0:00:02 > 0:00:03City tours, folks. Hop on, hop off.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05Please stop harassing these women.
0:00:05 > 0:00:06Well, it's like
0:00:06 > 0:00:08a dog-eat-dog show out there, you know?
0:00:08 > 0:00:10People want people on their buses,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14and they'll do anything, sometimes, to, you know, provoke you.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16I'm being very gentlemanly.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19I do apologise, I am trying to speak to you,
0:00:19 > 0:00:20but this guy keeps interrupting.
0:00:20 > 0:00:25There's a gold rush on the streets of Belfast.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28That's our eighth bus going out now, full - top and bottom.
0:00:28 > 0:00:29Bring it on.
0:00:29 > 0:00:34I could sell snow to the Eskimo, sand to the Arabs,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and fries to us boys, not a problem.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38THEY LAUGH
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Last year, well over two million people visited Northern Ireland.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47This is where I'm looking forward to seeing something about the Titanic.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Some wanted to see the sights.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53It's a fairly impressive city, isn't it?
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- It's very impressive.- Beautiful.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Some came to soak up the TV stardust.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03That's the father's names...
0:01:03 > 0:01:09And some were returning to a place they haven't seen in a lifetime.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Oh, my goodness, I AM home, aren't I?
0:01:12 > 0:01:16This is the inside story of Northern Ireland's Bus Wars.
0:01:18 > 0:01:19THEY CHEER
0:01:19 > 0:01:21From the tourists who come here...
0:01:21 > 0:01:23I've been to some of the other wonders of the world -
0:01:23 > 0:01:27it definitely ranks right up there, it was fantastic.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30- The clutch is out of it.- BLEEP!
0:01:31 > 0:01:35..to the parts of the business that nobody else gets to see.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39The way the tours are run in Belfast at the moment, it's really a war.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46Welcome to Bus Wars.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Nicky, what the hell way have you got this?
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Take this arm out.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Some mechanic you are, Nicky!
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Right, that's you now. That's it.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- Nicky and I probably have a love/hate relationship. - HE LAUGHS
0:02:12 > 0:02:15Some days it goes well, some days it doesn't.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19We're looking for a manual, six-speed Volvo gearbox.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23That's automatic...
0:02:25 > 0:02:28Did you check ALL those ones there, Nicky?
0:02:36 > 0:02:38I just like scrap, and getting bits you need, and you want bits,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40you know what I mean?
0:02:41 > 0:02:42What's that...?
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Some of the buses are old and you can't get the bits no more, know what I mean?
0:02:45 > 0:02:47And you see something, you say, "See, look at that there,
0:02:47 > 0:02:50"we've been looking for that." And you can get it, know what I mean?
0:02:50 > 0:02:51This one?
0:02:52 > 0:02:54It's like kids going in a sweet shop, isn't it?
0:02:54 > 0:02:58I just like going to the scrapyards. That makes my day.
0:02:58 > 0:02:59Love 'em.
0:03:00 > 0:03:04Great, heaven. If we could only find the box, we'll be all right.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06Know what I mean?
0:03:07 > 0:03:09We're not having any luck here.
0:03:11 > 0:03:13MUSIC: Steptoe And Son Theme
0:03:14 > 0:03:19That's one of my old buses, sitting ready for the scrap.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21It's a bit sad when you see them like that.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23I'd prefer them to be out on the road.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25There's something there...
0:03:26 > 0:03:27HE GRUNTS
0:03:35 > 0:03:37This one got past us.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Obviously a cat's been living on it for a while.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Lovely!
0:03:43 > 0:03:45You come out of these scrapyards,
0:03:45 > 0:03:49you're just black with dirt and muck and... Oh, terrible
0:03:49 > 0:03:53but...you've got this van full of stuff that you just can't buy
0:03:53 > 0:03:55any more. So it's very, very satisfying, yeah.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Looks familiar to me.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Well, if the clutch fits, that's the starters. Right?
0:04:03 > 0:04:06You understand? That's the push, that's what it is.
0:04:06 > 0:04:07CLICK
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- That doesn't matter. - What happened there?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11Well, I've pushed the clutch forward.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13That looks good to me.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- That fits.- I've made a decision,
0:04:17 > 0:04:19I think we'll go for it.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22It's not in the bus yet, it's not working, but it's a good chance,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24a good opportunity.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26So we may as well take it. I'm going to go and pay the man now.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30This is the hard bit, isn't it?
