0:00:02 > 0:00:04# If you wanna be my lover You gotta get with my friends
0:00:04 > 0:00:08# Make it last forever Friendship never ends... #
0:00:08 > 0:00:10RADIO CRACKLES
0:00:10 > 0:00:15# Oh, you're my best friend... #
0:00:15 > 0:00:17RADIO CRACKLES
0:00:17 > 0:00:21# I'll be there for you... #
0:00:21 > 0:00:24The subject of friendship has fascinated philosophers,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28poets and pop stars for years, but there's one group of people
0:00:28 > 0:00:32that know more about it than most, us.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35# ..be there for me too. #
0:00:41 > 0:00:45Yes, recent research has discovered that Northern Ireland
0:00:45 > 0:00:48is the friendliest place in the whole of the UK,
0:00:48 > 0:00:50which is why, in this little series,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53I want to celebrate the many different types of friendship
0:00:53 > 0:00:55that exist across Northern Ireland.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04But I won't be doing it alone, no,
0:01:04 > 0:01:06I'm bringing along my own special friend
0:01:06 > 0:01:09just for the company, if you like.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19Hiya! Welcome, welcome!
0:01:19 > 0:01:21- How are you doing? - Where do we start?
0:01:21 > 0:01:23- Will we go and get you settled? - Yes.- Come on, follow me.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25- Can I have a coffee? - Yes, of course you can.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39- # If you change your mind - Take a chance
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- # I'm the first in line - Take a chance... #
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I've known Adrian Chiles for over ten years.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49It's fair to say we've been through a lot together and found ourselves
0:01:49 > 0:01:51in some odd situations.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54# Take a chance on me. #
0:01:55 > 0:01:59But we've never spent any real time together in Northern Ireland.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05So, it was great to welcome him to the country I call home
0:02:05 > 0:02:08and have the chance to show him just what a friendly bunch we are.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10So...
0:02:10 > 0:02:13..Northern Ireland, friendliest place in the whole of the UK.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17- But I knew that already, you see? - But do you think that is true?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I don't know, is it more friendly than Birmingham or Manchester?
0:02:20 > 0:02:22I've spent a lot of time in all those different places.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I don't know, is anywhere more friendly than anywhere else?
0:02:24 > 0:02:26Well, I remember when I first went to London,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28completely wet behind the ears,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31and I would find myself on the train and everything, like,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34sort of smiling at people and just being friendly
0:02:34 > 0:02:36and I would get odd looks back.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I know that's a big, big crazy city, so there's a bit of a difference,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41but I always thought that when I'd come back home again,
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and I'd arrive just at this very airport and I'd think, "Oh!"
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I just think we are a nation of smiling people
0:02:46 > 0:02:48here in Northern Ireland.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50I feel quite passionately about that.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53So, no-one ever falls out here in Northern Ireland?
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Well...!
0:02:55 > 0:02:57History dictates that sometimes that happens.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Is that just the surfeit of friendliness,
0:02:59 > 0:03:02that sometimes overwhelms things and causes trouble?
0:03:02 > 0:03:04When we first met on The One Show,
0:03:04 > 0:03:05did you not think that I was
0:03:05 > 0:03:06quite a friendly person?
0:03:06 > 0:03:08- Yeah, yeah.- And did it have something to do with
0:03:08 > 0:03:09maybe where I came from?
0:03:09 > 0:03:11You know, there are friendly people from sort of everywhere.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14So, I mean, you were noticeably friendly, whether that's
0:03:14 > 0:03:17because you're from Northern Ireland, you know, I don't know.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Look, I've only come here as being reasonably well-known, and, so,
0:03:20 > 0:03:22I don't know whether people were just being friendly
0:03:22 > 0:03:24by the luggage carousel because they recognised me
0:03:24 > 0:03:26or they're just generally friendly.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28So people have already given you a bit of time
0:03:28 > 0:03:29since arriving here today?
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Yeah, yeah. I mean, my problem, I just don't smile enough.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I find smiling painful.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37- You do.- Like that, it's like a grimace.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40And you need that to be friendly, you need a smile.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42I mean, you know I'm smiling inside, but, um...
0:03:42 > 0:03:45- Are you?!- But it's hard.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47So, here's what we're going to do.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Over the course of the series, I'll be introducing Adrian
0:03:50 > 0:03:54to some of Northern Ireland's friendliest people and animals,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57hearing some inspirational stories along the way...
