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... CHEERING
0:00:14 > 0:00:17- ..biggest stars... - Kate Moss! - CHEERING
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 > 0:00:27Busiest street in the world so it needs constant attention.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..seven days a week?
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Oi! Clear off!
0:00:30 > 0:00:33You're going to be arrested on suspicion of attempted theft.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Are you ready, London?
0:00:35 > 0:00:38A street that never sleeps.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41This sort of thing wouldn't happen anywhere else.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Oxford Street.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Coming up, dodgy vehicles,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52drunks and rooftop intruders.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Police! Just come down here!
0:00:54 > 0:00:57An Oxford Street policeman has a shift to remember.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58Nutcases.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02John Lewis unveils its latest weapon to pull in the customers.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Welcome to the summer retreat.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07The secret world of bicycle couriers.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Yes, we're cutting it tight.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12We need to pull out the hat for these people.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16And the giant new station being built under Oxford Street.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19We need to run this like a military operation.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28With over 30 million visitors a year from hundreds of countries spending
0:01:28 > 0:01:33billions of pounds, there's never a dull moment on Oxford Street.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37The street's police team, known as ORB, know their shifts can
0:01:37 > 0:01:41take in anything and everything, from bomb scares...
0:01:41 > 0:01:42It's empty.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43It could have been a bomb.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48..to concerned tourists reporting dead bodies.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Just repeat that.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Excuse me, it's the police. Excuse me! Hello?
0:01:53 > 0:01:57He's moving. He's fine and well. He was just asleep.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02The special demands of the street means it's vital uniformed officers
0:02:02 > 0:02:06have good people skills and an approachable character.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10And aiming to fit that bill is PC Barry Nicholls.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13He's been a policeman for a year and a half
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and comes from a long line of family members in public service.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I've got two older brothers in the police service actually at the
0:02:20 > 0:02:25moment, and my father was London Ambulance for most of his career.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Definitely proud of the service. It's a privilege.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Today, his ten-hour shift will see him
0:02:31 > 0:02:34put all his people skills to the test.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38The first problems he has to deal with are alcohol-related.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42At Oxford Circus, halfway down the street, a homeless man is drinking
0:02:42 > 0:02:46on the pavement outside clothes shop Benetton, a strict no-no.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Barry needs him gone.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52You can either drink that up...
0:02:52 > 0:02:54or we can pour it away,
0:02:54 > 0:02:59but you need to do it now and then we can move you on, mate.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02He's drinking in a controlled drinking zone.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05It's an issue on this area at the moment and we're trying to
0:03:05 > 0:03:07clamp down on it a bit.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13We do have the power just to take it and pour it away,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17but obviously that's a bit brutal. Sometimes it is necessary.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22Do you want to knock it back or shall we pour it away?
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I've got stuff to do, yeah?
0:03:24 > 0:03:28And just on the back of that, if I see you drinking again today,
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I will be confiscating it.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32All right, mate.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36With a touch of patience, Barry has got what he wanted all along -
0:03:36 > 0:03:39to move the man away from Oxford Street.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41What you could see there was a very ill man.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44The last place he needs to be is a custody suite.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51Further down the street there's another man who's had one too many.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53You all right there, sir?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Hello, mate! You OK?
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- SLURRED:- Yeah, I reckon...
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Um...
0:04:01 > 0:04:06The man, just out of the army, has been sick and is in a bad way.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10- You can't hardly string a sentence together.- Yup. I agree.
0:04:10 > 0:04:16And... And all I'm worried about, yeah, all I'm simply just here for,
0:04:16 > 0:04:19if you like, is that I suppose I'm a little bit concerned,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22in a way, how you're going to get home safely.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- Yeah?- Yup.- So what is the plan?
0:04:25 > 0:04:27Get on to the next, um...
0:04:29 > 0:04:31..er, bus without hurting anyone.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34All right. You're coming round a bit now, I can see that. All right?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- Thank you, Sergeant. - I'll leave you to it, mate, yeah?
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Satisfied the man is no danger to himself or others,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Barry leaves him and continues his shift.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46As the rain starts to fall,
0:04:46 > 0:04:50he teams up with fellow officer Daniel Sinclair.
0:04:50 > 0:04:51This being Oxford Street,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55they have to keep an eye out for anything which might cause a problem.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00And with his eyes on the road, Barry spots something potentially serious.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02- What are you doing, Barry? - I just want to...
0:05:06 > 0:05:09You all right, mate? How did you get the damage on your car?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12When was this?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Yeah, could you just pull over after the lights, mate? Cheers.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21The side of the car has been smashed and has jagged edges.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Barry is worried it could hurt a pedestrian.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- Seeing you've got damage to the near side of the car...- Yeah.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Just wanted to stop and see what was going on, really.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40When did this happen?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Barry thinks that's a long time to be driving a potentially
0:05:47 > 0:05:49dangerous vehicle around.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55If it hit someone, it would cause significant damage to a person.
0:05:55 > 0:06:00Personally, I don't think that the vehicle's safe to be...
