom used to play at being a DJ.
0:10:09 > 0:10:10Lovely stuff.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Me and my friends used to record each other making radio programmes.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18And I used to then listen to the professionals or listen to
0:10:18 > 0:10:20the radio in the car with my mum and dad and think,
0:10:20 > 0:10:22"it would be great to do that one day."
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Yeah, OK.
0:10:24 > 0:10:25Extend it a little bit?
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Tom has been working on the Breakfast Show for 18 months.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33As an AP in live radio, he has to expect the unexpected
0:10:33 > 0:10:37and react quickly to anything Andy or Chris ask of him.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41Ask Neil what track he wants us to play off Alfie's album.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46When the pressure is on, when you've really got to do something
0:10:46 > 0:10:50and you've got five minutes to do it, that's the best part, for me.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Do you want to just come through, just a second?
0:10:53 > 0:10:56It's really buzzing. It's great. I love it when it's like this.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Each of the APs is given specific parts of the show to look after
0:11:02 > 0:11:04when Chris is on air.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Today, Tom is in the control booth helping Andy
0:11:08 > 0:11:11field requests from Chris and manage texts from listeners.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14There will be thousands of texts coming in today
0:11:14 > 0:11:15and that happens every single day.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Every one that comes in, I have to cast my eye over.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Chris loves to hear from his listeners,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26and it's up to Tom to pick out the best messages that are sent in.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28"Me and the kids, that's Niamh and Tilly,
0:11:28 > 0:11:31"are up early getting ready for school as mum, that's Emma,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34"has left at 5:15 to continue to prepare
0:11:34 > 0:11:37"for the opening of her new cake shop!" Hurrah!
0:11:37 > 0:11:39If you're doing the text machine and take a text through,
0:11:39 > 0:11:42you've chosen that text and thought it was funny
0:11:42 > 0:11:45or you thought it would sound good on air, and then Chris takes it
0:11:45 > 0:11:48and runs with it, and that turns it into something else, it's brilliant.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Marginally better if it were a pie shop, but that's all right.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Before we go, Ed, whatever you do, don't forget to give Brad...
0:11:55 > 0:11:58At 9:30 AM, the show is over.
0:11:58 > 0:11:59See you later!
0:11:59 > 0:12:03And although Chris can head home, there's still plenty of work to do
0:12:03 > 0:12:07for the rest of the team as they prepare for the next day's show.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Andy's straight on to sorting out the music
0:12:10 > 0:12:12that will be played tomorrow.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14There's many fun parts to this job,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17but one of them is actually going through picking out
0:12:17 > 0:12:18a really nice variety of songs.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Radio 2 has a giant MP3 player which automatically generates music
0:12:24 > 0:12:28to be played on the station 24 hours a day.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Going through tomorrow's music,
0:12:30 > 0:12:34making a few little changes to what the computer's given me.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Basically juggling around the music schedule
0:12:36 > 0:12:40so we've got a nice mix of old and new music in all the right places.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42Andy decides on what order songs are played in,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46starting with the most important track - the opening number.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50You want to make sure that the show starts with a bit of a bang.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52GUITAR SOLO
0:12:52 > 0:12:55It's familiar to a lot of our kind of listeners,
0:12:55 > 0:12:57got a nice kind of bit of oomph to it.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03They've been hard at work since 5am, but at two o'clock
0:13:03 > 0:13:07in the afternoon, the Breakfast Show team can finally call it a day.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Bye.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12That is Monday done and dusted.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14It's time to go home. And go to bed.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16And then do it all again on Tuesday.
0:13:16 > 0:13:186:32!
0:13:18 > 0:13:19Happy Tuesday!
0:13:19 > 0:13:23CHEERING
0:13:23 > 0:13:27OK. So we're on the air, and hopefully it'll be that song
0:13:27 > 0:13:31we talked about yesterday, opening the show. How about that?
