0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's the most famous shopping street in the world.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07In the heart of Britain's capital city.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12A mile and a half long, with 30 million visitors each year.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14With some of the world's most famous shops...
0:00:14 > 0:00:16..biggest stars...
0:00:16 > 0:00:17'Kate Moss.'
0:00:17 > 0:00:19..and busiest stations.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Sorry, guys. Stand back for me.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24What does it take to keep it running 24 hours a day...
0:00:24 > 0:00:27It's the busiest street in the world. It needs constant attention.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30- seven days a week? - Oi! Clear off!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Welcome to Oxford Street. Welcome to the pickpocket team.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Are you ready, London?!
0:00:35 > 0:00:37A street that never sleeps.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40This sort of thing wouldn't happen anywhere else.
0:00:42 > 0:00:43Oxford Street.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47Coming up...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Police are called when a passenger squabble at
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Britain's busiest station threatens to overwhelm the platforms.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..John Lewis have a mountain to climb if they want to unveil
0:01:02 > 0:01:04their Christmas lights...
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Three, two, one!
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Yes! Yes, yes.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10..and the buskers of Oxford Street.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14They're looking for their big break and has one of them just found it?
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Look behind you, it's The Jacksons. Mr Jackson!
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Oxford Circus is the busiest station on the Underground network.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31With three different Tube lines meeting in one spot,
0:01:31 > 0:01:36the smallest delay can easily snowball into major disruption
0:01:36 > 0:01:39and affect the three million passengers
0:01:39 > 0:01:40that use it every day.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- Yeah, platform number three. - 'Yeah, I see it, mate.'
0:01:43 > 0:01:47It's rush hour and Michael Kemp the station controller at Oxford Circus
0:01:47 > 0:01:50is focused on keeping everything moving.
0:01:50 > 0:01:51He has to respond quickly
0:01:51 > 0:01:55to any incident that could result in disruption.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58And it looks like such an event has occurred.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00There's something going on.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03There's a PEA been operated on a southbound Victoria line train,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06so I need to go and investigate and see what the problem is down there.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11A PEA, or passenger emergency alarm, has been activated on a train
0:02:11 > 0:02:14in the station, bringing the entire underground line to a halt.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18This is the worst possible news for the station during rush hour.
0:02:23 > 0:02:28Activating a PEA is a big deal and should only be used as a last resort
0:02:28 > 0:02:31in serious situations, because of the disruption it causes.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Despite this, Tube staff deal with around
0:02:35 > 0:02:391,600 PEA incidents a year.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Yeah, whereabouts are you on the platform are you? Over.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44There's no information about what's happened in this case.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47The alarm means the train can't move off
0:02:47 > 0:02:51and passenger numbers are building up to potentially dangerous levels.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- Are you all right?- I don't know.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59I do know what's going on with the incident people.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01- The one in the black jacket?- Yeah.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04It's a confusing situation and the train driver
0:03:04 > 0:03:06isn't sure what's happened.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08What's going on?
0:03:08 > 0:03:12Although the details are hazy, it seems that a heated altercation
0:03:12 > 0:03:15broke out between two groups on the train.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The woman Michael's talking to is one of the parties
0:03:18 > 0:03:21and she's claiming racist language was used.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24The other party is stood nearby.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And if you wish to press charges the police will take a statement
0:03:27 > 0:03:28from you and from them.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32The seriousness of the situation means the British Transport Police's
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Network Incident Response Team have been called to attend.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39They've called the place, it takes time to get here.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43With hundreds of people stranded by the shutdown,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45tempers are becoming flared.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47INDISTINCT SPEECH
0:03:47 > 0:03:50OK, let me speak, yeah. Zero through to base, are you receiving? Over.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Later in the programme...