0:04:33 > 0:04:38These days, Benn Allen runs budget coach tours of the north coast,
0:04:38 > 0:04:43but four years ago he ran a city centre open-top bus company.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Back then, it was a tough and aggressive industry.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51Benn was even convicted of disorderly behaviour after an argument on the street,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and he says he was often on the receiving end, too.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I've been attacked in broad daylight at half nine in the morning on my
0:04:58 > 0:05:03own bus. There's been windows broken... Just complete madness.
0:05:04 > 0:05:10But Benn's biggest problem was his frequent run-ins with the authorities.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Got a few fines for running extra tours,
0:05:12 > 0:05:15but the fines are only about 200 quid,
0:05:15 > 0:05:18and that would be maybe for running, like, 30 extra tours,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20so it was well worth it. So I just went into court, took the fine,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22laughed it off.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Eventually, he was spending more time in courtrooms than on buses,
0:05:26 > 0:05:30so four years ago Benn decided to sell his business,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34to concentrate on private coach tours of the Giant's Causeway.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38I thought it was a good idea really to get out of town for a couple of years,
0:05:38 > 0:05:40let things cool down and sort things out.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44So that's why I approached the owners of Titanic and City Tours.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51Every day, Benn sees his old buses driving around Belfast.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Now, he wants them back.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Looks great, doesn't it?
0:05:58 > 0:05:59This would be one of my favourites,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and as you can see it's still in great nick,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04and that's what I'd really like to have back myself,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07and me run them in the town. I sort of miss it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13We must walk about nine miles a day.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17I know. You walk about six of them in and out of the toilet.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21You have to be erm...
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- Outgoing.- Outgoing. - No point being shy in this job.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Just drink your water, man.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29No, I need to...
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Alfie and Owen both used to work for Benn.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Alfie isn't ONE of the best in the town, he's THE best in the town,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39always was.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42He could do the work of, easily, six men.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46It was great, because he was on our side.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49THEY LAUGH
0:06:50 > 0:06:54'Alfie's a very passionate person within the bus tours.'
0:06:54 > 0:06:56I told you, there's only one sheriff in this town!
0:06:57 > 0:07:00He's very dedicated to this job.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04I think he actually takes leaflets home and papers his walls with them.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06If you buy a ticket for this,
0:07:06 > 0:07:08then you get the Giant's Causeway for 20 quid.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11If you haven't done the city tour, then you have to pay 25.
0:07:11 > 0:07:1320 quid means £20.
0:07:13 > 0:07:14Yeah, yeah, that's OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16- Now...- He knows what quid means!
0:07:16 > 0:07:18That's Belfast talk.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20He thinks everybody's as stupid as he is.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23I'm from Australia. He's right.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Thank you, sir, thank you!
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Told you. Alfie, you could learn a thing or two of me, let me tell you.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Are you as stupid as he is? Apologise for your stupidity.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34No, no, no, my question is, for 20 quid, you have the entry of...
0:07:34 > 0:07:37No, it's £20 - now I'm correcting YOU!
0:07:37 > 0:07:39THEY LAUGH
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Now you're getting the Belfast lingo!
0:07:51 > 0:07:53When Alfie and Owen worked for Benn,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Allen's Tours was seen as a Protestant company.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58CHEERING
0:08:00 > 0:08:02There's the heat starting now.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09But when Benn wanted to sell,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13the only potential buyers were a group of Catholic businessmen.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16We didn't really care who owned it.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19We just didn't like City Sightseeing,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22and we'd have went to any company that was going up against them.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Now we're being bought over by...
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- someone from the other side of the community.- Watch what you say!
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Martin, how are you?- All right, how's it going?
0:08:34 > 0:08:37This is Martin Lands - Martin went to school with me,
0:08:37 > 0:08:40we grew up together in the Beechmount area, you know?
0:08:40 > 0:08:45Former boxer Sean Donnelly, along with brothers Gerard and Paddy Rogan,
0:08:45 > 0:08:47run Titanic and City Tours.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51It was a Protestant company, and we were a Catholic company.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54What I did, I got involved, I went into their offices,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56which is on the Sandy Row.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59At the start, all those lads thought,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02"These guys are from the Falls Road, they're going to let us go."
0:09:02 > 0:09:04And Sean showed his hand.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- What are yous having?- I think I'm going to go for the Ulster.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09You want an Ulster fry(?)
0:09:09 > 0:09:11I'll have the Ulster fry!