0:06:00 > 0:06:02To be driving down the road, really.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06Barry wants the car off the road and nowhere near Oxford Street,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09but he's not sure he has sufficiently legal grounds.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12So he plans on getting a second opinion from an expert.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16I've just pulled over a car that's all smashed in on the nearside
0:06:16 > 0:06:18front end.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21Is there any traffic unit that can assist?
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Help is on its way.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Traffic officers have the power to prohibit
0:06:25 > 0:06:27a vehicle from using the roads.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31In my opinion it's not roadworthy, but at the end of the day
0:06:31 > 0:06:33what we're doing now is getting a traffic unit down
0:06:33 > 0:06:35and they will have the final say on it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38The owner is insisting the police have previously checked
0:06:38 > 0:06:41and OK'd the car.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43Could Barry be wrong for stopping him?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Well, it's a very subjective thing, really. But in my...
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- I'm not arguing with you, I'm... - No, no, that's fine, that's fine.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54I just pointing out the fact...
0:06:54 > 0:06:55I'm just saying that in my opinion,
0:06:55 > 0:07:00if you hit a pedestrian even at 5mph...
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- OK.- ..with that, you're going to do some serious damage.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Whereas if that wasn't like that... - Yeah.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08- ..things would be a lot different. - All right.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11If the traffic officers agree with the driver,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14then Barry will have wasted everyone's time.
0:07:14 > 0:07:15It's a nervous wait.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- Is this hers?- No.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23Later, we'll see if Barry's suspicions are correct.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35A visit to Oxford Street is a very different experience today to
0:07:35 > 0:07:38how it would have been even ten years ago.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41It's no longer just about bustling streets and wall-to-wall shopping.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48The aim recently has been to increase its appeal as a place of leisure,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52somewhere you can go to grab a drink or a meal while out shopping.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56So more and more, the shops are turning their efforts
0:07:56 > 0:08:00to creating the sort of places people can relax in.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05And about to play his part in doing that today is gardener Tony Woods.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09OK, we've got red verbena for the pots outside Rossopomodoro.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Everything else is just going to fill in these little gaps
0:08:12 > 0:08:15that have appeared around the outside bed.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16At the moment, Tony
0:08:16 > 0:08:20and his team are coming to the end of a very special commission.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23They've been brought into design John Lewis's Oxford Street
0:08:23 > 0:08:25roof garden for the summer.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27John Lewis only opened it last year
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and went with a traditional English theme.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33This year they're going tropical, and today, for Tony's team,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36it's sign-off day.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39This is our biggest urban garden design project.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's probably one of the biggest public roof gardens in London.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Most of it is done, but Tony
0:08:44 > 0:08:48and his team will have an hour for finishing touches this morning before
0:08:48 > 0:08:52the bigwigs from the store inspect the garden and say if they're happy.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55This year's design themes have had to be adjusted or redesigned
0:08:55 > 0:09:00or amended, and as we do that the timescale for completion get
0:09:00 > 0:09:05shorter and shorter, so the stress levels build enormously.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Creating a garden on the fifth floor of any building is unusual,
0:09:08 > 0:09:12and the top of a working department store even more so.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16We're just unloading some plants and ready to go, basically.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Filippo is one of our new members of staff.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26He is a good helper, so like one of the Three Musketeers, like.
0:09:32 > 0:09:33Morning. Sorry.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37Trying to pay for parking by mobile phone.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39- OK, you've got the plants in here. - Yeah.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42I've got the tools and we've got all our irrigation kit ready to go.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44- Upstairs.- OK, great, let's go.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Before the garden can be signed off,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52the team need to remove any dead bits of foliage, check the irrigation
0:09:52 > 0:09:56system is working and plant the final few tropical flowers.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Welcome to the summer retreat.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03It's feeling tropical.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06It's nearly done. Unfortunately, the London weather has let us down.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07Not quite as tropical.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Um, but you can see that, ultimately, it doesn't look like
0:10:11 > 0:10:16you're in Oxford Street and we've injected a bit of a holiday feel.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21The garden is meant to feel like a subtropical island retreat.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23Tony and his team have installed over 1,000 plants
0:10:23 > 0:10:26from 40 different species.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30We've got lots of tropical plants, lots of architectural foliage
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and bright flowers.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36Things that you probably wouldn't normally find on a roof.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38The team get to work.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Guys, we've got just under 20 minutes now, so final checks.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45Deadheading, take any burnished leaves off that you can see...
0:10:47 > 0:10:51Later, plants go in as John Lewis come out for sign-off.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55We've got five minutes. They're on the way up now.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Oxford Street isn't just a shopper's paradise.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08The area is one of London's creative and business hubs.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Hundreds of officers, advertising agencies, fashion magazines
0:11:12 > 0:11:14and filmmakers are densely packed
0:11:14 > 0:11:16into the roads to the north and south.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21In this fast paced world, the post is much too slow.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25If a company wants to move a document or hard drive across town
0:11:25 > 0:11:27in half an hour, there's only one option.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32The fastest way through the traffic and crowds is by bicycle.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36119, yeah. Got some more, Rog.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39This is the control room of one of the largest
0:11:39 > 0:11:44courier companies in London, and Martin is one of the controllers.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Every day of the week we get busy. From nine till six o'clock,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51it is absolute chaos. Controlled chaos, I will say.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Friday, and we've got more work than we can possibly handle.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Deliveries are made by van,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00motorcycle or one of their 35 bike messengers.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Drop the one you're doing, collect this one
0:12:04 > 0:12:07I'm sending you now. Sending you details of Deutsche Bank, yeah?