0:03:52 > 0:03:55police arrive and try to get to the bottom of things.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10At the West End of Oxford Street is the Art Deco, 700-room,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12luxury Thistle Hotel.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19While it's one of the few hotels directly on Oxford Street,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23it's competing with dozens of other top hotels throughout the West End.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29One of the ways the hotels compete is on the quality
0:04:29 > 0:04:31of their customer service.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34If the hotel wants to keep guests coming back year after year,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36it has to create the right atmosphere
0:04:36 > 0:04:39and make sure their every need is catered for.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45Someone who knows this more than most is restaurant host Biram.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Another busy night tonight, but it's fine.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51We can do it, I feel you can do it. Yes! Definitely.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Originally from Senegal, it's Biram's job to entice people into
0:04:55 > 0:04:59the restaurant and make sure things go smoothly once they're there.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Marmor Grill, yes. This is my house,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04that's the Marmor Grill.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07Hello, madame. Everything is OK? Yeah, the weather was nice, as well.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- It was beautiful. - Thank you very much. Enjoy.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11HE LAUGHS
0:05:11 > 0:05:13He might seem to be permanently good humoured,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17but Biram takes customer service very seriously.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18I try to make people happy
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and try to make people comfortable in the restaurant.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25The hotel chain runs a badge scheme for its staff, to encourage
0:05:25 > 0:05:27the highest levels of customer service.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Can you follow me, please?
0:05:29 > 0:05:33Different colour badges represent different levels achieved.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38The badge that I have on my jacket is about the customer service
0:05:38 > 0:05:40satisfaction. Now, I'm in green.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Two steps to get the black one, yeah. I think I can have it, yes.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49With a little bit of effort, yes. Biram, yes - you can do it!
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Tonight, he's trying something different
0:05:51 > 0:05:53to entice people in to the Marmor Grill.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57He's got one of the chefs to cook samples of the restaurant menu
0:05:57 > 0:05:58in the foyer.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03You do have some food. We're going to give our customers to taste.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08It's called live cooking and Biram's hoping it will lure people
0:06:08 > 0:06:10to stay and eat at the restaurant.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15I just want all my customers to come and taste all these lovely things.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21Things are slow to begin with, which is a problem.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25Taking a chef out of the kitchen in this way costs money.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Madame, do you want to try the live cooking tonight?
0:06:28 > 0:06:32- I'm all right, thank you very much. - Yes, madame?- I'm OK, thank you.- Yes?
0:06:32 > 0:06:34You're welcome. He doesn't want it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40But Biram soon finds someone willing to try his live cooking.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43- You know, you can try this one of them.- What is this?
0:06:43 > 0:06:46This is the pork with the duck, mix it together with the duck terrine.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- Pork? What's the duck? - Duck is...canard.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50- Where are you from, sir? - I'm from Norway.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53I don't know how they call it in Norway. It is duck, in English.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54All right, yeah.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57- The bird, the big birds. - HE CLUCKS
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- What, is it turkey? - It's kind of turkey,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02- but it's not that big. It's like. - HE CLUCKS.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Try it, you're going to like it anyway.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Biram's convinced the man to take a bite
0:07:06 > 0:07:09but his translation isn't going so well.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Is this the kind of duck that lives in the trees?
0:07:13 > 0:07:17- No, you find it in the lake. - Has it the hair like this?- No?
0:07:17 > 0:07:19No, that's chicken, right? The duck is...
0:07:19 > 0:07:22What kind of duck is this?
0:07:22 > 0:07:24- That's a normal duck. - Just a normal duck, yeah?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Eatable duck, yeah, the eatable duck, yeah, the normal duck.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Eventually, however, the message does get through.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33- It has a green head? - Yeah, that's correct.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35- Yes.- We call it stokkand.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Stokkand. Oh, that's great.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- So, we know a new word now - stokkand.- Stokkand, yeah.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44I will write it down, I have a new word now - stokkand.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48The man is one of three Arsenal-supporting Norwegian friends
0:07:48 > 0:07:50who have come to London for the FA Cup final.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- You can try it, and... - They're only in the hotel
0:07:53 > 0:07:56to pick up their match tickets and weren't planning on eating here,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59but Biram's spotted an opportunity.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03You know what I'm going to give you? The menu for the Marmor Grill.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05After, you can keep it with you.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- Mm-hmm.- Yeah, and you'll stay in the hotel,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10you can pop in any time you want for dinner.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Biram continues his rounds, checking on the diners he does have.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17If there's anything, just let me know,
0:08:17 > 0:08:18I'm the host in this restaurant.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20- Enjoy that?- Yeah, it's lovely.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- It is tender...- Yeah. - That's nice, lovely.- Thank you.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24And like it, enjoy your food.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Later in the programme, Biram snares his Norwegians,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30but will he live to regret it?