0:09:11 > 0:09:12We'll have three Irish fries!
0:09:12 > 0:09:15THEY LAUGH
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It was near Christmas, and they took us all on, do you know what I mean?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20They kept us in a job right up to Christmas...
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Even though it was costing them money.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- Look at that! - No, no, no, no, no, no.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29That's right, only the Brits do that.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Thank God YOU said that!
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Everybody that starts in our company,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36they're told you hang your politics at the door.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38There's a hook at the door - hang your politics,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41and that's where it stays there. I slag and joke, you know,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45it sounds funny, but at the interviews, when I'm interviewing them I slag them, I say,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47"Lads, do you play the flute this way or that way?"
0:09:47 > 0:09:50laughing, you know? It's all good craic and a good joke.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Doesn't matter to me what colour they are or what religion they are.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55They're more than welcome. If they do their job good,
0:09:55 > 0:09:58that's what we want. And that's the way it'll stay.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It's great, Gerard, absolutely great.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04CHATTER AND LAUGHTER
0:10:06 > 0:10:07Break bread, Owen, break bread.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Yes.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Across the divide!
0:10:14 > 0:10:16"You take too much there," he says - look!
0:10:19 > 0:10:21First of all, I'll tell you, I'm 51.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- Wow.- All right?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27THEY LAUGH
0:10:27 > 0:10:28Oh, we didn't even get a photo!
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Well, you see, you should have been quick.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- Encore, encore.- All right, all right, give me a sec.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Get that leg up.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37THEY WHOOP
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Natalie and Zoe are visiting Belfast for a couple of days, after getting
0:10:44 > 0:10:46last-minute cheap flights.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It's their first time in Northern Ireland.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I do want to learn about the culture, I think it's so interesting.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56I love the Irish people as well, like, they are so laid-back and chilled,
0:10:56 > 0:11:01but then they've got that side to them where you wouldn't mess with them as well. So I like the...
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Yeah, the Irish people are so cool. And they just want to get a bevvy,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06- so it's like, that's what we're here for.- Why not?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11By the way, if you're wondering what the H and the W means at the very top,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14that means hello and welcome to Belfast.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16It also means Harry and William.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18Remember Harry and William? Who are they?
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Princes.- That's right, well done.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- Yes! We're so smart.- And so many people believe that these two cranes are named after them two as well.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- Hey, we were so the only ones that got that answer right.- Mm.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33To the left of the bus, you'll see the structure that spans
0:11:33 > 0:11:37the river at this point. That's the Lagan tidal barrier weir.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40The Lagan has one of the highest...
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Not everyone who takes a bus tour is new to Belfast.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47My name is Victor Thorn,
0:11:47 > 0:11:52and I was a British soldier here in Belfast back in the '70s.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Here I am on a bus,
0:11:57 > 0:12:02driving around through Belfast, when back in those days, of course,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05I would have either been in an armoured personnel carrier,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09or I would have been on the back of a Land Rover holding a rifle.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13I joined the British Army when I was 19 years of age.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18Within a very short time, I found myself in Northern Ireland, in 1971,
0:12:18 > 0:12:19with 2 Para.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26When we started popping off out to tour the city,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29no real uncomfortable feeling whatsoever.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32However, once the fatalities started...
0:12:34 > 0:12:39..that's when you realise this is a real situation, you know, and perhaps,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43you know, the risk is far greater than I assumed it to be.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52The prime interest for me will be West Belfast,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55because that's where I spent a lot of my time, obviously,
0:12:55 > 0:12:59and to actually go back to that and see how it's changed will be, I think,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01to some degree, quite cathartic.
0:13:05 > 0:13:1039 years was when I left here as a soldier, back in 1977.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13I did have a couple of my old military buddies
0:13:13 > 0:13:16say to me before I left, "You be careful."
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Vic Thorn has gotten off the bus at the Falls Road.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27He's on his way to meet someone who grew up in this area,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30just as he was serving in the Parachute Regiment.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35He doesn't know quite what kind of reception he's going to get.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Back at Allen's Tours, Benn has had some bad news.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46Can you get into the car park, or down the hill or anything?
0:13:47 > 0:13:49- She won't move. - She won't move at all?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Here, Francie, I'll tell you what it is, I have a bus here,
0:13:54 > 0:13:56in Ballycastle there, but she won't go up the hill.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58I put a new clutch in it there a couple of weeks back
0:13:58 > 0:14:02and it's started to slip. I was wondering, would you have a bus there?