0:03:57 > 0:03:59It's something I don't forget, you know?
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Daily, I know Mark's kidney has given me this quality of life.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06..and finding out just why we have been voted top of the league
0:04:06 > 0:04:07when it comes to friendship.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Isn't that lovely? He's actually made some new friends.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13THEY CHEER
0:04:13 > 0:04:16And trust me, if Northern Ireland makes friends with Adrian...
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- Looking good.- I thought you're supposed to see where you're going
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- in these things.- ..then it really will be a miracle.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- Are you up for it?- One thing.- Yes.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31I've got to go to the toilet first.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Off you pop, yeah.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36We were on our way. Well, nearly.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38TOILET FLUSHES
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Little did I know Adrian wanted a quick word with you all first,
0:04:42 > 0:04:43just one-to-one.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Now, look.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I wouldn't want you to think I'm being negative,
0:04:47 > 0:04:48that I'm doubting Christine when she says
0:04:48 > 0:04:50it's the friendliest place on earth,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52but when Christine starts smiling at you,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55she'll convince you it's the sunniest place on earth as well,
0:04:55 > 0:04:56so I'm just a little bit sceptical.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58But, hey, look, I'm really excited.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I love Northern Ireland, the little bits I've seen of it.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03It's going to be fun. Find me some friends,
0:05:03 > 0:05:05- we're going to get some friends. - Yeah.- Come on.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07- Are you all done?- Yes, I'm done. - OK, right, let's go.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Oh, he really is Mr Cynical.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Looks like I have my work cut out for me.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23First on my list was to introduce my mate
0:05:23 > 0:05:25to the people of Northern Ireland.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29To say hello, as it were.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32So he could experience first-hand the friendliness we all take
0:05:32 > 0:05:35for granted, and where better to demonstrate this
0:05:35 > 0:05:38than the sight of a very special sculpture.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42They call this the Spirit of Belfast and it's slap bang in the middle
0:05:42 > 0:05:43of Cornmarket.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46So, look at this, Adrian, isn't it beautiful?
0:05:46 > 0:05:47What do you see?
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I see sort of some ringy things.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52Yes, yes, yes, absolutely right.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54These are friendship rings.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56- Friendship rings, so they've been intertwined.- OK.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Summing up the spirit of Belfast, which is a really nice thing.
0:05:59 > 0:06:00They're a bit jagged at the edge.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03I get the intertwining, but why so sharp and jagged at the edge?
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- That's not friendship.- No, no, no, that's... It's art, Adrian.- OK.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Ignore the negatives. I think it's a nice symbol
0:06:08 > 0:06:10of what we're talking about. So I'm going to now show you
0:06:10 > 0:06:13- the spirit of Belfast.- OK. - Right here, right now.
0:06:13 > 0:06:14What...? Why? How?
0:06:14 > 0:06:17- I've got...- What's...? - I've got a bucket.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- And in the bucket...- Yeah. - A little face of yours, right?
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Yeah, and what do we do with them?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24So, I'm going to get you a bucket full of friends.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26By the time we leave here today, I'm going to prove to you
0:06:26 > 0:06:29- that you can make friends here. - OK.- I'm going to give you that.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32And then we give the badges to your new friends.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- Face!- Is this your way of humiliating me,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37- just to bring me down a peg or two? - Kind of, kind of, kind of...
0:06:40 > 0:06:44# I can see that you're watching me Come over, talk to me
0:06:44 > 0:06:47# I need you to give me a sign. #
0:06:47 > 0:06:49It would be fair to say my experiment
0:06:49 > 0:06:51didn't get off to the strongest of starts.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53He's going to get arrested!
0:06:57 > 0:06:59So I decided to step in and help.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Well, everyone needs an introduction, don't they?
0:07:03 > 0:07:05- Adrian, come over here. - Hello.- Hello, there.- Hello.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07- Pleased to meet you, I'm Cathy. - Hello. How are you?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09- Adrian, I'm Terry. Pleased to meet you.- Yeah.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13- Yeah. We...- Would you be my friend? - We could be your friend.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- Then may I award you this badge? - Thank you very much indeed.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- Valerie and Margaret. This is Adrian Chiles, ladies.- Hi.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- How are you doing?- Oh! - Adrian Chiles, the miserable one.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28- I love living here. - Why is that, though?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32I think people in Belfast have been through so much and I just think
0:07:32 > 0:07:36when you come here, people want to know you, where you're from.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38You know, just get to know you and be friends.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42- I'm looking for some friends. - Aw! I'll be your friend.- Will you?