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Hello, Norwich!
0:08:33 > 0:08:36It's triple gin and tonics.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39I wasn't aware they are a little bit drunk.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Christmas comes early on Oxford Street -
0:08:50 > 0:08:52October, to be exact.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55The festive season sees the whole street transform
0:08:55 > 0:08:57into a colourful mass of decorations.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Many of the stores compete to have the best display.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07Shoppers from across the country will travel down to London
0:09:07 > 0:09:10to see the spectacle and inside this van are the lights
0:09:10 > 0:09:13that department store John Lewis hope will make them stand out
0:09:13 > 0:09:14from the crowd.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19The lighting display is a central part of their Christmas promotion.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23They hope it will help them generate millions of pounds in sales,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27so getting the display right is crucial,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30as John Vasey of specialist decorating team Springfield
0:09:30 > 0:09:32knows only too well.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36The Christmas lights on Oxford Street are huge.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40It's the world's busiest, most important shopping street.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43This is a job that we have to get right. There's a lot of competition.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46All the stores want to look the best on Oxford Street and, this year,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49John Lewis have got the switch-on event, which means that
0:09:49 > 0:09:54TV, radio, will all be coming here next week to look at their lights.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58The 12-strong Springfield team have been hard at work on the lights
0:09:58 > 0:10:00for five days already.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02Today, they plan on finishing the job.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04They'll be mounting and hanging the last of the lights,
0:10:04 > 0:10:06and then, at the end of the day,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10they'll perform a final test, to check they're all working.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13For team member Dean Brandon, hanging Christmas lights is
0:10:13 > 0:10:17the culmination of a much longer preparation process.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Pre-rigging everything, checking the wirings...
0:10:20 > 0:10:22We've also got to get all the decorations prepared
0:10:22 > 0:10:25back at our base in Guildford, so we start a long time before Christmas.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27When Christmas comes, it's quite a relief for us.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We, sort of, start doing... thinking about Christmas
0:10:30 > 0:10:32about a month before Christmas.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37We're putting up the light curtains on the front of the building.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39In this section alone, the bit that we haven't done
0:10:39 > 0:10:42along the front of Oxford Street, there's 13 bars,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and we've also got 13 round the side there, 13 round the other side...
0:10:45 > 0:10:47I don't know why it's the unlucky 13 number.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50And we've got 18 down at the other end.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53This is the section we want to get finished by the end of today.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56The lights will hang down from the roof to create a light curtain.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58The power cables to make them twinkle
0:10:58 > 0:11:01will have to be lifted up the outside of the building.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03These'll be lifted up to the roof, but you can see,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05the harness gives 15 power outlets,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09so, from each one of these bars, we can power 15 sets of lights.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12And we build that across the front of the building into a giant panel,
0:11:12 > 0:11:1570 metres wide and 16 metres high.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18And these are giant strings of Christmas lights.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21They, too, will be attached and pulled up the building.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26It'll, like, connect to there. When they get up to the top,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29they'll be simply screwed into the socket there.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Like everything on Oxford Street,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34it's bigger and more complicated than anywhere else in Britain.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39This is how we do it here. Pull them up, one string at a time.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41Takes a long time to cover the front of the building
0:11:41 > 0:11:44in individual strings. Other places, we use cherry pickers,
0:11:44 > 0:11:46because we can do about 20 strings at a time.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49We can't put a cherry picker down in Oxford Street, it's too busy,
0:11:49 > 0:11:50so we pull them up one at a time.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54The team have to put up a mind-boggling total
0:11:54 > 0:11:58of 120,000 lights on the exterior of the building
0:11:58 > 0:12:03with 19km of wiring - all to convince potential customers
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to step off Oxford Street and into the store.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09It's taken five days to get this far,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13but there's a whole other phase to getting the job done.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Bring on the abseilers.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19100 feet above Oxford Street, the store is using
0:12:19 > 0:12:23specialist climbers, who will lower themselves over the side