0:14:02 > 0:14:06You could take them down to the rope bridge first, until I get down to adjust this clutch up.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11All right, let's go.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13HE GROANS
0:14:13 > 0:14:15What's up?
0:14:15 > 0:14:16Just browned off.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19You get out of bed, it's a normal day, and you say wait a minute,
0:14:19 > 0:14:22you've got to go into work, and that's where it changes.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Yeah, you just go with them, we'll see you at the rope bridge.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Just leave the bus there, Benn.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33That's it. Mucked up.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- INTERVIEWER:- Whose fault is it? - Benn's.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39It has to be his. No-one else.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44There she is.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Benn has organised for the passengers to be taken on to the next stop.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Now he needs Nicky to get his bus back on the road.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Phwoah! That smells pretty bad.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00It definitely was slipping, even. He was right there.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09BELL DINGS
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Benn?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15What you want to do, I just want you to put it in top gear and stall it, if it will.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21What's the pedal like?
0:15:21 > 0:15:23MUSIC: Steptoe And Son Theme
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Whilst Nicky gets to work,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32Benn has to deliver the replacement bus to his passengers.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37If there's a chance of that bus moving, Nicky'll get it to move.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39He doesn't like getting tow trucks in.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43So, we'll find out maybe by the time I get back down there.
0:15:48 > 0:15:53Benn's plan for this summer had been to earn enough cash from his Causeway Tours
0:15:53 > 0:15:58to start up once again as an open-top tour bus company in Belfast.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- It's like a wedding!- I know it is!
0:16:03 > 0:16:06What he DOESN'T know, is that his archrivals may be about to beat him to it.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09My jaws just won't go any further!
0:16:09 > 0:16:10THEY LAUGH
0:16:12 > 0:16:14See the way Caroline is? That's perfect. That's good.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Follow my lead. You know?
0:16:21 > 0:16:26Caroline and Rodney McComb have just taken delivery of a new bus.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31This coach was £100,000.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33It's a lot of money for us to invest,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and there really is a lot of pressure on us then to make it work
0:16:36 > 0:16:40and make a new product come in and sell really, really well for us.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43Their competitors don't know it yet,
0:16:43 > 0:16:47but Caroline and Rodney's plan is to start a city tour with their new
0:16:47 > 0:16:52convertible bus, where rain or shine, they'll be able to make money...
0:16:54 > 0:16:58..potentially taking on the two big city centre companies at their own game.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02If it goes the way I think it IS going to go, well,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05there might be another one or two brought in.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08Do you want to come around here, Rodney, and we'll look at this here?
0:17:08 > 0:17:10But that's only part of the plan.
0:17:10 > 0:17:14This is definitely the main advertising space, this here.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20McComb's want to take the battle for customers off the streets, and into
0:17:20 > 0:17:24the more genteel surroundings of Victoria Square Shopping Centre.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Oh, this is definitely the McComb's alternative to street staff.
0:17:29 > 0:17:30This is just how we do it.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34You know, we always try to go that extra step and that wee bit
0:17:34 > 0:17:37higher-end, so for us this is a mile apart from that
0:17:37 > 0:17:38so it's great.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We went and had a gorgeous sandwich,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and a scone.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58- INTERVIEWER:- Do you think the customers are bothered?
0:17:58 > 0:18:01No, they seem happy enough.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11What the tourists of Northern Ireland want is a really good tour
0:18:11 > 0:18:14to see our scenery, to see our lovely country.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16They're not actually here for a bus show.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18MUSIC: Goji Berry Sunset by Jealous Of The Birds
0:18:18 > 0:18:24# Your name fizzes on my tongue
0:18:26 > 0:18:30# Oh, your name
0:18:30 > 0:18:32# It fizzes on my tongue
0:18:34 > 0:18:36# Damn that name... #
0:18:40 > 0:18:44It's time to put Nicky's handiwork to the test.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50- The clutch is out of it.- BLEEP- me!
0:18:55 > 0:18:56What is it? What's happened?
0:18:56 > 0:18:58She's just burning out.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04She's just burning out.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10We should have got it back down here, we shouldn't have gone up the hill.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21OK. Jump in, we'll try it.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25The bus is finished.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- There's not a lot left in it, Nicky.- No, burnt out.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39For now, Benn and Nicky are going nowhere.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Check out the building on your left-hand side now. It belongs to
0:19:46 > 0:19:49Queen's University. It just recently opened.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51It's a brand-new building.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53- And what's it made out of?- Glass?