0:07:42 > 0:07:44- Yeah!- Aw! Thank you. Can I have a hug?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- Of course you can.- If I have a hug, then you can have a badge.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Will you be my friend?- OK, whatever.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52There you go, you get a little badge of me for the rest of your life.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53Wear it with pride.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55She's caught the flippin' Northern Ireland smiling bug,
0:07:55 > 0:07:56never stopped smiling.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Is it you're more friendly than anywhere else in the UK?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01- Yeah.- Let's have a picture. Do you want a pic? Can we get a picture?
0:08:01 > 0:08:04- Go ahead, Hillary.- No, just her. - Oh, just her?!
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Oh, you want me in now, do you? All right, OK.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10I'm going to pull a sulky face.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Oh-ho-ho-ho! This is what I'm talking about.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- Thank you very much.- What are you doing in Belfast today?
0:08:20 > 0:08:23- Hello, what's your name, sorry? - Violet.- Violet. Pleased to meet you.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- Nice to meet you all right. - Christine, Adrian.- Hi, Violet.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27- Nice to meet you.- How are you doing? Nice to see you.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I'm keeping very well. I've just had my hair done there.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32- You look lovely.- Looking good. - I look lovely, thank you very much.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Can I just say, you've proven a very crucial point -
0:08:34 > 0:08:36the fact that you just came up there to say hello,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39because I am trying my best to prove to Adrian that Northern Ireland
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- is the friendliest place. - It's very friendly.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44- The best people in the world. - You see, you are fantastic.- Really?
0:08:44 > 0:08:46You see, Violet and I are friends.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50It is clear the people of Northern Ireland were willing to become pals
0:08:50 > 0:08:52with even the most awkward of newcomers.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Off on his own again,
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Adrian seemed to strike gold with a pair who took a real shine to him.
0:08:58 > 0:08:59Adrian. How are you doing?
0:08:59 > 0:09:02I'm looking for friends around here, you seem very friendly.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03- Oh, yeah.- Will you be my friend?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05I might be your friend, it all depends.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07What have I got to do to win your friendship?
0:09:07 > 0:09:09- Sit between us. - Shall I sit between you?
0:09:09 > 0:09:10Can I sit between you?
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Oh, looks like he's found himself some friends,
0:09:12 > 0:09:14that's good, that's good.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Oh, God, I feel good here.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17It's like the sun's come out, I just...
0:09:17 > 0:09:19It feels right to be between you.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22- What's your name?- My name's Betty. - Betty.- This is Nan.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- Nan. Have you two just met today? - Oh, no!
0:09:25 > 0:09:27- We've known each other over 40 years.- Really?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30You're genuinely sort of friends for life, really?
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- Yeah.- Yeah. And now we live next door to one another.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34- Really?- Do you go away together? Oh, yes.- Ah, yeah.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36We've been to Turkey, we've been to Ibiza,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38we've been to Portugal.
0:09:38 > 0:09:39- Cyprus.- We've been to Salou...
0:09:39 > 0:09:43- When's your next trip? - Whenever you can take us, Adrian.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47- If you take us, we'll come. - You're very forward, aren't you?
0:09:47 > 0:09:49The more I look at the three of them,
0:09:49 > 0:09:51the more I realise just how similar they look.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Have you noticed that?
0:09:53 > 0:09:54The hair, glasses...
0:09:54 > 0:09:58He could be a son of theirs.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I hope this is the beginning of a meaningful friendship between us.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03- There's a little badge here. - Adrian, one's no good,
0:10:03 > 0:10:05you'll have to give me about six for my club.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07There's six for you. Where are you off to now, then?
0:10:07 > 0:10:09We're going home to get our tea.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Well, I mean, if I was at home, I could cook for you.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13Are you staying overnight here?
0:10:13 > 0:10:17- Uh, yes.- Oh, well, then, we'll go to the hotel with you.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19What, room service, or...?
0:10:19 > 0:10:22- Or should we...? - Well...- We don't mind.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24Let's hug it out. Fantastic.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I've found some friends. Proper friends.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Nan and Betty, they're the business.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31Look at that, isn't that lovely?