0:12:23 > 0:12:27and attach the light cables to the building, to stop them moving.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31When the winter wind howls down Oxford Street,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34John Lewis don't want their lights blowing away.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37So, running along the front of the building are a series
0:12:37 > 0:12:40of horizontal rigging wires, similar to this one,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43and we'll zip-tie the lights back into those, and that keeps the whole
0:12:43 > 0:12:46light panel in place, regardless of what the wind and weather do.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51There's a lot of lights for them to do, as well,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53and we get through a lot of cable-ties tying this lot off.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Some of the John Lewis clients find it strange
0:12:59 > 0:13:01to look out the window and suddenly they see an abseiler
0:13:01 > 0:13:03hanging around outside their window.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06We see some sights looking into the John Lewis stores, as well.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12As the abseilers step back inside and the sun begins to go down,
0:13:12 > 0:13:166,000 cable-ties are now holding everything in place,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and it's time for the team to make sure the lights are working.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24The test switch-on falls to team member Dean Weston.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Five days' work and hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment
0:13:28 > 0:13:29are depending on it.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31I've got my fingers crossed.
0:13:31 > 0:13:33We're just waiting for them to go on now. Any second,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35the whole bank should light up.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Five, four,
0:13:39 > 0:13:40three, two,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42one, come on!
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Yes! Yes, yes, yes, over 100,000 lights all on.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Absolutely fantastic.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55With the lights tested and working, it's job done for the team.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Tested the lights a few times.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Now, they'll be turned off until the big, big light-up day.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01It's amazing, the light that comes out of them,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03lights up the whole street in front.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Gives the building a really good, big presence on Oxford Street.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08The lights will sit dormant
0:14:08 > 0:14:11until their official turn-on later in the month,
0:14:11 > 0:14:15but with 100,000 bulbs raring to go, when they are finally turned on,
0:14:15 > 0:14:19everyone will know it's Christmas time on Oxford Street.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30At Oxford Circus Tube station,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33station controller Michael is dealing with a developing incident.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35What's your problem?!
0:14:35 > 0:14:38A passenger emergency alarm has been activated after
0:14:38 > 0:14:41two groups of people got into an argument on a train.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Both parties are claiming racist language was used.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47The police have been called.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Meanwhile, passenger numbers are building up to dangerous levels
0:14:50 > 0:14:53on the platforms, while the train is held.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56No...zero-three to base, are you receiving, over?
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Michael decides to keep both parties on the platform
0:14:59 > 0:15:03but he allows the train to move off to help relieve the overcrowding.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- RADIO: - 'Please get off the platform now.'
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Leave it, folks, nothing to see.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13The rapid response team arrive
0:15:13 > 0:15:16and start helping to clear the passengers down the platform.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20Do you want to talk? You don't want to talk to the police, no?
0:15:20 > 0:15:21That way!
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Accompanying them are officers from the British Transport Police.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27What's going on? Who are the parties involved here?
0:15:27 > 0:15:30- This lady here and this family over here.- The lady there.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31- And who?- This family over here.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Right, can you bring this lady through to...
0:15:34 > 0:15:36off the platform, cos it's a bit dangerous.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Can we get this family who's involved off the platform?
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Put them in the middle, cos it's unsafe on the platform.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Inspector Nick Brandon takes control of the situation
0:15:46 > 0:15:49and moves the two groups to a quieter location.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50You just go over there,
0:15:50 > 0:15:54and if you can come over here for me, please.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- The train's been stopped? How? - The train was, by a PEA...yeah.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- Right, and then they've been taken off and then it's moved.- Right, yes.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Yeah, we've just contained the situation.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05We've got all the passengers involved off of the platform
0:16:05 > 0:16:07into a little bit more of a safer area.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10The police are conducting investigations.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14An off-duty police officer partially witnessed the incident
0:16:14 > 0:16:16and briefs the inspector on what he knows.