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Glass, there you go. What does that say about, you know...
0:19:55 > 0:19:58- There's no bombs.- That's it, no more bombs.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00And no more shooting on our streets.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Former soldier Vic Thorn remembers a very different Belfast.
0:20:14 > 0:20:19He's got off the bus just off the Falls Road, beside his old barracks.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26It was quite, quite interesting to still see there was a link...
0:20:27 > 0:20:33..to that time, and just to suddenly, without any real effort,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37be able to imagine once more driving through those gates,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40back out through those gates, looking at the roofs,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42looking at the windows, ever ready...
0:20:46 > 0:20:48And then you have St Peter's Cathedral here.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51- Yes.- And of course, I'm sure you remember this particular building.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54Ah, the Divis Flats. Of course, yes.
0:20:54 > 0:20:55Yes. God!
0:20:57 > 0:21:00Vic has come to meet the director of Titanic and City Tours,
0:21:00 > 0:21:01Gerard Rogan,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05who grew up in this area whilst Vic was in the Army.
0:21:05 > 0:21:11I remember patrolling in the Divis Flats back in the early '70s, and
0:21:11 > 0:21:16you would get washing machines, TVs, whatever, thrown out at you.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20I didn't live in the flats, so I didn't throw any of the washing machines at you!
0:21:20 > 0:21:22THEY LAUGH
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- But yeah, you'll see your whole take on it's changed. - But it's totally different,
0:21:25 > 0:21:30because in those days it was very much a very grey, foreboding building.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36His take on standing out on the Falls Road,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38and remembering about washing machines and TVs...
0:21:38 > 0:21:41I never threw anything out the window.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44And I told him that. But you could see his mind ticking over.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46What were you doing at that time?
0:21:46 > 0:21:48In '72, I was about 14.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- 14 years of age.- Ooh! 14 years of age.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53So I was sort of a very quiet lad.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- You probably wouldn't have... - Do you know,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I really have an issue with that. I'm not sure I believe that.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01But maybe we met somewhere along the way.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03In less friendly circumstances, Victor.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- THEY LAUGH - Yeah.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10It was easier for me because I'm standing on home ground.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13But here was a guy who had served with the British Army here,
0:22:13 > 0:22:16in what he probably would have deemed enemy territory.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18Standing on the Falls Road...
0:22:18 > 0:22:21You could see that he was slightly uptight,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23but as we talked and we walked along
0:22:23 > 0:22:27you could see him starting to loosen up and enjoying a bit of craic.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32Well, you wouldn't have seen too much in the vehicles that you were travelling in at the time.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34- No, that's very true.- Because there was only wee hatches.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37And for me to be on the top of a bus going through Belfast
0:22:37 > 0:22:39is a new experience.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42- And without anybody throwing bricks or bottles at you.- Exactly!
0:22:47 > 0:22:50Hello. I take it you're on your break, yeah?
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Take it you're on your break.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Well, where are you?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Come into work in the morning at nine o'clock,
0:22:58 > 0:23:00and Alfie makes sure you're in cos he rings you.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Ring, ring, ring - that's all you get from nine o'clock in the morning.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Hurry up and get up here, will you?
0:23:06 > 0:23:07Right, hurry up.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11I'm the top skiver, without a shadow of a doubt.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13- They call me the Ghost. Cos they never see me.- Aye.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15THEY LAUGH
0:23:16 > 0:23:19It's a pain in the hole sometimes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24Some of the boys still have their old bad habits, like going to the toilet for 20 minutes,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27and you're phoning them, and... going to the bookies in their break
0:23:27 > 0:23:30when they're not supposed to be in the bookies on their break.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32You know. Or taking 45 minutes
0:23:32 > 0:23:35and going down to St George's Market to buy crabs.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37HE LAUGHS
0:23:37 > 0:23:40- And lobsters.- Well, Alfie, I like to live the high life, OK?
0:23:40 > 0:23:41- So just...- You know.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Seriously, I'll probably just throw the towel in and say,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47"I can't work with him no more, driving me mad."
0:23:47 > 0:23:48There he's there, look.
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Alfie, what's happening?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56Thank you. City tours?
0:23:56 > 0:23:59City tours today, guys?
0:23:59 > 0:24:00Thank you.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03- Seriously, mate? - I'm running about here like a headless chicken.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06No, you're not. You were in there, going to the toilet,
0:24:06 > 0:24:08then you come out for five minutes and you're away...