0:10:31 > 0:10:32He's found real friends,
0:10:32 > 0:10:34having a proper chat there and how appropriate is this -
0:10:34 > 0:10:38underneath the Spirit of Belfast.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I rest my case.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43The spirit of friendship had truly settled on Adrian's shoulders.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46In many ways, it was a little friendship miracle.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55# He was a friend of mine... #
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Now, outsiders to Northern Ireland tend to have
0:10:59 > 0:11:01a certain view of us lot here.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04They think we can't be friends because we're always fighting.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07So, although Adrian hadn't said it outright,
0:11:07 > 0:11:10I wanted to nip that in the bud early doors.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14First, though, I had my own little friend to introduce him to.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Adrian, meet Minnie.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Minnie.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24- You are cute.- Isn't she gorgeous? - Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm! It's my little girl.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26- Is this your best friend? - It is my best friend, yeah.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28I used to be her best friend, and now you've taken the part.
0:11:28 > 0:11:33- Hey! Hey!- But when we talk with my friends, we've often discussed,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I know, Northern Irish politics, whether people
0:11:36 > 0:11:39from different religious backgrounds can get along, all of the above,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41and I'm going to bring you to a place now to prove
0:11:41 > 0:11:44that things are changing. I'm going to bring you to a place
0:11:44 > 0:11:47that's proven that, to be honest, and it involves a sport
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- that you love.- Really?- Yeah. - Football?- No.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54- Uh, cricket?- No.- Tennis?- No. - Rugby?- No.- Water polo?
0:11:54 > 0:11:55Fishing.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I don't like fishing. I've never been fishing.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11We were here to take part in a bit of cross community angling, which,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14I don't know about you, is something I never knew existed.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18I guess you could call this lot the REEL fisherman's friends.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21Club secretary is Scottie Lonsdale.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24So, tell us about this place and what you have going on here.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26We originally started about seven years ago.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29A load of fathers from Belfast wanted to get their kids out,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32you know, off the Xboxes, the usual, off the streets,
0:12:32 > 0:12:35doing a bit of fishing. From there, over time, it developed.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Started doing a bit of work with the Polish community
0:12:38 > 0:12:41and now work with everybody, work with the Belfast Islamic Centre,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44we've worked with Fasa. You know Fasa?
0:12:44 > 0:12:46They're the alcohol/substance abuse.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Also done a lot of work with groups from Gaelic speakers, west Belfast,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52- Whiterock, things like that. - It sounds like chaos.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56You've got Catholics, Protestants, alcoholics,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00there's people who speak in only Irish... Irish Gaelic, then...
0:13:00 > 0:13:02It sounds nuts to me.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04- Well, the thing... - Does any fishing get done?
0:13:04 > 0:13:05Yeah, we get a little bit done.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07I mean, it just works. It's the whole thing around...
0:13:07 > 0:13:09A lot of the sports, they're not inclusive.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12- Yeah.- Whereas, with fishing, it's fully inclusive, anybody can do it.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16It's a safe, shared community space and that really is our ethos.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17- Does everyone get on well?- Yeah.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20I mean, the main thing is, like, when you see cross community
0:13:20 > 0:13:23in Northern Ireland, you think - Protestants and Catholics.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- Yeah.- And I do notice the pitches are quite a long way apart,
0:13:25 > 0:13:28is that so they can't get into sort of theological discussions
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- about the Eucharist and stuff like that?- No, not at all!
0:13:31 > 0:13:33That's purely a technical reason
0:13:33 > 0:13:35- so they don't tangle with their lines.- Right.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37THEY LAUGH
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I'm guessing, though, by the sheer nature of what this sport is,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43there's time to sit and talk.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45- Yeah.- I mean, is that part of it, obviously, then?
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Yeah, it is. I mean, the likes of summer there, you'd be sitting here,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50it's quiet. You know, early in the morning,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53the sun's up and you can just sit and chat to the person beside you.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55We all mix together, but the whole idea of it...
0:13:55 > 0:13:57The fishing is really the background.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59The idea is that you can sit here and speak to each other,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01have a chat on whatever subject...
0:14:01 > 0:14:04There's something relaxing about it, though, isn't there?
0:14:04 > 0:14:06- It is, yeah.- You see, the whole nature of where you are is just...
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Well, for me, angling involves sitting still.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11So, for me, it's traumatic.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- But, I mean...- Only you could say the word "traumatic"
0:14:13 > 0:14:16- when you mention the word angling. - No, but I can see the...
0:14:16 > 0:14:19I tell you what, we'll get you 15 minutes on the fly rod...