0:12:07 > 0:12:08Deutsche Bank.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Bicycle couriers are a key cog in the silent infrastructure that
0:12:12 > 0:12:15keeps the capital's business world working.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19They work mostly around the city's financial district and the West End.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22We've got a lot of riders on Oxford Street all day long.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24It links up the entirety of the West End -
0:12:24 > 0:12:26it goes from one side to the other.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28If not the busiest street in London,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30it's one of the best ones to get around as well.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33It's Martin's job to match each of the day's hundreds of packages
0:12:33 > 0:12:36to one of his three dozen riders.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40One of those is Johnny.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42All right, Johnny? Morning, morning, morning!
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Roger-Roger.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Top of Oxford Street as per usual.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47We should have a nice busy day for you.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49It's not long before Martin gets a booking,
0:12:49 > 0:12:53and he radios Johnny through the first pickup of the day.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55208, 208, Johnny.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Get yourself to Broadwick Street, Broadwick Street.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00We're going to get you going from there, Roger.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04And Johnny is on his bike. Riders are self-employed and he is paid per job.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06If he wants to make a living,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10he's got to meet strict targets that he sets himself.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14If you do 25 a day, you can expect to be earning over 350 a week.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16If you can see halfway through the day that your going to
0:13:16 > 0:13:20struggle to get 20 jobs, then your stress levels increase
0:13:20 > 0:13:24and you're wondering where the work's going to come from.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27Originally from Manchester, Johnny trained
0:13:27 > 0:13:30and worked as a lab technician before his love of bikes
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and the outdoors lured him into the world of bike couriering.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38But before he's got the first delivery under his belt today,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Johnny's plan is changed.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43'208, 208, Johnny.'
0:13:43 > 0:13:47Just come back to Picton Place, Picton Place.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49A new booking has come through
0:13:49 > 0:13:53and the pickup address is on Johnny's route. He gets going.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Cycle couriers can ride up to 80 miles in a day,
0:13:56 > 0:13:59the distance from Manchester to Coventry.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Yes, thanks a lot, cheers.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Packages should be picked up and delivered within
0:14:05 > 0:14:09an hour of booking, so Johnny is back on his way to that first job.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Once again, he's redirected.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Sometimes you never know quite what the controller is doing.
0:14:14 > 0:14:19I still haven't picked up the one in Soho, so I need to get on with it.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Johnny must trust that Martin is doing the right thing,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26as it is his job to make sure all the riders are working efficiently.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30If he's seen an opportunity for a rider to do two jobs at once,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33he can and will reroute them.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36OK, so, actually this is quite good. I've got something in Picton Place.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38And it's going to Broadwick Street, which is
0:14:38 > 0:14:41where I've actually got a pickup which I haven't done yet.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Johnny is in and out of the roads around Oxford Street.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50He has a target of three parcels an hour minimum
0:14:50 > 0:14:53if he is to make enough money.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56I really think we need to get the first one on board,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58because it's been over half an hour.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Finally, he does just that, arriving at Hearst,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06one of the country's largest magazine publishers.
0:15:06 > 0:15:07A bit late.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10I think ideally they want it picked up within 20 minutes,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14but he sent me three other jobs since then.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16So I'm actually dropping one off
0:15:16 > 0:15:17to the first pick-up.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21He might have been slightly held up,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23but thanks to Martin's logistical skills,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27he can drop off one package and pick up another at the next desk.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Martin's plan has worked.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Later, as the Friday afternoon jobs mount up,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39the pressure to hit deadlines and targets increases.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40One within half an hour would be fine,
0:15:40 > 0:15:42but a struggle with both of them.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Get yourself moving, all right?
0:15:51 > 0:15:56Earlier on, we saw ORB police officer Barry Nicholls stop this vehicle.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59It's been involved in an accident some weeks ago
0:15:59 > 0:16:04and Barry suspects it's a danger to the public with these sharp edges.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Barry's not sure if the car can be prohibited,
0:16:06 > 0:16:10and he's waiting for traffic officers to arrive and check the vehicle.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13If he's wrong, he'll have delayed the driver for nothing
0:16:13 > 0:16:16on one of the city's busiest streets.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19But the first cops on the scene aren't from traffic.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22This being Oxford Street, there's a passing VIP.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Finally, it's the traffic officers.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31They'll now have to decide if the car is roadworthy.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42If you'd have hit any pedestrian with that,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44they'd be instantly shredded.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46That is absolutely dangerous.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Barry was right - this car has dangerous faults.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57"Dangerous body parts at his front and near-side quarter wing
0:16:57 > 0:16:58"and head lamp cluster.
0:16:58 > 0:17:03"Has both plastic and metal sharp edges,
0:17:03 > 0:17:07"likely to cause more injury than necessary."