0:13:31 > 0:13:33Obviously, Chris being Chris,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35he has to add in a Tarzan sound effect over the top of it.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40You're listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44Chris packs the Breakfast Show with sound effects and jingles
0:13:44 > 0:13:46that he plays direct from his DJ desk.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51My favourite sound effect is probably this one.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53- CHILD:- Yay!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56That's my son, Noah, saying "Yay!"
0:13:56 > 0:13:58But it's the production team who make sure
0:13:58 > 0:14:02he has all the sounds he needs at his fingertips.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05We've got a database full of amazing sound effects
0:14:05 > 0:14:08and we can download them and just stick them on here.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Chris has over 500 sound effects to choose from.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14This is a good one!
0:14:14 > 0:14:16WHIP CRACKS
0:14:16 > 0:14:18This is like a toy, it is like a toy.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22And Chris even gets to play at making some sound effects himself.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27SQUEAKING
0:14:27 > 0:14:28Like that.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Joyous Jo is in charge of all the you-know-what!
0:14:32 > 0:14:33SQUEAKING
0:14:33 > 0:14:36With so many noises happening on air,
0:14:36 > 0:14:38it's our next VIP Person's job
0:14:38 > 0:14:41to make sure the show sounds exactly as it should.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Studio manager Jo Miflin.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I've always been very interested in music.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50I've always loved pressing buttons and working with gadgets.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Studio manager Jo is responsible for how the show sounds.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01She makes sure Chris, his music and his guests
0:15:01 > 0:15:03are broadcast at the right volume,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05and she's in charge of the technology
0:15:05 > 0:15:07that keeps the programme on air.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15When Jo couldn't decide between becoming a vet or an actress,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17she tapped into her techie side.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19It wasn't something I thought about doing,
0:15:19 > 0:15:23because it's mostly boys that tend to become sound engineers.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27But when I discovered it, it felt absolutely perfectly right for me.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30Jo has been a studio manager for nine years,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32and is one of several engineers
0:15:32 > 0:15:35that work shifts on the Breakfast Show.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37And Chris's presenting style
0:15:37 > 0:15:39means that Jo has to be ready for anything.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42One of the things that Chris likes doing when he's on the radio
0:15:42 > 0:15:47is to move around, to stand up, to sit down, to shout, to get intimate.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51You can start your dive, and on the way, you go for a treble.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55- His job is to create a picture with sound.- Two, three, four, five!
0:15:55 > 0:15:58From my point of view, I'm just assisting him
0:15:58 > 0:16:00in creating that picture.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02However they do that counting thing.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Jo controls the studio sound using a large mixing desk,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10with over 200 buttons, faders and switches.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14There are many, many, many magic buttons in the studio.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17But one false move could spell radio disaster.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21From this position here, you could take anything off air.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28This one, that says "Pres", is Chris's microphone.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Close this fader, if Chris was talking, it wouldn't go out on air.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36I could accidentally lean on one of these buttons.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40If I take that bottom off, it's going to reset the desk.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44This is the button which powers up the studio.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46If I was to turn that button of, the whole studio would go off air.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51With great power comes great responsibility.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54- Did you get the level on?- I did. - Brilliant. OK.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58And like Andy, Jo's job means she had to be at her control desk
0:16:58 > 0:17:00for the full three hours of the show,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04which can present an altogether different type of problem.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07As you know, we drink a lot of tea on this show.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09How to fit in a loo break.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11What I do is, I wait until the Gobsmackers,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- which is two songs back-to-back.- Go!
0:17:16 > 0:17:19I always wait for the news at seven for the first visit,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22and then quite often pop in during the eight o'clock news as well.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25When I have to go to the toilet, it depends what I need to do whilst
0:17:25 > 0:17:29I'm in there, and I'll select the duration of record required.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32I can't wait any longer.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35I've been meaning to go in the news for the last three hours.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38I'm going to the toilet. No-one is going to stop me!