0:16:21 > 0:16:23- Shouting and swearing?- Yeah.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33The officers talk to both parties, to get their side of the story.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Both parties have now calmed down and neither wants to press charges.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51It's all probably the usual thing,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53people cramped up together in a tight space
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and just a bit of an altercation.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It will be recorded.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01The activation of a passenger emergency alarm,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04effectively paralysing a whole Tube line, is a big deal.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08Across the underground, it happens around four times a day,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10and the Network Incident Response Team always has to
0:17:10 > 0:17:13compile a thorough report.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16For the British Transport Police, it's a familiar scenario.
0:17:16 > 0:17:20What we do tend to find sometimes, in such a crowded environment,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23is that a very small disturbance can get much larger.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27Initially, some words being exchanged
0:17:27 > 0:17:29can escalate up to a serious assault or even worse.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32But words of advice have been given to both parties about how
0:17:32 > 0:17:34this incident could have escalated on the train.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37At the end of the day, it's a very dangerous environment.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40We've got moving trains, we've got 750 volts on the track,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42and I think they've all gone away a little bit wiser.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46The two parties are put on separate trains and head off.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48Although no further action is going to be taken,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51it's not the end of the incident for Michael.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Everyone's gone on their way now, so what we need to do now
0:17:53 > 0:17:56is I need to go upstairs and do all the paperwork.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57With the incident dealt with,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00all he's got left to do is run Britain's busiest station.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13At the Thistle Hotel, restaurant host Biram
0:18:13 > 0:18:17is trying to attract the paying public into the grill,
0:18:17 > 0:18:19by enticing them with live cooking in the foyer.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21It doesn't work.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25- One Norwegian football fan liked Biram's duck...- You like it?
0:18:25 > 0:18:28..but wasn't interested in dinner.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Biram continues his rounds
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- and concentrates on keeping his other customers happy.- That's right.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Oh...
0:18:35 > 0:18:38From Japan, right? Arigato.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- How are you, baby?- Oh, thank you.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Oh, heavenly.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Why not? Kissing him as well, here.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Oh...that's a good thing.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- Very much, thank you. Enjoy your dinner.- Thank you.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Thank you very much. Happiness.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01And at the bar, he comes across his old friend.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- Ah, do you remember how do you call the duck, again?- Hello!
0:19:04 > 0:19:06- Stokkand.- Stokkand.- Stokkand.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09Yes, I'm going to keep the name, now. That's a stokkand, yeah?
0:19:09 > 0:19:12- Now, you are here, you know, for the Arsenal game.- Of course.- Yeah.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14- Right, that's what he said to us. - Yeah, right.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18So, at the meantime, you know, stay, enjoy your stay in our hotel.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Thank you.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- Enjoy your beer, guys. - Yes.- Thank you.- Of course we are.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Biram leaves the Norwegians to their drinks.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Back in the foyer, he's trying to entice more guests.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I can give you a lovely table by the window, if you want it.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32When suddenly...
0:19:32 > 0:19:36- The nice things, you know, they all just...- OK.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- Oh, that's my friends, you know, yes, from Denmark.- Hello.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41- No, Norway.- Norway, yes, guys.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43We will go inside and we will eat it now.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Right now, yes. Can you come with me, please?
0:19:45 > 0:19:46I will give you the table right now.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49- Good, good.- Yes, table for three?
0:19:49 > 0:19:53It's a great result. His live cooking has paid off, after all.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- And I'm going to give you, as well, the drink list, right?- Yeah.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Delighted, Biram shows them to their seats.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02- Yes.- Just around the corner. - Just around the corner.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- English, mate.- Oh, man.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09# And we all cherish the Arsenal
0:20:11 > 0:20:16- # And we all cherish the Arsenal.- #
0:20:16 > 0:20:18No, Arsenal....