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Not impressed at all.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13The traffic team are clear about what happens now.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15The vehicle has to be taken off the road.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18It cannot be put back on the road until it is repaired
0:17:18 > 0:17:23and then the driver will be reported for certain driving offences.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26The traffic officers give the driver the bad news.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29He'll have to pay for a recovery vehicle
0:17:29 > 0:17:33and get his car taken to a mechanic for fixing and that's not all.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36He could get £100 fine and three points,
0:17:36 > 0:17:38or if they think it's serious enough,
0:17:38 > 0:17:43he'll be called before the court to answer for the offence.
0:17:45 > 0:17:47This is a dangerous vehicle off the road.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50As you can see, Oxford Street is just over there.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Loads of people walking around.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54We've just made that area that little bit safer.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00The dangerous car is finally leaving the street in the only safe way -
0:18:00 > 0:18:01up on the bed of a tow truck,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04so there's no risk to people at street level.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Barry's firm but fair approach has paid dividends.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15But he's not always so gentle when it comes to people breaking the law.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Last year, when police were chasing a drug dealer,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23Barry saw him hiding in this West End store...
0:18:24 > 0:18:25..and pounced.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36The suspect has been found, lost sight of, found again,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39lost sight of and eventually disappears altogether.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44I've seen him and myself and a special constable ran at him
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and obviously tackled him into the display cabinet,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50which was unfortunately unavoidable.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55He's been searched and he's had several wraps of heroin
0:18:55 > 0:18:57that he's stuffed into his mouth.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03It's earned him the nickname "Barry the Bulldozer".
0:19:03 > 0:19:07But whether helping individuals in trouble or bringing down criminals,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Barry is happy to do whatever has to be done.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Back out on Oxford Street,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16Barry's shift continues.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20And it's not long before a call comes in that could be serious.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Barry gets moving.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Later, we find out who's responsible.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- Hey, man, how's it going? - Just north of Oxford Street,
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Johnny is back in the saddle and dodging pedestrians and taxis
0:19:46 > 0:19:47as he tries to hit his target
0:19:47 > 0:19:50of making a minimum of 20 deliveries a day.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55- HORN HONKS - It's a red light.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Since their heyday in the '80s and '90s, when there were thousands,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06the number of cycle couriers in London has declined
0:20:06 > 0:20:07to only a few hundred.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10High-speed internet has replaced much of their work,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13but for some clients with something physical needing urgent delivery,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15they're still the only option.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Cycling at speed through London is a dangerous job.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Nine cycle couriers are known to have died on the roads
0:20:24 > 0:20:25in the last 30 years.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29You hear on a weekly basis that somebody's walked out
0:20:29 > 0:20:33in front of a courier, a black taxi has opened up a door
0:20:33 > 0:20:38on a bike rider, so it can be a bit of a jungle.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Martin can't spend long worrying,
0:20:41 > 0:20:45as his own workload increases with a flurry of orders.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Negative, sir, negative. I haven't got a signature.
0:20:49 > 0:20:512-1-1 is just asking how we're getting on.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53We're getting quite busy this afternoon now.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Friday afternoon is always frantic as businesses move packages
0:20:57 > 0:21:00before the weekend and with so much to do,
0:21:00 > 0:21:05Martin's instructions to Johnny are getting more and more complicated.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Going to have to spin you around, mate, will have to spin you around.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12If I knew the job was there, I would have sent it down to you earlier.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15I'm going to go that way and he's sent me to pick up that way
0:21:15 > 0:21:16with a job going further that way.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22I've still got one over there, so doing a bit of a loop.
0:21:22 > 0:21:23Obviously, he's not a happy bunny,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26but that's Johnny being spun around and doing this one.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31Johnny has three parcels in his bag waiting for delivery,
0:21:31 > 0:21:35but with the clock ticking, he's being made to wait for pick-up
0:21:35 > 0:21:38by the current client because their parcel isn't ready.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41It gets frustrating sometimes.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Once you've got a load of stuff on board,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47you want to just carry on moving, keep going.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51But while Johnny's going nowhere, for Martin, the jobs are piling up.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53A very urgent one coming, going down to Companies House,
0:21:53 > 0:21:57so Bravo 2-0-8, 2-0-8.