0:14:19 > 0:14:21- All right, OK.- ..you'll not be saying that!- All right, OK.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Our chat with Scottie would be enough to prove to any normal person
0:14:31 > 0:14:35that friendship can be a bridge across troubled waters.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Can I have a word, mate, please? Can you come with me, please?
0:14:38 > 0:14:42Adrian, though, felt the truth lay in crossing to the other side,
0:14:42 > 0:14:47literally, where he got talking with John, Connor and George.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49All right, guys. I've heard all the PR guff.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52What's the truth here? I've brought you over to what we're calling
0:14:52 > 0:14:55the "bank of truth". It's not all peace and harmony here, is it?
0:14:55 > 0:14:58- Of course, yeah.- Are you sure? - Oh, definitely, definitely.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02If you come down and there's somebody on a peg or on a stand,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05you're not going to ask him what neck of the woods he's from
0:15:05 > 0:15:07or what school he goes to, you ask him has he caught,
0:15:07 > 0:15:08or what bait's he using.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- Yeah.- The divide doesn't count.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13So what bait he's using is more interesting
0:15:13 > 0:15:16- than what church he went to?- Oh, yeah!- Than what church he went to!
0:15:16 > 0:15:18To be honest, the fish don't care what church you go to.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21I've never had one ask me.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23So, arguments don't break out on the bank,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25where you start sword fighting with the rods and all that kind of thing?
0:15:25 > 0:15:29No. The first time that Connor and his group came down -
0:15:29 > 0:15:32I'm from East Belfast, Connor's from West -
0:15:32 > 0:15:34there was a bit of suspicion...
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Who are they, what are they doing, what are they going to be like?
0:15:37 > 0:15:42But at the end of the day, and from then on, I regard him as a friend.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It's been... It's been a really positive relationship.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49- It's been good craic.- If you are in any way offended
0:15:49 > 0:15:53at the sight of a man dividing a cross community angling group
0:15:53 > 0:15:56that was brought together to bring people together,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I can only apologise on behalf of myself,
0:15:59 > 0:16:01everyone behind the camera,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04the makers of this programme and little Minnie here.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Not that we want to encourage this, but if you thought one day,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11"Come on, let's get it on. Let's have Protestants versus Catholics
0:16:11 > 0:16:13"in a fish-off here," who would win?
0:16:13 > 0:16:15I mean, I'm a Catholic, but for some reason, I just find myself
0:16:15 > 0:16:17thinking Protestants make better anglers.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- I don't know why I think that. - The fish would decide that.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- Would they? Yeah.- OK.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24What could the politicians learn from the anglers?
0:16:24 > 0:16:26Well, I think if you put anglers into Stormont,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29they could run the country better than the politicians are doing
0:16:29 > 0:16:33at the moment. You know, like, you've a small pond there.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37There's roach, rudd, pike and trout in it.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39They're living quite happily together.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42We can live happily together.
0:16:42 > 0:16:44The fish don't discriminate.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45I mean, that's a profound thought.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48But, as a Catholic, I do need to ask...
0:16:48 > 0:16:49Have Prods got the biggest rods?
0:16:53 > 0:16:55How big do you want it?
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It depends which tackle shop you go into.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04With Adrian's plan having slipped off his cynical hook,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08it was time to test the water and find out just how well
0:17:08 > 0:17:10my powers of persuasion had been working.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12OK, so, half-time analysis.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Am I convincing you so far?
0:17:16 > 0:17:20Yeah, I mean, look, everyone is very friendly, you know, to me and,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23you know, largely with each other, as far as I can see.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25But, you know, there's something lacking.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- It's not Birmingham. - It's not Birmingham?!
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Birmingham, we've got more canals than Venice.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32It's also pretty multicultural.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Multiracial environment, different creeds and colours.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Everything from... Everyone from all under the sun is in Birmingham.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40- OK, your point is what then? - Belfast...
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It's a bit sort of monocultural,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44everyone's the same colour as everyone else.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Interesting. OK. Right, I'm going to prove a point.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49- Follow me. Come on.- OK.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Hang on, I'm just going to have one more cast before.
0:17:56 > 0:18:01# I want to thank you for the day and nights
0:18:01 > 0:18:05# I want to thank you for the breath of life
0:18:05 > 0:18:10# Without you, I'd be lost That's because
0:18:10 > 0:18:12# That's because you are my friend. #
0:18:12 > 0:18:16It was clear that if Adrian was to be convinced about the friendliness
0:18:16 > 0:18:19of Northern Ireland, then he would have to hear it from someone who had
0:18:19 > 0:18:22chosen here over their own homeland.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Luckily, I knew just the lady.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26- Hello!- Hello! Wendy!