0:24:08 > 0:24:11- Then I disappeared for five minutes. - Yeah.- I get 30 minutes for my break.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14So in between that there, I was 15 minutes... I'm due 15 minutes.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16What was your burger this morning at 11 o'clock?
0:24:16 > 0:24:18I'm due 15 minutes to go in there and sit down,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20- but I'm not going to do it. - What was your burger?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Because I like it for the company, do know what I mean?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24I'm here to work for the company, so I don't want a break.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26What was your burger this morning at 11 o'clock?
0:24:26 > 0:24:28- That was pre-cooked. - That was a tea break, was it?
0:24:28 > 0:24:31No, that was pre-cooked and pre-ordered.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35We just have to try and avoid Alfie and stay out of his way,
0:24:35 > 0:24:40but every turn of the corner you take, he seems to be there.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48What Alfie doesn't know won't harm him.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58HE GROANS
0:25:01 > 0:25:02Right, is that us?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04That's us. Oh, look at that.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06This is definitely the life.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08THEY LAUGH
0:25:10 > 0:25:15Up on the coast, Benn and Nicky are making the best of a bad situation.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Let's go!
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Benn is no closer to realising his dream.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28But his old rivals are moving up a gear.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Can you hold the bottom of that?
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Yeah, that's where this goes.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37At Belfast's Victoria Square,
0:25:37 > 0:25:42Caroline and Rodney McComb are about to make a big announcement.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I'm glad to have something to do now
0:25:44 > 0:25:48to take my mind off it, and this'll put the time in quickly until everybody arrives, so...
0:25:51 > 0:25:53Caroline wants everything to be just right,
0:25:53 > 0:25:58but she's noticed that her rivals' leaflets are on display.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02And I think we'll take all of Sightseeing's literature out and replace it with ours.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Our leaflets were there yesterday.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09See if you just pull that cage just in there a bit.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15McComb's have been in business for 20 years.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19But now their plan to start a high-end open-top bus tour,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22and sell tickets in Victoria Square,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25could be a game-changer for the industry.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30This is a real step up for us.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33I think everybody's going to be delighted for us and really excited
0:26:33 > 0:26:37that we've decided to expand our business and move into this as well, so, yeah,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39I think we're going to get a great reaction from it.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Gorgeous.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45That is gorgeous.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47We'll put it up here.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50We've got the people we wanted here.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52We're just having a ball now, yeah.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56- We never stop scheming and planning. - I know, you're brilliant.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58This is the key. This is the key.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We have actually committed to what is now going to be -
0:27:03 > 0:27:07you'll see on the board here Belfast Tour Centre...
0:27:07 > 0:27:10We will be starting, from this Wednesday,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13tours of Belfast three times a day, every day.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17- So it is... - CHEERING
0:27:21 > 0:27:26Caroline's announcement has opened up a new front in the bus wars.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Look there to your left - we're not able to stop there.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32- Stop, sir!- Don't worry, we're going to stop on the way coming back, love, don't panic. Don't worry.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37But out on the streets - peace reigns.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39I would say the people are so nice and friendly,
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- and the weather's been obviously amazing... - People are so helpful, like,
0:27:43 > 0:27:48- and nice.- Except from that one guy that wouldn't let us on his bike, but apart from him...
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- It's been absolutely fabulous having you.- Yeah.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56'Gerard totally personified
0:27:56 > 0:27:59'the new attitude that Belfast is all about.'
0:27:59 > 0:28:02He has Catholic employees,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05he has Protestant employees, who all work together very well
0:28:05 > 0:28:08to build a company up.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10That's a microcosm of the city.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12This is how it SHOULD work.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17I almost felt I was home again, for want of a better word,
0:28:17 > 0:28:19which is...quite peculiar.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22It's been a large part of my life -
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Northern Ireland probably helped make me the person I am.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31So, see the IRA, that was illegal, yeah? But not really?
0:28:31 > 0:28:33MUSIC: Then I Met You by The Proclaimers
0:28:33 > 0:28:35# Thought that I'd be happy
0:28:35 > 0:28:36# Gonna be so happy
0:28:36 > 0:28:40# Living life alone and never sharing anything
0:28:40 > 0:28:42# Thought that I was finished
0:28:42 > 0:28:43# Thought that I was complete
0:28:43 > 0:28:47# Thought that I was whole instead of being half of something... #