0:21:57 > 0:21:58This goes a little bit out of your way,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00but obviously it's for a top-end client
0:22:00 > 0:22:02and it's going to Companies House,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04so I'm going to need someone on this who knows what they're doing.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Customers for whom an hour door to door is simply too slow
0:22:08 > 0:22:11can pay extra for priority delivery,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13bumping their package to the top of the queue.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Johnny's got to get to the pick-up location and take the parcel
0:22:17 > 0:22:21to its destination, Companies House, within half an hour,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23but that's two miles away
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and he's still stuck waiting just off Oxford Street in Kingly Street.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Yeah, 2-0-8, Kingly Street, Kingly Street.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34I've just had a tap on the shoulder. That one's cancelled.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Roger, yeah. I was just waiting for him to bring it,
0:22:37 > 0:22:41but they haven't brought it, so yep, I'll carry on, Roger.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45That means Johnny can get on with his priority Companies House delivery.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49From where Johnny was, he'll be able to pick up in five-ten minutes,
0:22:49 > 0:22:51drop time of that is about 15. Yes, we're cutting it tight,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54but this is why they pay extra for the service.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59Proving once more that the quickest way around the city is pedal power,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Johnny makes it to the pick-up point just in time.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04- Thanks a lot, see you later. - But when he gets there,
0:23:04 > 0:23:08it turns out there's not just one priority package for him to deliver.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12I've got two priorities in fairly different locations.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14One within half an hour would be fine,
0:23:14 > 0:23:18but a struggle with both of them, but I'll do my best.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21A premium-rate client, a high-end client is paying the money
0:23:21 > 0:23:24for this job and he was the only person available to do the job.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27We need to pull it out the hat for these people.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Johnny has to put his skills to the test again,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33but weaves through Oxford Street traffic in time
0:23:33 > 0:23:37to drop off the first priority within the time limit.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45He's then got to sprint to Companies House for the second.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Yeah, the traffic's pretty bad, so at this stage, I'm late.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Despite arriving a few minutes after the promised half-hour slot,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55the documents are delivered safely
0:23:55 > 0:23:57and Johnny can take it a bit easier,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00delivering his last few non-priority packages.
0:24:01 > 0:24:06And the good news is it looks like he's surpassed his 20-job target.
0:24:06 > 0:24:07Thanks very much for that, yeah?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10And thanks for sorting out those premiums as well.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Done me a right favour there, Roge. - I kept on getting jobs.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Done over 25. Didn't feel like hard work today, it felt like fun.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20It's been a manic Friday for Martin and his riders,
0:24:20 > 0:24:22delivering over 800 parcels.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25He and Johnny are part of a force that goes unnoticed
0:24:25 > 0:24:28by most of the street's visitors, but one that's crucial
0:24:28 > 0:24:32to keeping Oxford Street and the area around it working.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41On the fifth floor of John Lewis,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Tony Woods and his team are putting the finishing touches
0:24:44 > 0:24:48to the shop's summer roof garden ahead of sign-off from the store.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51The project's a big deal for John Lewis.
0:24:51 > 0:24:56The previous year's roof garden hosted 160,000 shoppers.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00This year, they're expecting between 1,500 and 3,000
0:25:00 > 0:25:02to visit it every day.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05It will only be up for three months, but during that period,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08the flowers need to be kept watered.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11So they don't have to come back and water every day,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13they've installed an irrigation system.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Here is very sunny and windy, so if we don't water everything properly,
0:25:17 > 0:25:20they're going to last for very few days.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24So this environmentally-friendly, low-pressure dripper system
0:25:24 > 0:25:27needs to be kept in tip-top condition.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30It's on a timer to give the plants a drink once in the morning
0:25:30 > 0:25:32and once every evening.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35Designing a garden for a fifth-floor store
0:25:35 > 0:25:37is all about keeping it low-maintenance.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40This is probably one of the hardest gardens for us to maintain,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42because of the sheer volume of visitors,
0:25:42 > 0:25:48the plants, a lot of wear and tear for the ground materials as well.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Cos we're on the roof garden,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53things like snails and rats, they can't come up here,
0:25:53 > 0:25:56so it's actually a good relief for us.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00It makes our job way, way easier.
0:26:00 > 0:26:05With time ticking, Andrea gets on with the final planting.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- There's quite a few gaps in these ones here.- Yeah.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10We just want to make it look as tropical as possible.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21OK, guys, we've got five minutes.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24They're on their way up now for sign-off. Everything OK?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34Then it's time for the all-important sign-off.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Domenico from John Lewis is here to take a look.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41So this is nearly finished now. What do you think?
0:26:41 > 0:26:45This looks brilliant. The ones that you mentioned that open in the sun?
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- Yep.- Are they in this area?
0:26:47 > 0:26:49They're here. You can see they're closed off at the moment.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51They'll come out when the sun shines.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54- They just do that repeatedly?- Yeah.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57John Lewis is happy and with that, it's done.
0:26:57 > 0:26:58It's been a hell of a challenge,
0:26:58 > 0:27:01taken six months, used over 1,000 plants
0:27:01 > 0:27:05and weeks of hauling gardening equipment up to the top floor,
0:27:05 > 0:27:07but it appears it's all been worth it.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12We have finally got sign-off, which is fantastic.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16It's incredible to think how far this space has come
0:27:16 > 0:27:20from being a big rectangle of concrete to what it is now.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25We're really pleased, I'm really pleased,
0:27:25 > 0:27:27the client is delighted,
0:27:27 > 0:27:29touch wood, so far,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32so yeah, hopefully it'll be a good summer on the roof.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34For John Lewis's Steve Mann,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38the garden's all about what Oxford Street can offer shoppers.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41What you can't get online is the atmosphere
0:27:41 > 0:27:45and things like this, so for it to be a shopping experience
0:27:45 > 0:27:48where you can buy your goods, then come up, chill out on the roof,
0:27:48 > 0:27:52have a drink, enjoy the spectacular views across London,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55that is somewhere that you can't do anywhere else.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Anything and everything can happen on Oxford Street
0:28:05 > 0:28:08and nearing the end of his shift,
0:28:08 > 0:28:11PC Barry Nicholls is responding to an emergency.