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- Hiya.- Nice to see you. Hi. - Nice to meet you.- Christine.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Hiya.- Adrian.- Nice to meet you. - Nice to see you.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33- How are you doing? Are you all right?- Good, thank you.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- Oh, smell the spices. - That's a funny accent you've got,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37- that's not a... - It's a Brummie accent.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Is it? Oh, it's beautiful.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- Give me a hug, come on, come on. - Fellow Brummie!
0:18:41 > 0:18:43Let's hug it out, love it.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45This is getting better and better all the time!
0:18:45 > 0:18:47I knew you'd fall in love with Wendy.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Oh, it's multiracial and there's even Brummies here as well!
0:18:49 > 0:18:51Fantastic.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54I wanted Wendy to tell us what the special ingredients were
0:18:54 > 0:18:57that made her choose Northern Ireland as her home.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00In return, however, she was making us prepare our own lunch.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Well, I say WE.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04I'm actually rolling my sleeves up now.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06- OK, that's good.- Very professional.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09So, you're going to do a breadfruit and plantain jerk.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- We need a scallion. - Yeah.- Or half the scallion.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14A lot of people don't realise this, but he's actually a very good cook.
0:19:14 > 0:19:16- Ah!- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which is why I'm letting him do
0:19:16 > 0:19:18all the chopping here, I'm just going to happily watch
0:19:18 > 0:19:20- the two of you. - Everything into here. OK.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23So how does a nice Brummie like you end up in a place like this, then?
0:19:23 > 0:19:26- How did that happen then?- Erm, it was a man, really, to be honest.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28- Was it?- Yeah, it was a man, yeah.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- What, a Belfast man? - Belfast man, yeah.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32I was actually leaving Ireland and I gate-crashed a party.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The party happened to be my now husband's.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- Oh!- Yes.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39- I don't know how much of this I can tell...- Go on.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41..without getting into trouble!
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Well, that might have been the reason Wendy stayed,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48but it's also interesting to hear how she found living in a city,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52which, at the time, wasn't exactly known for its multiculturalism.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55So, how many black people were there in Belfast when you came?
0:19:55 > 0:19:57- I knew one other person. - Really?- Yeah.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01- Were they stopping the traffic to look at you?- Yeah.- Really?
0:20:01 > 0:20:03All the time and then...
0:20:03 > 0:20:05I remember one day, I'd gone for coffee in the city centre
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and somebody stood up, they were being really nice, and said,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11"Welcome, welcome to our country, your English is amazing."
0:20:11 > 0:20:13And I just burst into hysterical laughter
0:20:13 > 0:20:15because they were being lovely, but it was just...
0:20:15 > 0:20:18They just didn't expect me to speak English.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20But, ultimately, it's the friendliness
0:20:20 > 0:20:22of the Northern Irish people that's kept Wendy here.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25Although, she has a more interesting take on it.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28I found people were very friendly because they're nosy as well!
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Are they?- Yeah.- Yeah.- Very nosy. - Ah, that's very...
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- We hadn't got to this, interesting. - Yeah.- So, friendliness...
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- Yeah.- ..grows out of nosiness? - I think so.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37I hadn't thought about that.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39That's an interesting point of view, that, isn't it?
0:20:39 > 0:20:41And I did have friends, I did make friends,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44because my husband's incredibly friendly and has loads of friends.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47But it takes a while to get deeper, I think, definitely.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51So, friendly at first, stroke nosy...
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- Yeah.- But then you've got to work at friendships like everywhere else.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Yeah, definitely. Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58In the years since settling here, Wendy made a living
0:20:58 > 0:21:01in her adopted city by setting up Northern Ireland's
0:21:01 > 0:21:03only Caribbean cafe.
0:21:03 > 0:21:04And by the smell of this kitchen,
0:21:04 > 0:21:09it's not difficult to know why her food makes her loads of new friends.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12What would people most ask for off the menu?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Corn fritters, definitely.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Have you made your millionth corn fritter yet?
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Uh, I think I'm probably on my second millionth corn fritter,
0:21:20 > 0:21:21to be honest!
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Well, food like that's going to put lead
0:21:23 > 0:21:26in everyone's pencil, isn't it?