0:17:38 > 0:17:41We've seen how the Breakfast Show team keep Chris Evans
0:17:41 > 0:17:46at his crazy best, making sure he is on schedule, sounding great
0:17:46 > 0:17:48and in touch with his listeners.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52With three more days of early mornings still to come,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55will sports reporter Vassos keep a straight face
0:17:55 > 0:17:57when he makes a mistake?
0:17:57 > 0:17:59And can the team keep up the pace
0:17:59 > 0:18:02until their biggest show of the week on Friday?
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Featuring Strictly Come Dancing star Darcey Bussell.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08BEEPING
0:18:08 > 0:18:11# Ladies and gentlemen This is your radio talking
0:18:11 > 0:18:15# And we want to wish you all A very good morning
0:18:15 > 0:18:21# Rise and shine, sleepyhead Now's the time, get out of bed
0:18:21 > 0:18:23# This is your wake-up call. #
0:18:23 > 0:18:27Halfway through the week and the early mornings
0:18:27 > 0:18:31on the Breakfast Show can start to take their toll on the team.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33Least favourite part of the job
0:18:33 > 0:18:36is when the alarm goes off at four in the morning.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41Any time an alarm clock goes off when it starts with a four,
0:18:41 > 0:18:42it's a bad alarm time.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46I set my alarm for 4:20 every day.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48Today I had the luxury of two extra minutes.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50I went to bed last night, and I said,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52"I'm going to do 4:22 tomorrow."
0:18:52 > 0:18:54You never get used to it.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57You wander round basically
0:18:57 > 0:19:00in a state of semi-jetlag permanently.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02CHRIS: 6:36!
0:19:02 > 0:19:05Good morning, welcome to the programme! How are we today?
0:19:05 > 0:19:10So it's a good job our next VIP person has Chris to keep him awake.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Sports reporter Vassos Alexander.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- Here's the sport.- Let's talk cricket.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Almost celebration time.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20We're outraged on your behalf.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I've been doing this job now for about a year and a half,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25and I love it.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33As part of the on-air news team, Vassos chooses which sports stories
0:19:33 > 0:19:36to report on before broadcasting them to the nation.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38But he's also Chris's right-hand man
0:19:38 > 0:19:41for fun facts and comedy conversation.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49Reporting the sport on the radio is a dream job for Vassos.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53When I was very young I used to listen to the sport on the radio,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and I was absolutely captivated by it.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58The commentaries, bringing it to life just through the radio.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00I loved that. I thought, "I'd love to do that."
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Vassos has been a sports journalist for over ten years,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09and presents two sports bulletins every morning on the Breakfast Show.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11It's my call what sports stories to do,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14and you have to always think about who the audience is.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17The audience aren't a sort of sport audience,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20so I try and tell a tale that's interesting to everybody.
0:20:20 > 0:20:22It's 7am on Wednesday
0:20:22 > 0:20:25and Vassos is getting ready for his first report of the day.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27We've got a bulletin in about half an hour's time.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31And today there's a big story in the football news.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Bradford, which is a tiny little football club
0:20:33 > 0:20:34right at the bottom of the league,
0:20:34 > 0:20:38they've beaten Aston Villa, a premier league club, big club.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40They've beaten Arsenal, they've beaten Wigan!
0:20:40 > 0:20:45Vassos is selecting audio highlights from the radio broadcast
0:20:45 > 0:20:48of last night's match to use in his bulletin.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I'm finding the goals, I'm editing them and then
0:20:51 > 0:20:55saving them on my computer and then I'll e-mail them to the programme.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57COMMENTARY
0:20:57 > 0:20:58Andy has given Vassos
0:20:58 > 0:21:02a fixed length of time to present his bulletin on air.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The music for the sports bulletin lasts two minutes
0:21:05 > 0:21:09so I have to be very aware how long each clip is
0:21:09 > 0:21:11and how long what I'm writing lasts.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15And he writes every word himself from scratch.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17You do have to be good at writing.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20It is as much what you leave out than what you include.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23I've got two minutes. You can't afford to waffle.