0:28:11 > 0:28:12Let's go, mate.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17Just off the street, a pregnant lady has called to say
0:28:17 > 0:28:20there are men on the roof of her flat.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Barry is burning shoe rubber to get there.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Barry arrives and with other officers,
0:28:26 > 0:28:28goes up to the woman's flat.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31She doesn't want to be filmed...
0:28:32 > 0:28:35..but lets the officers out onto her balcony.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37Where are they?
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Yeah, I can hear someone.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43They see several men on the roof.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46- It's the police.- Guys, just come down here for a second, yeah?
0:28:46 > 0:28:49- MAN ON ROOF:- What is it? - It's the police.
0:28:49 > 0:28:50Nutcases.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53- Yeah, we live here. - You live there?- Yeah.
0:28:54 > 0:28:59It's not a break-in. The men are squatters in the building next door.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01The problem is there's a lady here, she's heavily pregnant
0:29:01 > 0:29:03and she's very upset by what you've done.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05- You've scared her a little bit. - Oh, sorry, but...
0:29:05 > 0:29:08It's no good saying sorry now. Just don't come back this way.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Firstly, you could fall off and break your neck and secondly,
0:29:11 > 0:29:13there's a woman crying in here.
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Anyone else up there?
0:29:14 > 0:29:18- Yeah, there are people...- Can you get them down as well, please?
0:29:18 > 0:29:22Since squatting in residential properties was banned in 2012,
0:29:22 > 0:29:26squatters have been concentrating on empty commercial properties
0:29:26 > 0:29:30and in an area like this, anything vacant is tasty pickings for them.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32The men ran across the woman's roof
0:29:32 > 0:29:35to access the property they're squatting in.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37Barry's not impressed.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41The occupants of this address here are coming out of what they claim
0:29:41 > 0:29:45to be their accommodation and climbing up onto the roof.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48It's blatant to see they've been shimmying along here as well
0:29:48 > 0:29:50and for their own safety,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53it's really incredibly dangerous, a long drop.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57If he was to fall off there, I doubt he'd survive, really.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01But Barry's main concern is with the woman inside the flat.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Very distressing, she's got strangers outside her window.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06She doesn't expect that, she's pregnant.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09No-one wants that
0:30:09 > 0:30:11and yeah, I for one can fully understand
0:30:11 > 0:30:13why she'd be distressed about it.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15- The main thing is you.- Yeah.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Don't worry about them. As you can see,
0:30:17 > 0:30:20- all of us are here for you.- Yeah!
0:30:20 > 0:30:23So hopefully that'll be the end of them hopping onto your balcony.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28My colleague here has spoken to them,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30he's given them some words of advice.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32If it happens again, call us again, we'll come out again
0:30:32 > 0:30:34and we'll deal with it as we see fit.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38Thankfully, it's not an attempted break-in,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41so Barry is happy that he's done all he can.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43And with the nightlife in full swing,
0:30:43 > 0:30:47he thinks he's needed back on Oxford Street.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49We've let them know the effects
0:30:49 > 0:30:52their behaviour is having on the lady.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Hopefully, that should be the end of it and if they come back across,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58then we'll come back out and we'll take firmer action.
0:31:00 > 0:31:02It's been an interesting day for Barry -
0:31:02 > 0:31:05everything from drunks to death traps.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07Now he can head off duty,
0:31:07 > 0:31:09but tomorrow could bring even stranger fare.
0:31:19 > 0:31:24Oxford Street is currently undergoing its biggest upheaval in 100 years.
0:31:25 > 0:31:26And this is why -
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Crossrail is a brand-new underground railway
0:31:29 > 0:31:32which will run right through the centre of London in tunnels.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37It's a mammoth project, costing £15 billion,
0:31:37 > 0:31:39taking nine years to build
0:31:39 > 0:31:43and leaving two giant new stations under Oxford Street.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46The build is entering a crucial phase.
0:31:46 > 0:31:50The east and west tunnels have been broken through, connected up
0:31:50 > 0:31:52and all the boring is now complete.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Today, another small but crucial part is taking place.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00The team are building the platforms
0:32:00 > 0:32:04that passengers will eventually use to get on and off the trains.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08Today, they're planning on laying the pre-cast concrete slabs,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12or planks, as they call them, that will form these platforms.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16And on the hottest day of the year, this promises to be hard work.
0:32:16 > 0:32:1934 degrees up here.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22This pumps out ventilation down into the tunnels.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Imperative that we've got this today,
0:32:24 > 0:32:28otherwise it'll be an absolute sweatbox down there.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Grant Cowley is the construction manager for Crossrail
0:32:31 > 0:32:32at the Bond Street site.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36He's responsible for making sure the platforms are completed to standard
0:32:36 > 0:32:38and on time.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41We need to run this like a military operation.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44These are the planks here that we need to get down.
0:32:44 > 0:32:49We're going to get the slingers to come down and sling up these planks
0:32:49 > 0:32:52so they're nice and secure for the crane to lift up,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55drop it down the master ground shaft to level minus five.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00First up, the team concentrate on getting the concrete planks
0:33:00 > 0:33:02down the master shaft.