0:21:28 > 0:21:31But the true test is in how the grub tastes.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34This is unlike a flavour I've ever had before.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- Really?- I've had lots of things, but it's fantastic.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40I could eat my body weight in that.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42- You've moved around a bit. - I have.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45The big question is this - where is the friendliest place?
0:21:45 > 0:21:47In a friendliness league table,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49where does Belfast and Northern Ireland feature?
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Like, you could go to Birmingham as somebody just visiting and not many
0:21:53 > 0:21:57people speak to you, whereas if you came out of the bus station here,
0:21:57 > 0:21:58people go, "Oh, hiya! How are you?"
0:21:58 > 0:22:01People automatically say hello to you.
0:22:01 > 0:22:02So, I think on that scale,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I would definitely say Northern Ireland is friendlier that way.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07- Yeah.- Right.- I'll take that.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10I'll be speaking to the Mayor of Birmingham.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13No, I'm just saying, you'll not be welcomed back.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17You stay where you are, Wendy. You're very welcome to stay put.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25As our first day neared an end,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29I felt I'd dished up solid proof of our friendliness.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33But I had one last tale I wanted Adrian to hear from two friends
0:22:33 > 0:22:35who share an incredible bond.
0:22:38 > 0:22:44In 2014, Mark Boyce donated one of his kidneys to friend Justin Weir.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Without it, Justin faced a life of gruelling dialysis
0:22:48 > 0:22:50and deteriorating health.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Their story is proof of the life-saving power of friendship.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- Thanks for having us here. - No problem, thank you.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59You've got an incredible story.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02I sense Justin's the kind of guy who doesn't moan about how ill he is,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05so did you know how ill he was, Mark, had you figured that out?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08When we first sort of met, I knew he was sick.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Judith had told me a few times that he was unwell,
0:23:11 > 0:23:12but I suppose I didn't really understand
0:23:12 > 0:23:14the full extent of how unwell he was.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16It's when we started to become more friendly
0:23:16 > 0:23:21and went out for meals and things that a few times we had to cancel,
0:23:21 > 0:23:22a few times we were sitting at the table
0:23:22 > 0:23:25and had to leave the restaurant because he was so unwell,
0:23:25 > 0:23:27that it dawned on me just how severe this condition was.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29It wasn't something that you could, you know,
0:23:29 > 0:23:31live with and tolerate.
0:23:31 > 0:23:37In 2013, Justin made three trips to hospital for a possible transplant,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40only to have his hopes dashed every time.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44It was then when Justin and his wife Sharon were over for dinner
0:23:44 > 0:23:49one Saturday night, Mark decided to make the ultimate sacrifice.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52You could see they were both mentally and physically exhausted
0:23:52 > 0:23:53with what they were going through.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Justin was away in the toilet actually being sick
0:23:55 > 0:23:58at the time and Sharon had said that, you know,
0:23:58 > 0:24:01she was just fed up with it and she had said that she had went
0:24:01 > 0:24:03and been tested, and that's sort of when it dawned on me that, really,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05this is something that I could do.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I'd said to Judith that night, I said,
0:24:07 > 0:24:09"Look, this is what I'm thinking about."
0:24:09 > 0:24:12She said, "I could see it in you that you wanted to do something."
0:24:12 > 0:24:14We actually sat down with our daughter who was four at the time.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17That's a hell of a discussion to have with a four-year-old.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Did you...? "Look, we've got to switch CBeebies off.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21"We need to talk to you about something"?
0:24:21 > 0:24:22I mean, could she get her head round it?
0:24:22 > 0:24:24The way I put it to her was that Daddy has a way
0:24:24 > 0:24:28that he could potentially help Justin and stop him being sick.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30I said, "Do you think that's a good thing to do?"
0:24:30 > 0:24:31And she just looked at me and she said,
0:24:31 > 0:24:33"Daddy, that's the kind thing to do."
0:24:33 > 0:24:36So, for me, it was that, it was stripping away all my concerns.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38It's not a completely straightforward decision
0:24:38 > 0:24:40because I suppose you could then start thinking,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43"Well, what if one of my kids needs a kidney one day?"
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Which would be extraordinarily bad luck.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Nevertheless, did you think that?
0:24:47 > 0:24:48I suppose I could have said,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50"Well, what if I don't give Justin a kidney
0:24:50 > 0:24:51"and he dies in two years and I live to 95
0:24:51 > 0:24:53"with two perfectly functioning kidneys
0:24:53 > 0:24:56"and never have to give one away?" For me, it was,
0:24:56 > 0:24:59"What if I don't give it to him and what if I lose him as a friend?"