0:21:23 > 0:21:29Typed, timed and printed, Vassos is ready to go on air.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30Sport, please.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Now, I know it's sometimes a bit of a shock, early in the morning,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36to hear shouty goal commentary, so...sorry about this.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40Carl McHugh has got a third goal of the night!
0:21:40 > 0:21:44But partway through the bulletin, it looks like Vassos
0:21:44 > 0:21:46may not have his timings quite right.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49To keep the show on schedule, Andy asks him
0:21:49 > 0:21:51to speed up the rest of his report.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Up to Hastings.
0:21:52 > 0:21:57This is Sean Ray, he's the manager of non-league Hastings United.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59But Vassos takes it all in his stride.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04I didn't miss the music, but I nearly did.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I interrupted one of the clips as well.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Two mistakes in one bulletin, that's, you know...
0:22:09 > 0:22:11par for the course.
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Chris's spontaneous presenting style allows any mistakes
0:22:15 > 0:22:17to be all part of the entertainment.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I'm actually laughing here in the studio, I'm laughing out loud.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23And although it sounds like everything Chris says
0:22:23 > 0:22:26is made up on the spot, there are some parts of his on-air chat
0:22:26 > 0:22:30which Andy and his team script in advance.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Here's our team on today.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35When you hear Chris at the start of the show talk about everybody
0:22:35 > 0:22:37and who's doing what on the programme today...
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Lady Lisa, cranking up the text message machine
0:22:39 > 0:22:41for your Good Morning Chris Club requests.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43"Lady Lisa's cranking up the text message machine
0:22:43 > 0:22:46"for your Good Morning Chris Club requests." That's good.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Tip-top Tom is tackling the e-mail inbox.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51"Tip-top Tom is tackling the e-mail inbox.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53"Golden Graham is prepping the podcast."
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Golden Graham is prepping the podcast.
0:22:56 > 0:22:57It's Andy's job to make sure
0:22:57 > 0:23:01different scripts written by different members of the team
0:23:01 > 0:23:04will all sound the same when Chris reads them on air.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07With everything that's written for the show,
0:23:07 > 0:23:10I've just got to make sure that the house style is right for Chris.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12And it's Chris's skill as a broadcaster
0:23:12 > 0:23:15which brings these scripts to life.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17As an early morning wake-up song you can't beat it,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Tony's Big-Screen Belter from the movie Back To The Future,
0:23:20 > 0:23:23here's Chuck Berry with Johnny B Goode.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25Lynn's next. She's always good.
0:23:26 > 0:23:27Once a script is finished with,
0:23:27 > 0:23:30there's only one place Chris can put it
0:23:30 > 0:23:32so he doesn't end up reading it twice.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35So it's stress, stress, stress, all day, all the way,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38- says Charles in North Yorkshire. - And that's on the floor.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42But at least he tidies up after himself.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Rubbish! Rubbish!
0:23:44 > 0:23:46Some people think the show is rubbish.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49This part of it is rubbish, cos this is the rubbish.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- The actual rubbish, yes.- The actual rubbish.- This is the actual rubbish.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55And it is technically the contents of the show, so you could say
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- the content of the show is rubbish. Eventually.- Yeah.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00- Thank you.- Morning!
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Happy Thursday, everyone.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04It's 6:32!
0:24:06 > 0:24:10The demands of live radio mean that even by Thursday...
0:24:10 > 0:24:11OK, quick as you can.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15..there's no chance of the Breakfast Show team putting their feet up.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17I think Carlene is definitely
0:24:17 > 0:24:19getting exercise in this morning, yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21She's going to need a lie down after the show.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24People have said, when they come and watch the show,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27"My goodness me, it's so chaotic and it sounds so smooth on the air."