0:33:04 > 0:33:05There is a bit of pressure on the team.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09Pressure's good, it motivates people.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12We hit targets here, we hit deadlines at Bond Street.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17But getting the planks down to platform level is no mean feat.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19A slinger attaches them to the crane
0:33:19 > 0:33:22and then he and another team member guides the crane operator
0:33:22 > 0:33:24to winch them down safely.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28With several tonnes of concrete on the pallet,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30they have to take their time.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Nice and steady, nice and slowly.
0:33:33 > 0:33:34With the planks down,
0:33:34 > 0:33:38the next step will be to take them to the platform tunnels.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41The forklift's now going to take the planks
0:33:41 > 0:33:43down into the eastbound platform.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47The planks are to be laid on supporting walls,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50like these in the already built westbound tunnels,
0:33:50 > 0:33:53where work is a little further ahead
0:33:53 > 0:33:56and the new station is starting to take shape.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59This here is where the trains are going to be pulling in.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03Over here is the section of platform.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06These are the planks. This is a continuous run.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12You can actually see from this angle the substantial size
0:34:12 > 0:34:14of this new Crossrail platform.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18It is an awfully lot bigger than existing Underground stations.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28Back in the eastbound tunnels
0:34:28 > 0:34:30and it's time for the first plank to go on.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33How long's it going to take to do that?
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Ten minutes each plank, all right.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42OK, let's get the top one off,
0:34:42 > 0:34:43lay it,
0:34:43 > 0:34:48and then we'll reassess how much time we've got.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50They get to work laying the plank.
0:34:51 > 0:34:52Once constructed, the walls
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and planks will leave a cavity underneath,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57which will be used as a maintenance tunnel.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00This type of construction is a first for London
0:35:00 > 0:35:03and the Crossrail team hope will future-proof the system
0:35:03 > 0:35:04for decades to come.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09Lewis Turnbull is the project manager for the contractors.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11It's his team laying the planks.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14It's a nice, tight operation. The plank's in the air.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17We haven't got much room in here, so it's nice and slowly,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20nice and steady, take it down. There's a few obstacles in the way,
0:35:20 > 0:35:23there's a mesh sticking out of the top of the wall.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25With a tolerance of only 10mm,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28the plank needs to go into exactly the right place.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31The team lower it down for a test fitting.
0:35:32 > 0:35:34Yeah.
0:35:34 > 0:35:36At the minute, we're putting a mortar bed down
0:35:36 > 0:35:37for the plank to sit on.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42With the mortar laid, the plank is lowered back on top.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45It won't move again for at least 100 years.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48It's a critical operation, it's nice and slow.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50It's a steady job, but once we're on the run,
0:35:50 > 0:35:52you can get a nice good go at it.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00The team get on with laying the remaining planks.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04They'll work through the night for the foreseeable future
0:36:04 > 0:36:06to make sure the project's ready for 2018.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12We're 65% of the way through completion and us at Bond Street,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16what I can guarantee is on the 9th December 2018,
0:36:16 > 0:36:18you'll be able to get on a Crossrail train at Bond Street
0:36:18 > 0:36:20and travel under central London.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23It's another small step complete
0:36:23 > 0:36:26for the biggest engineering project in Europe.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30One day soon, Oxford Street visitors will step onto these platforms
0:36:30 > 0:36:33in their tens of thousands, heading to the shops.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36But for now, the only people that will see them
0:36:36 > 0:36:38are the men and women building them.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50To stay on top when it comes to tourists,
0:36:50 > 0:36:53Oxford Street spares no expense.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Which is why it's invested in a team of these.
0:36:56 > 0:36:58They're welcome ambassadors,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01whose job it is to help visitors get where they want to go.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06We need to know actually everything people ask you.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09These stylish street assistants are out and about every day,
0:37:09 > 0:37:13giving information on everything and anything...
0:37:13 > 0:37:17- Hello, how can I help? - Hi! What exactly do you do?
0:37:17 > 0:37:18..in dozens of languages.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21HE SPEAKS PORTUGUESE
0:37:21 > 0:37:24HE SPEAKS ITALIAN
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Hello!
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Being a good ambassador is about embracing the theatre of the job
0:37:30 > 0:37:32and that means getting into character.
0:37:32 > 0:37:33HE CHORTLES
0:37:33 > 0:37:35And a big part of that is the uniform,
0:37:35 > 0:37:38the epitome of a city gent.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41As a welcome ambassador, appearance is everything.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44We wear a three-piece suit and a bowler hat.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49It's one of those traditionally English articles of clothing.