0:24:59 > 0:25:03And tell us about the moment you called him to say,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05"Justin, I've got a bit of news for you."
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Well, it was that Saturday night I listened to Sharon and found out
0:25:08 > 0:25:11it was in the Belfast City Hospital, that it was a few blood tests.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13And it was just when I was sitting there at that time,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I thought to myself, "I'm just going to let him know what I'm thinking."
0:25:16 > 0:25:18So, I sent him a quick text just saying,
0:25:18 > 0:25:19"Some view out of the 11th floor!"
0:25:19 > 0:25:21And Justin said, "Well, where are you?"
0:25:21 > 0:25:23And then at that stage I said to him,
0:25:23 > 0:25:25"I've looked at becoming a donor for you."
0:25:25 > 0:25:27And all of a sudden, the phone just went quiet,
0:25:27 > 0:25:29then I got a couple of muttered thank yous.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Sharon came on the phone and, again, she was just,
0:25:31 > 0:25:36obviously emotionally charged and she was saying thank you as well.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38It was just an amazing feeling, just, you know,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40- to be able to do that. - That is friendship.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43Can you describe your feelings at that moment?
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Yeah, I suppose stunned.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49The best word I could use is stunned.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52But very, very thankful.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56Justin and Mark went under the surgeon's knife in 2014
0:25:56 > 0:26:00and the kidney transplant was a complete success.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Justin's life was transformed, but more than that,
0:26:07 > 0:26:11their friendship has gone from strength to strength.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14How does it feel now, Justin, to look at your best mate,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16who you've known for all these years,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19and to know that a part of him is keeping you alive?
0:26:19 > 0:26:20It's something I don't forget.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23You know, daily, I know Mark's kidney has given me
0:26:23 > 0:26:27this quality of life that I have now, you know, and the freedom.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29And your family's life, like everyone around you,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31it's not just you any more, isn't it, it's...?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33It's not just me, it's affected everybody.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36So what would you say to anyone sort of agonising over it?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38All I could say, I've never...
0:26:38 > 0:26:41It's a 100% positive experience for me.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43We've went mountain climbing together,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46we've trained together since the operation and that, for me,
0:26:46 > 0:26:48is reward 1,000 times over.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52So I would promote anyone to go if you've anyone that you can help.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55All of which leaves just one obvious question.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Well, obvious for Adrian, that is!
0:26:57 > 0:27:00- If he asked you to borrow your car...- Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:01Or for... You know, "I need to borrow
0:27:01 > 0:27:04- "a couple of grand or something..." - Yeah.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06It's slightly awkward for you to say no, isn't it?
0:27:06 > 0:27:07I mean, is that...? "Now, come on.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10"Come on, you've got my kidney, now let me borrow your car",
0:27:10 > 0:27:12or something? "Or lend me your golf clubs, or..."
0:27:12 > 0:27:14I've never thought of that, I might cash in.
0:27:14 > 0:27:15- You never thought of it?- No.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17You're too nice for this world, you are.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21- It'd be the first thing on my mind. - That says everything, doesn't it?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23It's an exchange, it's not a gift, it's an exchange.
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Mark and Justin's inspiring story had brought the first part
0:27:27 > 0:27:30of our friendship journey to an emotional end
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and I really felt like I was getting somewhere.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41# In the winter, springtime and fall
0:27:41 > 0:27:45# In the summertime
0:27:45 > 0:27:51# I call you a friend for all seasons. #
0:27:53 > 0:27:56So, first day, what are your thoughts?
0:27:56 > 0:28:01Fair play, I concede, a good solid start.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04You are convincing me, but I think we need to dig deeper.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07OK. What, maybe get sort of out into the countryside, see a bit of that?
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- Exactly, into the country. - I'll prove a point then, OK.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Good, we'll do that. That sounds great.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14In the meantime, I am knackered.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Ladies, can you look after him tonight?
0:28:16 > 0:28:17- No problem.- Thanks very much. Thanks.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19Ah, fantastic. Where's your badge?
0:28:19 > 0:28:23- My badge is still in the hotel room, waiting on you coming.- Really?
0:28:23 > 0:28:27- I was with Nan, actually, last night.- Oh!
0:28:27 > 0:28:30I wondered where Nan had went to!