Going behind the scenes

When we get on a plane, somehow we get to our destination; when we flush the loo, we never worry about what happens next. Nicola Pearson, who has made a series of films for the BBC called Access All Areas, marvels at the discoveries yielded from going behind the scenes.

GOING UNDERGROUND

Much of London's sewer network dates from the 19th Century

London's sewers are a network of tunnels around 30,000 miles long - if they were laid end to end they'd stretch around the world. Inside they're about 6ft in height, so anyone venturing into them has to either duck or risk bumping their head. The city's "sewermen" or "flushers" as they're sometimes known, say not enough of us realise that when we chuck stuff down the loo and wave it goodbye, it becomes their problem.

If they don't go down into the dark, damp sewers and clear them all out, these arteries for waste disposal would end up blocked and overflowing. They find nappies, tights, cotton buds and jewellery which people have carelessly thrown down the drain - not realising the damage they're causing. Sewerman Kenny Young has been flushing the tunnels for 30 years and he says he's constantly amazed at what he finds.

About six metres below ground, workers have discovered a live hand grenade, a wheelbarrow, a mattress, and Kenny says he once found a huge bit of scaffolding. He's not sure how it got into the sewer, because he had to saw it into sections to get it out. The biggest problem though, is caused by restaurants which throw fat down the drains. That congeals and blocks up the tunnels - Thames Water claims it spends up to £7m a year unclogging them.

BEFORE CURTAIN-UP

Taking a bow... but a lot has happenened before "curtain-up"

Sitting out front at the theatre, it hardly crosses the audience's minds to ponder what's happening out back. At the Cambridge Theatre in London's West End it's a tight squeeze. The cast of Chicago bump into each other, and wig mistress Vincenza Miele thought she was going to get a black eye after one of the dancers accidentally flung his arm in her face whilst practising some sort of exotic dance move.

It takes at least an hour for everyone to do their makeup - the majority of the cast wear wigs and they have to be styled for half-an-hour, baked in an oven for two hours, then combed out before they're fit to be placed on the actor's heads. Thirty minutes before the performance the sound of collective humming and scales coming from the dressing rooms is almost deafening - but apparently that's quite normal.

The cast perform eight shows a week - and between matinee's and evening performances they often nip out to the shops - in full hair and makeup; as it's London's theatreland, they say no-one bats an eyelid. Brenda Edwards, who plays Mama Morton was asked to audition after casting staff saw her in last year's series of ITV1's X Factor.

It's difficult to perform on Saturday evenings, she says, because every time she comes off stage, she's trying to find a TV to find out which of this year's contestants are still in the show. At least that distraction has gone for the moment.

TROLLEY DOLLIES THEY AIN'T

Cabin staff are there for much more than just serving food and drinks

When they're asked "tea or coffee, meat or fish", it probably doesn't occur to passengers that the cabin crew serving them have probably only met hours before. British Airways employs 14,000 stewards, so it's highly likely the 12 cabin crew haven't ever worked together. They generally only meet at a briefing two hours before take-off.

During this get together they're tested on safety regulations and proper conduct. Hours from anywhere it probably doesn't cross anyone's mind that any emergency would have to be dealt with by the cabin crew. They're medically trained to a far higher standard than ordinary first aiders - they also have to know how to fight a fire.

They carry a huge first aid kit - half of which they can use - the other half can only be opened by a qualified doctor. It's often noticeable that during night flights, the crew suddenly seem to disappear. Where do they go? Inside most long haul aircraft there's a secret locked door. Behind that, climb some stairs and you're in a special section in the roof of the cabin, which holds around eight beds. Crew take their breaks in here and get some important shut eye.

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