0:20:18 > 0:20:21But Biram's moment of triumph is tinged with concern.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- Thank you, sir.- OK...
0:20:23 > 0:20:27The Norwegians have been drinking and are in full voice
0:20:27 > 0:20:29and high spirits.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33- Hello, Norwich. - Excellent, excellent.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Biram's worried their behaviour might get too much
0:20:35 > 0:20:38for the other diners.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42So, you know, I wasn't aware they are a little bit drunk, yeah.
0:20:42 > 0:20:47- We're not going to sleep, no.- So, so we got these triple gin and tonics.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51I think, I think we shouldn't give them any more drinks.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Yeah, yes, we shouldn't give them more drinks, you know,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57so, we just, you know, put, you know, oil on the fire.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So we need to keep them on ice, you know,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03no more drinks, otherwise, you know, they have to leave the restaurant.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Concerned, he calls in hotel security
0:21:06 > 0:21:07to keep a discreet eye on them.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12If they get any drunker, he might have an incident on his hands.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Yes, and this is about the situation, you know,
0:21:14 > 0:21:17I give you the updates, you know, about the Danish people, you know,
0:21:17 > 0:21:19there are three people drunk, you know, in a restaurant.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23Just as he thinks he might have to take action...
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- Hello, Chef, 77 is coming.- Yeah. - Think you very much, Chef.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Salvation arrives in the shape of some bavette steaks.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33When the food is on the table, I think drunk, not drunk,
0:21:33 > 0:21:35everything should be perfect.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38The food arrives and the boys tuck in.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39We just want something...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Enjoying the steak, of course, in Marmor Grill.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44The food seems to have done its job and brought
0:21:44 > 0:21:48the noise of the Norwegians' table down to manageable levels.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50- Yes.- I keeped an eye on them.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53- Yeah.- Observed, they are quiet now.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56I'll keep my eye on them, but, yeah, OK.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59And it seems Biram's customer service has won him
0:21:59 > 0:22:01more than just happy diners.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03How is it going? How was the food, guys?
0:22:03 > 0:22:05- It was good, right? - Yeah, very good, even.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07How was your service, have you had good service today?
0:22:07 > 0:22:08More than excellent.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Whatever this guy is telling you, you should...
0:22:14 > 0:22:15you should try this one.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Meal eaten, the Norwegians had out to enjoy
0:22:18 > 0:22:21the rest of their evening, with a belly full of steak and stokkand.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27I think they've behaved themselves, they're cool, yeah.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Biram can enjoy the rest of his evening,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33inching ever closer to that black customer service badge.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37I'm very happy to meet people, to make people feel happy.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39Yeah, it's OK.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49The shops and stores aren't the only ones trying to
0:22:49 > 0:22:51make a bit of money on Oxford Street.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55With over half a million visitors a week,
0:22:55 > 0:22:59it's become an irresistible draw for street performers, who
0:22:59 > 0:23:03view it as a mile-and-a-half-long stage for their performances.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05But they're not just doing it for love -
0:23:05 > 0:23:08they're primarily here to earn a living.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Oliver from Guadeloupe has been busking on Oxford Street
0:23:15 > 0:23:16for four years.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Classically trained, he turned to busking
0:23:21 > 0:23:24because it's not easy to make a living in the music industry.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30It's very difficult to be in the music industry professionally.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Sometimes you don't get pay or people promise you the pay,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34they don't pay you.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38I've been in this situation for long, so I've got to do something.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41As well as earning him money,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Oliver says busking on Oxford Street gives him priceless exposure.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49This street is the best advert ever.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53You can have three million people watching you, in four or five months.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56When you are busking on Oxford Street, you become famous.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03The power of public exposure Oxford Street provides
0:24:03 > 0:24:08is something break dancers Kevin and Reece have also experienced.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10We did Fashion Week last week, didn't we?
0:24:10 > 0:24:13We got a clothing line that saw us dancing, they said,
0:24:13 > 0:24:14"Look, we want you guys.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17"Wear the clothes, go there, dance."