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Obviously there are busy times,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32constantly having to turn things around quickly, make changes
0:24:32 > 0:24:36at the last-minute - it's just one of the challenges altogether.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37It's more fun than stress.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42So does making the same show day in, day out, week in, week out,
0:24:42 > 0:24:44ever become boring?
0:24:44 > 0:24:46There's no monotony at all.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49It's excitement and it's adrenaline, it's just a buzz every day,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52whether it's the first Monday after a break
0:24:52 > 0:24:56or the 16th Friday without a break. And at the end of it, of course,
0:24:56 > 0:24:58I have my massive sleep on a Friday night.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01# Friday I'm in Love. #
0:25:01 > 0:25:04On 88 to 91 FM...
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It's the biggest day of the breakfast team's week,
0:25:07 > 0:25:11the celebrity-filled Friday show.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Today's star guest is Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21This morning, she'll be spending an hour on air with Chris.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24But first, is the job of assistant producer Tom
0:25:24 > 0:25:25to give her a warm welcome.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Hello, how are you doing? All right? I'm Tom.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29'The reason for speaking to Darcey
0:25:29 > 0:25:31'when she gets here is just to calm her down.'
0:25:31 > 0:25:34Even though they're celebrities who come in here,
0:25:34 > 0:25:35they still sometimes get nervous.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Thanks for your music choices.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- They were really good. - Did you like them?- Yeah!
0:25:39 > 0:25:41As well as making Darcey feel at home,
0:25:41 > 0:25:46Tom's job is to discuss the music she'd like to play on the show.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48I've always been a Lenny Kravitz fan.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52And brief her on what will happen when she's in the studio.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55Darcey's here, everyone! 'It's a great part of the job, really.'
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Little bit of stardust and celebrity coming through,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00it makes it exciting.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Now that Tom has Darcey fully prepared to go on air...
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Nice to see you, my God! Such a thrill.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09..It's all down to Chris.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Watched on by producer Andy and studio manager Joe.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16Would you like the Greatest Dancer or would you like a bit of this?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- # Let's dance... # Bit of David Bowie?- David Bowie.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21There's something special about knowing that you're
0:26:21 > 0:26:24going into a weekend, you look back and you think, do you know what,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26that was a pretty good week, wasn't it?
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Rounded off by a big star coming in, chatting to Chris,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32playing some of their favourite records.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34It's a great way to end the week.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38And as it's Friday, Vassos also gets in on the celebrity action.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43It's his job to involve Darcey in the listeners' e-mails and text.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47"I capsized a dinghy with Darcey just before she started Swan Lake.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50- "She wasn't supposed to do anything risky!" Is that true?- It's true!
0:26:50 > 0:26:55So how does Vassos find the switch from sports news to celebrity chat?
0:26:55 > 0:26:57It's nice to just kind of interact and find out
0:26:57 > 0:27:00what these people are like as people.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02If you're not different and you're not in awe...
0:27:02 > 0:27:06Chris isn't, and he has fantastic interviews with these people.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10- You'll be there, won't you, Chris? - Of course! In my tutu.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13And with the end of Darcey's interview...
0:27:13 > 0:27:15That was your Darcey Bussell!
0:27:15 > 0:27:19..that's another Friday, and another week of shows, over.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23It's been a great morning. Non-stop from start to finish.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24But a lot of fun.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28Thank you so much. Well done. It was great. Thanks a lot.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Often people are really buzzing.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32They're always buzzing after a Friday show, to be honest.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36And what better way to celebrate five days of fab radio
0:27:36 > 0:27:40than with a nice cup of tea and a sit down?
0:27:40 > 0:27:44So all smiles around here now as we prepare for the weekend.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47And then Monday.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49# Express yourself
0:27:52 > 0:27:54# Express yourself
0:27:57 > 0:28:00# See it's not what you look like
0:28:00 > 0:28:03# When you're doin' what you're doin'
0:28:03 > 0:28:05# Express yourself... #
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd