0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's that magical time of year, it's Christmas.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06Up and down the UK, in towns and cities,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09families are gearing up for that big special day.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13They're buying presents, eating and drinking and generally making merry.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16But as we know, Christmas is a major undertaking that takes planning,
0:00:16 > 0:00:18organisation and a lot of hard work
0:00:18 > 0:00:22but for some people it can be a pretty challenging time too.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I'm very scared!
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Should've used nails.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Still got Christmas trees to be delivered yet.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33So we are in the heart of the UK's biggest Christmas market,
0:00:33 > 0:00:36in Manchester, to show you just what it takes
0:00:36 > 0:00:38to get that festive season on track.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42If we didn't do our job, the city would come to a standstill.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Our priority is to get the motorway open
0:00:44 > 0:00:45and get these people moving again.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Somebody's fallen out getting into a taxi here.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51The ambulance has already been called.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Were going to be meeting stallholders,
0:00:53 > 0:00:54police officers and organisers
0:00:54 > 0:00:57who all work tirelessly behind the scenes
0:00:57 > 0:01:00to make this special time of year safe and joyful for us all.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04It really does feel like the start of Christmas because everyone is
0:01:04 > 0:01:06getting together having a good time.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07BOTH: Welcome to Christmas City.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Going to be a good Christmas.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27On today's show we're going to be meeting a very special girl
0:01:27 > 0:01:30who's on her way to the festive funfair.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34One, two, three, go.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37We'll be meeting the first time stallholder
0:01:37 > 0:01:39who's taken a gamble at the Christmas market.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42The risks involved as a business are huge.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43It's a massive undertaking for us.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45And I'm going to be finding out
0:01:45 > 0:01:48what it's like to be homeless at Christmas.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51At Christmas time, how do you think loneliness can affect people
0:01:51 > 0:01:53that are living like this?
0:01:53 > 0:01:55It can drive people to kill themselves
0:01:55 > 0:01:57because, really, it's a bad time.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05There are more than 100 Christmas markets across the UK,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09generating spending of about a quarter of £1 billion.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11The biggest of these is Manchester
0:02:11 > 0:02:16with over 300 stalls spread across ten sites in the city centre.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20More than 40 of those stalls are for food and drink.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23After all, it's the one time of year when most of us push the boat out.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Turkey is king at Christmas.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28Two thirds of us will be tucking in
0:02:28 > 0:02:30to 10 million birds come the big day.
0:02:32 > 0:02:33One stallholder from Manchester
0:02:33 > 0:02:36is bucking the trend of the traditional festive taste
0:02:36 > 0:02:40and is risking everything to bring his own version of a cheesy
0:02:40 > 0:02:43Christmas lunch to this year's market for the very first time.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Hiya, yeah, I'll have one of those bratwurst, please. Thank you.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51Charlie, there you go, dude, enjoy.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56What began less than two years ago as a pop-up restaurant is now
0:02:56 > 0:02:58a thriving city centre business,
0:02:58 > 0:03:01giving gourmet burgers a run for their money.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03One Pomodoro. Would you like chicken on there, mate?
0:03:03 > 0:03:08Northern Soul Grilled Cheese is the creation of Manchester's Dan Place.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11The premise was going to be like an American-style diner.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Burgers kind of took off in Manchester, got a bit saturated
0:03:14 > 0:03:16and the best thing on our menu was the grilled cheese.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17You might be a convert.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19We can actually say
0:03:19 > 0:03:22we're the UK's first American grilled cheese restaurant.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24Setting it up to be like New York style.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26So when it's nice and cold all the steam's flying out.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28It's my favourite place in the world, New York.
0:03:28 > 0:03:29Second to Manchester.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Dan is taking a huge business gamble by throwing his efforts into opening
0:03:34 > 0:03:37a food stall at this year's Manchester Christmas market.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39Cheers, bud, how's that for you? Nice one, man.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Cheers, buddy, see you soon.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44With over 9 million hungry visitors to feed,
0:03:44 > 0:03:46it's a great opportunity for Dan,
0:03:46 > 0:03:50but to break even he will need to sell 5,000 toasties
0:03:50 > 0:03:52in just over 40 days.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55The risks involved for us as a business are huge.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58A lot of what we are doing has to be paid upfront.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00It's a massive undertaking for us.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03We operate a kitchen at the moment, to order.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05We're going to flip it on its head.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08We're going to serve away to the customer.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10So the front will be glazed to the shop.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11It will be a full bank of grills
0:04:11 > 0:04:13because this won't cut the mustard down there.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15We need to have a lot of volume going through.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17This is Drew, my general manager.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20Me and him are working 24/7 on this.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22He doesn't quite know about the seven yet but he'll find out.
0:04:22 > 0:04:2624/7. We've been doing that for the last year, never mind this month!
0:04:26 > 0:04:29To make sure his food stall competes with German sausages,
0:04:29 > 0:04:34Hungarian goulash and Spanish paella, Dan has a plan.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Just smell that.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38- Oh, wow.- Snaff on that, mate.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Success depends on Dan's festive menu.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45He's banking on his signature Christmas toastie to be a hit
0:04:45 > 0:04:47but to get it just right,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50he's testing some specially flavoured hams.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52That will be the crucial ingredient
0:04:52 > 0:04:55but which one will his staff and customers prefer?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57We've done an orange and ginger,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00done an orange and lemon and we've done a Christmas festive spice.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03So I reckon we chop it up,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06get some portions out and get the customers' feedback and I think we
0:05:06 > 0:05:08should let the customers pick which one we go with at the markets.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11So you're getting the orange and lemon in there, yeah?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14So these are our own cures that we've actually sat the hams in.
0:05:16 > 0:05:17There you go.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Our meat guy's actually quite traditional, they're hand done.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23So, lemon and orange going through that.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26That's really lovely cos you can get the fruit all the way through it.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28Some spices going on in there.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29- I can taste the ginger. - The ginger.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Go big or go home. It's Christmas.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32- I think I like the cinnamon one. - Cinnamon?
0:05:32 > 0:05:34This is my favourite.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- Favourite?- This tastes like Christmas.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38Great, so that's a unanimous decision
0:05:38 > 0:05:42for the Christmas festive spice. Brilliant, thanks very much, girls.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49For any business, the laws of supply and demand are crucial but in Dan's
0:05:49 > 0:05:52case, not having the right supplies on time
0:05:52 > 0:05:55could put him out of business very quickly.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58These hams are brined in our special brine mixtures
0:05:58 > 0:06:00and if we run out, it's three days minimum
0:06:00 > 0:06:02until we can get the hams again.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05What we don't want to do is get to the markets and we've run dry.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07There you go, this is the one we've chosen today.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09With his market research concluded,
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Dan can break the results of the taste test to his supplier.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15We've just done it out to customers, they've taste tested it
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and it's festive spice all the way, mate, as we thought.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I love a challenge. It really is a challenge.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23I don't think you can get any bigger than the markets.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28It's going to work. I'm a Man City fan, so an eternal optimist.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32We said we can, now we've got to do. Cheers, guys, see you next time.
0:06:41 > 0:06:42Christmas is a time for families
0:06:42 > 0:06:45to come together and enjoy the festivities
0:06:45 > 0:06:49but for some it can be a very bleak and lonely period.
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Latest figures estimate on any given night there are over 3,500 people
0:06:54 > 0:06:56sleeping rough on Britain's streets.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03Homelessness will be tough any time of year but especially at Christmas.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I'm about to meet someone who found himself living on the streets of
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Manchester at this festive time of year.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16This is Brian. He knows just how hard it is
0:07:16 > 0:07:19to have nowhere to go at Christmas.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Tell me a bit about yourself.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23I worked in a bakery for 30 years.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Basically making pies, all different pies but drinking on the job.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- Right.- Everyone knew, it was only a small company.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35My boss, God bless him, kept me on
0:07:35 > 0:07:40but about the last two years I started getting on amphetamine.
0:07:40 > 0:07:45OK, so you were not only drinking at work but you were also taking drugs
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- as well?- Yeah, so I wasn't sleeping all week and ended up losing my job.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Brian's mother died and he lost his flat.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53He moved back home but his father,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55unable to cope with his son's issues,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58asked him to leave. He had nowhere left to turn.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01It's me own fault. I've got no home.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Obviously, my family don't want to know me.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06No job. "What am I going to do?"
0:08:06 > 0:08:10With nowhere to go, Brian ended up homeless on the streets.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Now he's agreed to show me some of his old haunts.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17In the daytime I'd be up here in the car park.
0:08:17 > 0:08:18You always find somewhere.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22It doesn't look too welcoming as a place to sleep if I'm honest, Brian.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26It's a car park but I guess it kept you dry.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27It wasn't too bad.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31I just used to go in the stairwell, just stay in there.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33You get people coming in and out, looking at you
0:08:33 > 0:08:35and everything but, yeah.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43At 48 years old, Brian had never slept rough before
0:08:43 > 0:08:47and he struggled adapting to life on the streets.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48How vulnerable did you feel
0:08:48 > 0:08:52when you found yourself living on the streets alone?
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Really vulnerable. I'm out on the streets. I've not got me job.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58I'm not used to this, cos I've worked,
0:08:58 > 0:09:00so I'm like a fish out of water.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05It's just like getting thrown to the sharks. Just despair.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10At night, Brian chose to sleep away from the other homeless crowds,
0:09:10 > 0:09:14always attempting to return to the same spot where he felt safest.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16- So this is it?- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19It's blocked off on this side now where all the beer barrels are.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21But, yeah, that's it.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25So if you were homeless right now
0:09:25 > 0:09:27would you still be able to make something here?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30- Yeah, no problem, yeah. - What would you do?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32If there's no-one about, I'd get these out the way.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38At the back of the wheelie bins here.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Get one of these on the floor, some cardboard on top,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44me sleeping bag and whatever I can over me.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47To me, this is just a bit of wood and some bins.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Yeah. That would do me, that.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52What do you actually do, do you get any sleep?
0:09:52 > 0:09:55You get an hour. You're always sleeping with one eye open,
0:09:55 > 0:09:56very, very light sleep.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Because you've got to be aware.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Because you get foxes coming in, as well. Having a sniff.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05- Hang on. So, you're hiding from the public.- Yeah.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- You're trying to keep yourself out the way.- Yeah.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- And on top of that, you've got foxes coming in.- Yeah, yeah.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Well, it's a back alley, isn't it?
0:10:11 > 0:10:13So, you're going to have... It's night-time, isn't it?
0:10:13 > 0:10:16There's bins everywhere. We've probably got rats coming in.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18- Rats, mice.- Wow. - You just get used to it.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Knowing what this is like now...
0:10:21 > 0:10:24- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.- ..First-hand, because you lived like this...
0:10:24 > 0:10:27- Yeah.- ..At Christmas time, how do you think loneliness
0:10:27 > 0:10:29can affect people that are living like this on the street?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31It drives people to suicide.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37They've not got their families, they're out on the streets.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40They're lonely. All right, they've got mates around them.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42But they're still lonely up here, inside themselves.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45And it can drive people to kill themselves,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48because it really is a bad time.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50It really is.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Later, I'm going to get a taste of exactly what it's like
0:10:53 > 0:10:56to sleep rough, when I join Brian for a cold winter night
0:10:56 > 0:10:58on a wet Manchester pavement.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05In order to hit Christmas deadlines,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07the company responsible for building the cabins
0:11:07 > 0:11:12for the Manchester markets starts operating at full pelt
0:11:12 > 0:11:14from as early as October.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19OK, I've done it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24Managing director David Palmer has been designing and installing
0:11:24 > 0:11:27the chalets the market stalls operate out of since 2005,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31when the council decided to switch from flatpack cabins
0:11:31 > 0:11:32to pre-fabricated chalets.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35They were made to be built quite quickly.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38So, they all just bolt together with probably eight bolts.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43They're built up off site and then we have the kind of big relay race
0:11:43 > 0:11:46with the wagons that take them into the centre.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49It's an intense two weeks.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52There's a deadline because when the market's open,
0:11:52 > 0:11:53those chalets have to be there.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55That's non-negotiable because
0:11:55 > 0:11:57there are market traders coming from all around Europe.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59I think the team like it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Because it feels like you're part of the Manchester buzz.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04There's a buzz in the city centre.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05It's just stressful.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07But it's quite enjoyable at the same time.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12With the official opening of the market just 48 hours away,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16some of the 300 stallholders are making finishing touches to their
0:12:16 > 0:12:19specially commissioned cabins.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21Others, like first-time stallholder Dan,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25who's juggling a full-time job and his market stall preparations,
0:12:25 > 0:12:27are only just starting to set up.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I've not even looked at the big Santa yet.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31There. There he is.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36After a full day's work at his cheese grill,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39owner Dan is about to set out his stall.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41So, the plan tonight - get the stuff in.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43All the equipment's gone into the shop today.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Get the tools in, put everything together.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49Work the ins and outs of the shop. The size of the unit.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Pretty much go and get the paper plan that we've got.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55And then put it into the physical plan.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57It will be a long night, I think.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Under the watchful eye of the big man himself,
0:13:04 > 0:13:05Dan and his team get to work.
0:13:07 > 0:13:08Absolutely amazing.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10The best spot you could hope for.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12We are right in front of the two main bars.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Fingers crossed, these guys will be ploughing them with the old ales
0:13:16 > 0:13:17and we'll sober them up.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Team Allen Key.
0:13:19 > 0:13:20Bang.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22So...
0:13:22 > 0:13:25But before they can even make a start, there's a glitch.
0:13:25 > 0:13:26Pass.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28There's no electricity.
0:13:28 > 0:13:29You go and try and find them.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Try and find them and see if we can get the lights on.
0:13:31 > 0:13:32We've got no lights.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35It's good in one way - you can't see us.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37And another way, we can't see what were doing.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40So, I think we just need to do what we can.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Feed off everyone else's light
0:13:42 > 0:13:45and the spark's assured us he'll be here before 12 o'clock tonight.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The lads had to soldier on without any electricity.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52But there is some light.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56They have their very own lamppost built into the shed.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00We've actually got to accommodate some of Manchester's landmarks.
0:14:02 > 0:14:07Landed a bit short in the unit, but that's going nowhere, is it?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09In the space that they have left,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Dan and his team must fit an entire working kitchen
0:14:12 > 0:14:15into a smaller area than they were anticipating.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Right, to me, pal.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22But Dan's Christmas dream hinges on a single vital piece of equipment.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26His brand-new, custom-built grill unit.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28You can just work the wrong way up, yeah?
0:14:29 > 0:14:31It's a pivotal moment.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- It couldn't have landed... - You might get a bit here, hold on.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36..On a worse spot.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38I mean, I've worked in worse, but that is tight.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43It's not going to be able to sit there because there's just
0:14:43 > 0:14:45too much cross heat going.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48We are just 200mm short of the measurement
0:14:48 > 0:14:50which has just thrown the space.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It's going to make it... unworkable.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Dan has gambled £30,000 on equipment and rent.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03If he's not cooking the moment the market opens,
0:15:03 > 0:15:07his grilled cheese empire could go up in smoke.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10The plan that we had is no longer the plan.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14After a long, frustrating night on the market,
0:15:14 > 0:15:16it's back to the drawing board for Dan and Drew.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Over in Cathedral Gardens, the De-Koning family
0:15:23 > 0:15:26have won the contract to run the funfair for the Christmas market
0:15:26 > 0:15:29for the third year in a row.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32The family run fair has been travelling the country
0:15:32 > 0:15:33for over 50 years.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Go to the van. Behind that lorry.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41But fitting into the city centre is a tight squeeze.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Right-hand now. Right-hand. Right-hand down a bit now.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- Pull the front in. - Jan De-Koning is the owner.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50I like doing the Manchester Christmas market
0:15:50 > 0:15:51because it's a great time of year.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54It's Christmas. There's a great atmosphere on the markets.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55Yeah, it's just good.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57Families, kids.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59It's a really good atmosphere.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Too close. Come back and we'll bring it off a bit.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05But last year was a bit different.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06His daughter, Isabel,
0:16:06 > 0:16:11was recovering following treatment for her cancer at Christie Hospital.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13It was quite devastating for us.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15It showed us another side to life.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19It put us in the middle of people having cancer.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24Jan decided to show his gratitude to the specialist cancer centre.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Over here a little bit.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Living, working in Manchester,
0:16:28 > 0:16:33we decided we were going to give the profit from this to Christie's
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and we did, and it made us very happy to do that,
0:16:36 > 0:16:38to try and give something back.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43Not only did he donate his £20,000 profit and give free rides to the
0:16:43 > 0:16:47children being treated for cancer, he's doing it all again this year.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53To see the kids enjoying themselves is a really nice feeling.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57It's a really... It gives you a warm feeling and to think that you're
0:16:57 > 0:16:59contributing in some small way,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02trying to put a little bit of happiness back on their lives.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06So, it's a really an easy, nice thing for us to do.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10And one little girl who's hoping to go to the funfair this year is
0:17:10 > 0:17:13five-year-old Gracie Hart.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- That makes sense.- OK!
0:17:17 > 0:17:20She was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer
0:17:20 > 0:17:22just before her third birthday.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28She'd been for a nasal flu vaccine
0:17:28 > 0:17:32and she had that as pretty much every child in her school did.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35And then about two days later, I noticed that the side of her nose,
0:17:35 > 0:17:37here, had started to... It just looked strange.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40It didn't look right. I went to the doctors, as you would,
0:17:40 > 0:17:46and eventually we got the horrible news that no parent wants to hear.
0:17:46 > 0:17:47That it was cancer.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53Gracie began a series of treatments at the Christie.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57She had a combination chemotherapy, which was three different drugs.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59She had that in cycles,
0:17:59 > 0:18:00so generally with chemotherapy, with kids,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03they do it over a three or four week cycle. So,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06she would be in hospital for three days having those drugs.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Oh, that's nice.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11What are you watching?
0:18:11 > 0:18:12It's OK.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Now, Gracie's looking forward to the Christmas funfair.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- You're excited, aren't you?- Yep!
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Yeah. Because you like Christmas.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21Yeah.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24And maybe we find some treats at the market?
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Oh, that would be good!
0:18:38 > 0:18:40It's one day before the official opening
0:18:40 > 0:18:42of Manchester Christmas markets.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Get out the bloody shop.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Grilled cheese sandwich entrepreneur Dan and his right-hand man, Drew,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50are battle weary after a night struggling to squeeze
0:18:50 > 0:18:53everything they need into their Christmas cabin.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56At 12:30, we didn't have lights.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58We were wet and sodden.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Not defeated, but we said,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04"We can't work like this. Let's get out fresh."
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Finished at half 12. Picked Drew up this morning at half five.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13The custom-built grill unit Dan had bought especially for the market
0:19:13 > 0:19:16didn't fit when they first arrived at the cabin.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19But by taking the original top of the unit and turning the whole thing
0:19:19 > 0:19:22upside down, things are looking up.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26Dan has gained the crucial 200 millimetres he needs.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30We've had to scrap all the tailor-made stainless steel.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33Use the shelf legs down here.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36Strap them together and make the best out of a bad situation.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It doesn't matter to us. It's the same, if not better,
0:19:39 > 0:19:42cos we've got a slightly better height than we would have done.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44It might be in the right place now,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47but the grill is still waiting to be fired up.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I need to call in a few favours, I think, this afternoon.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52We can get the gas man,
0:19:52 > 0:19:56lap of the gods, traffic's good, he gets to us,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58gas tested this afternoon...
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Clean the grill tops, oil them all up,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03so, yeah, there's a lot of other little bits and bobs.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Dan's £30,000 investment is on the line.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10With its Albert Square location,
0:20:10 > 0:20:12the stall might be at the heart of the market,
0:20:12 > 0:20:16but such a prime position comes at a price.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Product's coming in today, get these fridges filled.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Get the cheese and the bread. And get them on the grill tomorrow.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24Just looking at our clock.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Exactly 24 hours until the minute,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29we'll be open, serving grilled cheese tomorrow.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34They'll be competing with more than 40 other food stalls,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37so the heat is on. Well, almost.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Every day in the UK,
0:20:47 > 0:20:51around five children are told they are living with some kind of cancer.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56It's a frightening diagnosis at any age but for children
0:20:56 > 0:21:01and their families, dealing with cancer is really tough.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Manchester is home to one
0:21:04 > 0:21:07of the biggest cancer treatment centres in Europe.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Children from all over the region travel to the Christie Hospital
0:21:10 > 0:21:12for life-saving care.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Do you recognise anyone?
0:21:14 > 0:21:15Big hug?
0:21:15 > 0:21:17That's nice, isn't it?
0:21:17 > 0:21:21Five-year-old Gracie has been coming here since being diagnosed
0:21:21 > 0:21:24with a very rare form of cancer in her nose,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26just before her third birthday.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30So, we've come to Christies today, just to bring Gracie up
0:21:30 > 0:21:34for a checkup with her consultant - Dr Edders, she calls him - Dr Smith.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- Help me take that off. - Right, let's take it off, then.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38Because it's very old.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42To take the trauma out of hospital appointments,
0:21:42 > 0:21:46the children's department make sure a visit to the Christie is fun.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52- Hi.- How are you?- Really well. How are you?- I'm good!- Good to see you.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Pen is their paediatric support worker and play specialist.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56Hello.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58We make sure that when children come
0:21:58 > 0:22:00they're fully supported throughout the treatment.
0:22:00 > 0:22:01They are still sticky.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04That's all right. We can take it out, can't we?
0:22:04 > 0:22:06For children having radiotherapy treatment,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08they need to have scans and most of them need to have a mask made.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10To help them keep still doing treatment.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13So we would start to introduce the idea of having a scan,
0:22:13 > 0:22:17using a model scanner and become desensitised to it.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19So that when they need to have a scan for real, or have a mask made,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22it's not anything new or scary.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23I look good.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25You do look good. You always look good.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- You do.- Are you dancing with it?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29- That's good. - That's really good, isn't it?
0:22:29 > 0:22:30If I can take this off now...
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Yes, of course you can.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Ed Smith is Gracie's consultant.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39And today, he's giving her a checkup after her latest operation.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- Come on then. - Is he just going to check me out?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- Yes.- I am checking you out.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44You see?
0:22:44 > 0:22:48And when you've checked me out, I'll just go back to Pen.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Absolutely, good idea.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52It's always a little bit concerning as a parent,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55coming to a place like this, bringing your child, but you know,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58everyone we've met here has always made it so welcoming to come and for
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Gracie, she sees it as a real treat
0:23:00 > 0:23:04to come to Christies because she does so many fun activities.
0:23:04 > 0:23:05You're all right, aren't you?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- What's this here? - It feels all right.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09It's healing all well.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11And stuff.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12- Good.- Yeah.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14She's got back to normal really quickly.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17And how's the mouth? Is there any dryness there at all?
0:23:17 > 0:23:18She gets a little bit dry mouth,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20mainly, I would say, in the morning when she's woken up.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22But it's not stopped her eating or drinking.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25She's been able to do pretty much everything.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26She's been treated here twice.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30They've been in our lives for coming up to three years now, really.
0:23:30 > 0:23:31So for Gracie,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34she probably can't remember the days, unfortunately,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37before the likes of Christies and the hospital.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Do you have any problems chewing or anything?
0:23:40 > 0:23:42No, not really.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Just wobbly tooths.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45- Wobbly tooths.- Yeah.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48I've got a wobbly one now, which...
0:23:48 > 0:23:52It hurt when I was eating but now it's calmed down, so it's stopped.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- Yeah? Yeah.- Good.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57With Gracie's checkup behind her,
0:23:57 > 0:24:00it's now full steam ahead for Christmas.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02- Say thank you.- Lovely.- Thank you.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06And I will try and make you a card.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Thank you very much indeed.
0:24:08 > 0:24:12There's just time for Gracie to say goodbye to Pen...
0:24:12 > 0:24:14- Bye.- Bye-bye.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18..Before heading home and making plans for the Christmas funfair.
0:24:22 > 0:24:28Across the UK, local authorities spend an estimated £160 million
0:24:28 > 0:24:31a year to grit 80,000 miles of road.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35In Tameside, where Greater Manchester meets the Peak District,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38the council look after over 400 miles of highway
0:24:38 > 0:24:42and keeping the borough moving in the run-up to Christmas
0:24:42 > 0:24:44is one of their biggest challenges.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Lee Holland is Tameside Council's road gritter in chief.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52And the Christmas holidays are often his busiest time of the year.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54This is Tame Street Depot in Stalybridge
0:24:54 > 0:24:57and this is where we prepare for the winter maintenance season.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Before the season starts, we have to ensure we've got enough
0:25:00 > 0:25:03salt at the depot to treat the highway over that period.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05And in an average winter,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07we'll spread about 2,000 tonnes over the network.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11We have seven vehicles prepared every night ready to go out,
0:25:11 > 0:25:13if the forecast dictates.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Here's your route. You're going to be doing Route one.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- Right, no problem. - We are gritting at 15 grams.
0:25:18 > 0:25:23Parts of the borough are almost 245 metres above sea level and in the
0:25:23 > 0:25:27winter, snow and ice can make road conditions treacherous.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32But with each and every deployment costing taxpayers £5,000,
0:25:32 > 0:25:35deciding whether or not to send out the gritting wagons
0:25:35 > 0:25:37is never straightforward.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40I suppose the easiest decision is just to go out gritting
0:25:40 > 0:25:42but you're spending a lot of money,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46so what we tend to do now is rely on a lot of technology to give us a lot
0:25:46 > 0:25:49more information and it gives us a more informed decision on when we
0:25:49 > 0:25:52should be going out and treating and at what times.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56As well as receiving regular forecasts from the Met Office,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59the council have two weather stations of their own
0:25:59 > 0:26:01and Lee is paying one of them a visit.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05The weather station, it tells us a lot of information.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07It tells us what the air temperature is,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09it tells us what the wind speed is.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12We've got a sensor in the road which tells us the road surface
0:26:12 > 0:26:15temperature, which is the thing we monitor most closely.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16Years ago, I'm sure it used to be
0:26:16 > 0:26:19somebody used to stick their finger in the air, how cold was it.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Look at the grass outside and look at whether there was frost on the
0:26:22 > 0:26:24ground. We certainly appreciate the technology,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26it makes life slightly easier.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Although the decision-making process isn't straightforward.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Back in the warmth of his office,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Lee is poring over the very latest weather reports.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39At the minute, the forecast is quite marginal.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42It's a sort of difficult decision on deciding whether we should be going
0:26:42 > 0:26:43out and if we are, what is the correct time.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47Cos we don't want to be going out gritting the roads for three or four
0:26:47 > 0:26:49hours and it be raining and washing all the salt away,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53but we do need to get the salt down before the snow comes.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56With temperatures hovering at around freezing,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Lee has a big decision to make.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00To grit or not to grit.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02That is the question.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05We'll put all the lads on standby.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07With the view to them coming in this evening.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18In the city centre, the big day has finally arrived.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21It's the opening of Manchester's Christmas market
0:27:21 > 0:27:24and Councillor Pat Carney, the council city centre supremo,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28is heading in for the launch event, with Corrie star Sherrie Hewson.
0:27:31 > 0:27:32Very nice.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34To me now, it's Christmas in Manchester.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37We are all looking forward to coming on the markets
0:27:37 > 0:27:39and whatever the troubles in the world,
0:27:39 > 0:27:42we're going to have a wonderful time in Manchester.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Funds are tight in local government but Pat remains convinced that
0:27:46 > 0:27:50Christmas isn't the time for the council to play Scrooge.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53We do spend money on Christmas but on a balance sheet,
0:27:53 > 0:27:56£90 million boost to the economy
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and hundreds of jobs for local people,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02the market is a win-win story.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07With the ten city centre markets in full swing,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09it's a busy time for Jan de-Koning
0:28:09 > 0:28:12the man in charge of the Christmas funfair.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Last year, Jan donated profits from the funfair to Christie's hospital
0:28:16 > 0:28:18and this year he plans to do the same.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21His generous donation is gratitude for the cancer care his daughter
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Isabel received there 18 months ago.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Basically, they saved our baby when we took her there.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34They helped us, they helped her, and they help anybody who comes to them.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37And as well as offering cash to the specialist cancer centre,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40Jan is also offering all its patients
0:28:40 > 0:28:43and their families free rides.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Tonight, five-year-old Gracie and her family...
0:28:46 > 0:28:48Look at that.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50..Have come to enjoy all the fun of the fair.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54The pair of them have been asking me about it all week.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Jumping around in the car as we came here and as soon as they saw the
0:28:57 > 0:28:59rides, it was...
0:28:59 > 0:29:01They were really, really excited.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04One, two, three...
0:29:04 > 0:29:05Go!
0:29:07 > 0:29:09Like Gracie's mum Caroline,
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Jan understands what it's like to have a child diagnosed with cancer.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Jan's daughter went to Christie's as well, like you do.
0:29:17 > 0:29:18She was 16 when she got diagnosed.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22- Was she?- Yeah. But she's had the OK now.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- That's great news.- Yeah, she's just looking at universities
0:29:24 > 0:29:26- and getting ready to...- Fantastic.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31I think cos she's so young, she's had it since she was two,
0:29:31 > 0:29:34so it's all she's known.
0:29:34 > 0:29:35She kind of sees it as normal.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39- How old is she?- She's five now. She'll be six in February.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42When you look at how resilient they are, you've got no option
0:29:42 > 0:29:45but to just get on with it. Yeah.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Are you all right, Mrs? Was that good?
0:29:49 > 0:29:51- Yeah.- Oh, brilliant.
0:29:54 > 0:29:55It's been fantastic.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00It's brought the Christmas spirit a little bit early for us.
0:30:00 > 0:30:01Which is lovely as a family.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03So we've had a great evening
0:30:03 > 0:30:05and the kids have had a wonderful time.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07So really pleased.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17After weeks in the planning and with more than just a few hurdles to
0:30:17 > 0:30:22overcome, Dan's dream of running his own food stall on the market
0:30:22 > 0:30:23is now a reality.
0:30:23 > 0:30:25Mac attack with bacon.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29A classic. And a Crimbo dinner.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31But it's been far from plain sailing.
0:30:32 > 0:30:33It's been really tricky.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36The boys have done us proud. Pete down the end there has been pulling
0:30:36 > 0:30:3913-14 hour shifts without even a single moan.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42We slept in the van last night.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45It is what it is. We did have a few hurdles to overcome
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- and they are all forgotten about now, are they?- Just about.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53For once, the polls are right,
0:30:53 > 0:30:57Dan's specially commissioned Christmas ham is going down a treat.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02- Excuse me.- Just as his own brand of market research suggested it would.
0:31:02 > 0:31:03We gave the guys three options for
0:31:03 > 0:31:06the Christmas ham that we were going to feature on the Christmas markets.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08We've actually highlighted it on the menu.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Customer picked. And the customer is always right. As we know.
0:31:14 > 0:31:18Now, it's beginning to look a lot like the Christmas Dan hoped for.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19Enjoy, guys. Thank you.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- See you later.- He can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26His £30,000 gamble might just pay off.
0:31:27 > 0:31:32Yesterday, big boy chimed at 11 o'clock, the doors were opened,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34the till was singing, we got there in the end.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37Queues going out the door.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39That's what we want. Manchester is absolutely buzzing,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41people are absolutely loving it.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44If we keep growing on what we're doing, projections are right,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46numbers are bang on, just as we said.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48It's going to be a good Christmas.
0:31:59 > 0:32:00At the last count,
0:32:00 > 0:32:04there were 70 people sleeping rough in Manchester City centre
0:32:04 > 0:32:08and many hundreds more at risk of homelessness.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11The Booth Centre charity organises a mass sleep-out in the run-up to
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Christmas in the grounds of Manchester Cathedral.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Events like this not only raise awareness,
0:32:17 > 0:32:19they also raise much-needed funds
0:32:19 > 0:32:23and last year they raised almost £60,000.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Now, I'm going to join nearly 200 volunteers
0:32:26 > 0:32:29who have come down for this year's event.
0:32:29 > 0:32:34As you can see, it's cold, it's wet, the weather is utterly miserable.
0:32:34 > 0:32:37I'm certainly in for a very long night.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42Earlier in the show, I met Brian. He used to be a rough sleeper.
0:32:42 > 0:32:45Tonight, I'm going to get a small taste
0:32:45 > 0:32:48of what used to be his life on the streets.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51And he's going to help me find a safe place to sleep.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55So, Brian, looking around, obviously you've done this many,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57many times for real.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Where would you look to sleep?
0:32:59 > 0:33:03You want somewhere like down by the walls here,
0:33:03 > 0:33:05where you are out of the way.
0:33:05 > 0:33:08- OK.- The steps, where you can go down a bit, just so...
0:33:08 > 0:33:09Do you want to have a look?
0:33:09 > 0:33:12So the grass is a no-no straightaway.
0:33:12 > 0:33:14Yeah, if you've got cardboard or anything or something
0:33:14 > 0:33:17to go under, your sleeping bag ain't going to get wet.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- Yeah.- Somewhere where you're going to get a windbreak.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21There's not much to go on here.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23You're pretty much out to the elements, aren't you?
0:33:23 > 0:33:25If we could find a doorway around here,
0:33:25 > 0:33:26where it's a bit more out of the way.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29OK, let's have a look.
0:33:29 > 0:33:33You see, here, right next to the clubs and the pubs,
0:33:33 > 0:33:34- and people could come out.- Yeah.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37You're an easy target cos they've had a drink, haven't they?
0:33:37 > 0:33:40So, they're going to come over.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43You hear the stories, nicking your sleeping bag, beating you up.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45Urinating on you.
0:33:45 > 0:33:47It's just a buzz to them.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- It's a laugh.- But to you, that bag could be everything.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52It's your home, isn't it? Would you let someone in
0:33:52 > 0:33:54and have a pee on your couch? You wouldn't, would you?
0:33:56 > 0:33:57And that sleeping bag's your home.
0:33:57 > 0:33:59You could sleep in there if you didn't want to get seen.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02So, if you were doing this again, you would actually consider...?
0:34:02 > 0:34:03- Yeah.- Getting in that bush?
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Might be a bit wet, but you'd not get seen.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07It's like being back in the army, that is.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- The sort of thing we would have done.- Yeah.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11I could even go down there.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14- So, down here?- Yeah.
0:34:14 > 0:34:15This literally is what you would pick
0:34:15 > 0:34:17if you were back on the streets?
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Yeah. Cos people are going to walk past this billboard,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21they're going to walk straight past you.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23So we got a bit of shelter from the public,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26a tiny bit of shelter from the elements...
0:34:26 > 0:34:28- Yeah.- And it's kind of enclosed.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30So this is my home for the night.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32Yeah.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34It is.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Most people on this sleep out have opted to stay together.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42I want to get closer to Brian's experience of sleeping rough alone.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Brian, I'm going to be on my own, I think, for this one.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46You've given me my bed.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48I think it's time for me to try and get inside.
0:34:48 > 0:34:49- And a pillow. - Thank you for your help.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51- Have a good night.- Thanks, buddy.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53- OK, see you later. - See you. Goodbye.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58I'm going to try and settle down for the night
0:34:58 > 0:35:00but I know I won't get much sleep.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03A few feet away, Brian is doing the same.
0:35:07 > 0:35:09Everyone else is bedding down too.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Well, it's a few hours into the night now.
0:35:14 > 0:35:15The temperature has dropped.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It's impossible to get comfortable.
0:35:18 > 0:35:20And there's a lot of noise now when people
0:35:20 > 0:35:21are coming out of the bars and clubs
0:35:21 > 0:35:23after having quite a few drinks, it seems.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28I can see why Brian said he felt so vulnerable,
0:35:28 > 0:35:29sleeping like this,
0:35:29 > 0:35:33and why he'd literally want to sleep with one eye open.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35It's a very, very scary place to be.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39It's getting late now, so I'm going to try and get some sleep.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47But while the city sleeps, dedicated teams are hard at work,
0:35:47 > 0:35:49keeping our Christmas on track.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54In Tameside, head of environmental services Lee Holland has decided to
0:35:54 > 0:35:56send out the gritters.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00That means a busy night for Ryan Book and his fellow wagon drivers.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04Hi, Ryan. Here's your route. You'll be doing route one.
0:36:04 > 0:36:05We are gritting at 15 grams.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Give us a shout if you need anything?
0:36:07 > 0:36:09You've got your phone on you, haven't you? Right, cheers.
0:36:09 > 0:36:14Ryan works as a stonemason by day but on cold winter nights like this,
0:36:14 > 0:36:17he is a key part of the team that keeps Tameside moving.
0:36:17 > 0:36:19We used to have eight routes altogether
0:36:19 > 0:36:23but now they've changed it so they put it down to five routes
0:36:23 > 0:36:27and each route takes three hours altogether.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31On a small... 7.5 tonne, they go up and down more steep hills, really.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35One of the lads, he couldn't stop and he ended up hitting a tree.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38We're sending the gritter drivers out when we're telling most people
0:36:38 > 0:36:40to stay at home and stay off the roads.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42They are driving and the grit they are putting out
0:36:42 > 0:36:43is behind their wagon.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46So they're not driving on a treated surface.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50There's also other influences that are just as difficult,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54in terms of when there's a lot of cars parked or double parked,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57then it can become difficult to get round the streets.
0:36:58 > 0:36:59And out in the gritting wagon,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Ryan has encountered exactly that problem.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08Cars are double parked and I don't think I'm getting through.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11I'll go and have a look. Going to be a tight squeeze.
0:37:11 > 0:37:12Shall we go for it?
0:37:16 > 0:37:19An error of judgment here could spell
0:37:19 > 0:37:22a hefty insurance claim from the car owners.
0:37:24 > 0:37:25Scary.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31With literally centimetres to spare, Ryan has made it through.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35That was tight. Very tight.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39Every year, the routes are the same, so they should know,
0:37:39 > 0:37:41when it starts getting cold,
0:37:41 > 0:37:42not to parallel park.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44But you still get the odd people doing it.
0:37:44 > 0:37:49Sometimes, you have to reverse back and then try and find another way
0:37:49 > 0:37:50round to the other side.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54But parked cars aren't the only thing on Ryan's mind tonight.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59Negotiating his Christmas rota could prove just as problematic.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01Weak on, week off, we are on this year.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04I'm on Christmas and New Year lates,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06which I'm not happy about because I like to have a drink.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Last year, I was called out Christmas Day,
0:38:09 > 0:38:11just before sitting down for dinner.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13You have to take the rough with the smooth, don't you?
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Who wouldn't want to be driving round in one of these,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18with your music going?
0:38:19 > 0:38:22We all want to have a rest at Christmas, so they are sat there
0:38:22 > 0:38:25if they're on standby, waiting for the phone call.
0:38:25 > 0:38:26And when it comes,
0:38:26 > 0:38:30they have to come into the depot and start the operation.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32Obviously we all come to work for a payment
0:38:32 > 0:38:35but they also do it I think cos they all live in Tameside
0:38:35 > 0:38:37and they all care about the borough and
0:38:37 > 0:38:38they all want to do a good job.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40His night shift is drawing to a close
0:38:40 > 0:38:44and with Tameside's highways and byways safe for festive travel,
0:38:44 > 0:38:47it's the end of the freshly gritted road for Ryan.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49- Any problems?- No, no, none at all.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51A couple of cars parallel parked but that's about it.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54- All right, mate.- Right, cheers.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Keys on the hook, shoot off home then.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59- Thanks very much.- See you in a bit. - See you, Ryan. Goodbye.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06It's 5am.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09I've been on the streets for seven hours.
0:39:09 > 0:39:10That was a tough night.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12I didn't really get much sleep at all
0:39:12 > 0:39:14because every time I shut my eyes,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17there was the sound of smashing glass or people shouting.
0:39:17 > 0:39:21It was really, really noisy and really freezing cold.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25I think it's time for me to get up and try and warm up a bit.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30I'm glad I've done it.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33But this is just one tiny taster of what people like Brian
0:39:33 > 0:39:36had to do every single day.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40The long night is over. I've hardly slept at all.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42But I'm one of the lucky ones.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I've got a warm bed to go to and thankfully now, so has Brian.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52He's off the streets and looking forward to this Christmas
0:39:52 > 0:39:54with new hope. For the past nine months,
0:39:54 > 0:39:58he's been working as a volunteer for the very charity that organised
0:39:58 > 0:40:00the sleep out and saved him from a life on the streets.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Every morning, Brian serves breakfast to 70 homeless people
0:40:07 > 0:40:09here at the Booth Centre.
0:40:09 > 0:40:13I knew I was an alcoholic and I'd already been told by my doctor,
0:40:13 > 0:40:17if I don't stop drinking, he says, "You'll be dead two years".
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Last year, Brian lost his job and his home
0:40:20 > 0:40:23and ended up sleeping rough.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25In desperation, he arrived at this centre,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28looking for emergency accommodation.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31The relief when he said, "Yeah, we've found you somewhere,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33"we've got you somewhere straightaway."
0:40:33 > 0:40:37I just wanted a shower, got a shower,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40got in a bed, quilt over me, it was brilliant.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Coming to the centre was a decision that saved his life.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48There was one morning, I just woke up and went, "Right, that's it,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50"I've had enough." I'm 48 at the time.
0:40:50 > 0:40:52I thought, "I can't carry on like this.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54"I've got the chance to go into a dry house
0:40:54 > 0:40:55"where I can get my life together."
0:40:55 > 0:40:58So I decided to do it and I've not looked back since.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04Brian stopped drinking and started helping out at the centre.
0:41:04 > 0:41:09I do breakfast until 8.30am and then I go out on the front line,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12doing benefit claims, housing, emergency accommodation.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Or just someone to talk to.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17It's not a chore, it's a pleasure.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20It is important to me. It gives something back.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Volunteers were there when I was coming through,
0:41:22 > 0:41:24couldn't do enough to help me.
0:41:24 > 0:41:26They've been on the streets themselves.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29They've had addictions themselves. And they really did help me.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31And now it's me helping others
0:41:31 > 0:41:34that have been in the same situation I've been in.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Just remember, it's a person in that sleeping bag, that's sat down.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40It's easy just to chuck some money in and walk away,
0:41:40 > 0:41:43but to go and buy someone a brew,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46it meant a lot to me that someone's took five minutes out of their life,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48sit down and ask me how I'm doing, am I all right.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51It gives you a bit of a boost.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54And just a few months ago,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58Brian started raising money for the centre in the most unlikely manner.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02Since I came off the streets, I've taken up running.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06And Amy who does the fundraising at the centre says,
0:42:06 > 0:42:07do you want to do a 10K?
0:42:07 > 0:42:09And I didn't think I'd be able to do a 10K.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11So yeah, I did it, Manchester Run.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16And then I did the Bolton Community Half Marathon and on April 2nd,
0:42:16 > 0:42:18I'm doing my first full marathon.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20I've done so much in 12 months.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23And it's just getting better.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26Not drinking, not taking drugs.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28I'm just enjoying life in general.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I've got my life back. And I wouldn't have it any other way now.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39Dan, the smell of these toasties is absolutely amazing.
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Rav, you are going to need one of these after your night out on the streets. How was that?
0:42:42 > 0:42:44That will warm me up because it was freezing.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46I'm not going to lie. But it was great to see Brian
0:42:46 > 0:42:49and how much he's turned his life around with the help of the charity.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51And we've got loads more stories like that coming up
0:42:51 > 0:42:53- over the rest of the week. - And on tomorrow's show,
0:42:53 > 0:42:55I'm going to be working with a mental health charity,
0:42:55 > 0:42:58who have got a great way of coming up with wooden Christmas decorations
0:42:58 > 0:43:01and I'm going to have a go at making one myself, admittedly,
0:43:01 > 0:43:03with mixed results.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06And I'll be joining a team of trading standards officers,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09as they make sure the alcohol that we get from the shelves really does
0:43:09 > 0:43:11contain what it says on the bottle.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13- Dan...- Dan, let's have a go.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15Pass it over. Look at that!
0:43:15 > 0:43:17See you tomorrow.