0:37:49 > 0:37:54It just helps to put that little bit of a sheen on the whole operation.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56And if he's to play the part successfully,
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Ambassador Tony's uniform needs to look its best.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02After all, he's going to be the image of the street
0:38:02 > 0:38:05for hundreds of thousands of visitors to take home.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08But if truth be told, Tony's bowler's in a bad way.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11My hat's looking a little bit worn at the moment.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15They start off quite rigid, the felt is quite hard,
0:38:15 > 0:38:17but after a while,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19they tend to soften
0:38:19 > 0:38:21and they need to be replaced.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25The bowler hat was designed by London hat makers
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Thomas and William Bowler in 1849.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31It's believed it was commissioned by Edward Coke,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36He wanted a close-fitting, low-crowned hat
0:38:36 > 0:38:39his gamekeepers could wear that wouldn't be knocked off
0:38:39 > 0:38:43by low-hanging branches while on horseback the way the top hats were.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47In the present day, Tony's come to a local milliner
0:38:47 > 0:38:50to get himself measured up for a new bowler
0:38:50 > 0:38:53that will fit on his considerable head.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56I've got somewhere between a large and an extra-large,
0:38:56 > 0:38:58so I need to get either an extra-large
0:38:58 > 0:39:00that needs to be padded out,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03or I need to get a large that needs to be slightly stretched.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Milliner Georgina has been making hats for over a decade.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Let's just check your head size.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Yeah, it's definitely an extra-large.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17It's full of brains, that's why.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21Yeah, that's what I constantly say, all the time.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25Georgina tests it out with a display model from the shop.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27So how does that feel?
0:39:27 > 0:39:29- I think it's good.- Yeah?
0:39:29 > 0:39:34- I think it might have a little bit of room.- A bit a wobble sideways.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36OK, well, I'll do an order for that
0:39:36 > 0:39:40- and I'll send an e-mail over to the office for you.- Thank you!
0:39:40 > 0:39:43Although she'll adjust Tony's new hat for him,
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Georgina won't be making it.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49For that, she'll have to go from Oxford Street to Oxfordshire,
0:39:49 > 0:39:52where Christys' Hats is based.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54It's over 200 years old
0:39:54 > 0:39:57and along with keeping the Metropolitan Police in helmets,
0:39:57 > 0:40:01they're the only company making bowlers in the traditional way,
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Steve Clarke is the boss.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06What we have here are some of the wonderful old machines.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09These machines are 50, 80, 100 years old.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Did the job beautifully then and realistically,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14there are no better machines for making hats like this even now.
0:40:16 > 0:40:18Now you have the basic shape of the crown,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21so that shape will be remembered, if you like, by the hood.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Today, the factory's concentrating on making other styles of hats
0:40:25 > 0:40:29and putting the finishing touches to Tony's bowler.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32It will have been made with the traditional methods,
0:40:32 > 0:40:33but with one key difference.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38What happens to it is it gets soaked in a mixture of shellac
0:40:38 > 0:40:39and denatured alcohol
0:40:39 > 0:40:42and that then gets drawn over a block,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45so the hood is drawn over a block in order to give it its shape,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48then it's baked so that it stiffens beautifully in an oven,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50nice and gently and what you end up with
0:40:50 > 0:40:54is that wonderful stiff finish that everybody recognises in a bowler.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57The team select a bowler in Tony's size.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01Currently, we're just finishing off the bowler, putting a lining in.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03The sweatband's already in.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07And there you go.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09What you have here is a finished bowler hat,
0:41:09 > 0:41:13so it's beautifully trimmed, it's bound, leather sweat band,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16it's got the lining in, a little bow at the back.
0:41:16 > 0:41:17And here you go.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22A week later, Tony's back with Georgina to try on his new hat.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25He'll be wearing it every day from now on,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28so making sure it fits comfortably is important.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31First of all, Georgina makes a key adjustment.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34So what we do is we just take off the standard black band
0:41:34 > 0:41:37and we replace it with the band in the colour
0:41:37 > 0:41:39that matches the Oxford Street branding,
0:41:39 > 0:41:42so that the welcome people are instantly visible.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Tony takes advantage of the wait to work on a new look.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Yeah, that's more like it.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Then the moment of truth.
0:41:50 > 0:41:51Want to just pop that on?
0:41:53 > 0:41:56Do you think maybe you need a little bit under there?
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Maybe a little bit under the sides,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01but it sits quite nicely at the front and back.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03- It's nice and straight, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07Georgina adds some padding under the leather sweatband.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10- How does that feel now? Is that OK? - Yeah, it feels good.
0:42:10 > 0:42:11- Looking good, Tony.- Yeah.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15I feel more aerodynamic.
0:42:15 > 0:42:19Yeah, it's great. You get a new hat and you feel reinvigorated.
0:42:19 > 0:42:24It feels good, it's nice and tight. Not too tight,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28just nice and comfortable. You know it's not going to get blown off.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30It feels good, I feel good,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33it gives you a new lease of life.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35Now all he's got to do is see how it fares
0:42:35 > 0:42:38on Europe's busiest shopping street.
0:42:38 > 0:42:42- This way?- That turning there, that's Argyle Street.- I love your hat.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Down there, second turning on the left, second turning on the right.
0:42:45 > 0:42:47- Do you like my hat?- Very attractive.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51- It's pretty cool.- I think they look like they belong here -
0:42:51 > 0:42:54brings a bit of the olden days back to London. It looks nice.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56New hats are a bit like new shoes.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57For the first couple of weeks,
0:42:57 > 0:43:01they're usually a bit uncomfortable, but this one is quite nice.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05It fits really well and it's not at all uncomfortable.