0:24:17 > 0:24:20And loads of photographers took pictures of us, it was amazing.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33And the exposure is also the draw for saxophonist Rodney Rock.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37He gave up a solid profession for the love of live performance.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41I was a London cab driver, a licensed London taxi driver.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I learnt to play the saxophone in the back of my taxi during breaks,
0:24:44 > 0:24:47and sometimes I would park up and go busking,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49because I really wanted to just be a musician.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57You're doing something worthwhile, you're bringing joy to people.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I've been invited to play at people's weddings, they've seen me,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03they've said, "We loved your music."
0:25:03 > 0:25:05It's really nice, it's really touching.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10BAGPIPES PLAY
0:25:10 > 0:25:13And Rodney's not the only one whose performances on Oxford Street
0:25:13 > 0:25:15have won him wedding gigs.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20- Do you do wedding venues? - Of course I do.- Yeah? OK.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22If you need me, just give me a ring, I'll give you my number.
0:25:22 > 0:25:24The whole day will be about 100 quid,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27that would cover the whole day for me,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30and that'd be the cheapest piper you'll get.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Finbar Hagan is the self-styled bagpiper of Oxford Street
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and it's not just weddings his street performances have won him.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42I've just done a film with Sean Penn, called The Gunman.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45I'm the piper at the end of it.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Someone else attracted to the large audiences Oxford Street provides
0:25:49 > 0:25:51is Danny Shine...
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Hello, people.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55..better known to shoppers and the local authorities
0:25:55 > 0:25:57as the "megaphone man".
0:25:57 > 0:26:00People, what's wrong?
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Who did this to you?
0:26:03 > 0:26:05The difference is, he's trying to encourage people
0:26:05 > 0:26:07not to part with their money.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10I'm here to help you not spend anything here today,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14and don't worry, if you've already made the mistake of buying something,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I can help you get the money back.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Part performance artist and part anti-consumerist protester,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24Danny's brand of in-your-face performance amuses many people.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- Good for you.- For plenty of others,
0:26:26 > 0:26:30his brand of protest street theatre is just a nuisance.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31And, go! Fantastic,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35well done to all those people who waited till the man was green.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37- Why don't you shut up? - Oh, we've got a bloke,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40"Why don't you shut up?" And he actually hit me.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44That's a bit of an extreme response to a bloke on a megaphone.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Danny's uncompromising promoting approach has made him
0:26:46 > 0:26:49the bete noire of the authorities.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Uh-oh, could be my ride home.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55Danny has previously been prosecuted by Westminster Council
0:26:55 > 0:26:58for breaking a bylaw at Oxford Circus, for the prevention
0:26:58 > 0:27:01and suppression of nuisances. The case was later dropped.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Do you like the purple? Nice, isn't it?
0:27:03 > 0:27:05I'm the only person in this street
0:27:05 > 0:27:08that's trying to stop you buying things.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11The problem for many people is they don't have a choice
0:27:11 > 0:27:13whether to listen to Danny or not and, today,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16he's started to rub people up the wrong way again.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Coming today and there's a bloke with a megaphone outside.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23- Please, be quiet.- Ah...- A lot of people don't want to hear you.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25- You don't want to hear? - It's far too loud.- Did you want me
0:27:25 > 0:27:28- to turn it down a little bit?- I just don't want you to talk, at all.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Madam, please come back.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32I think we can work it out together. I apologise.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34BAGPIPES PLAY
0:27:34 > 0:27:36But while Danny seeks to raise awareness,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39the other buskers are there to raise money,
0:27:39 > 0:27:41and even with half one million spectators a week,
0:27:41 > 0:27:42it's not always easy.
0:27:45 > 0:27:471p - it's like a dream come true(!)
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Thankfully, for all the performers,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55there are plenty of people that do appreciate their efforts.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05But some things no amount of money can buy.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Look behind you, it's the Jacksons.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13Mr Jackson...
0:28:13 > 0:28:17It really is the Jacksons, who are themselves performing in London.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20This is what I mean about Oxford Street.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22This sort of thing wouldn't happen anywhere else.