Narin Ganesh is the FD of Crown Relocations, a company which offers packing and moving services worldwide. The new FD took his chance to go undercover in the organisation with Channel 4’s Undercover Boss in this week’s episode on Thursday at 9pm. In a preview to the episode, we get to see his filming diary and learn what it’s really like being on Undercover Boss…
Day 1 (22/02/10)
The first day of filming has arrived, which means a very early start from Dorset to arrive in London on time. I’m feeling slightly apprehensive but it’s too late to back out now! The first phase of filming takes places at my parent’s house and it’s great to see the members of the filming crew again. Everything seems to go well with all the shots and pieces to camera ‘in the can’ to use industry speak. It’s a surreal experience but I’m relieved to finally get going. The process is very different to what I had expected – it’s hard to be natural in front of the camera and I find myself feeling incredibly self-conscious.
We drive up to Ruislip for the second phase of filming including various situational shots such as driving, parking and entering the building. We move onto the boardroom scenes which seem to go really well, but the need to film different angles and repeat various sections of an unscripted piece is somewhat frustrating. This is the reality of making TV! There’s some hanging about, then a conversation piece followed by an interview. I’ve really enjoyed the day but by 8pm I’m very tired and can’t wait to get home. According to David, I’ve done well and appear relaxed on camera, which brings me a sense of relief. Tomorrow I will travel to Birmingham to prepare to go ‘undercover’!
Day 2 (23/02/10)
I’m filled with a renewed enthusiasm today after receiving a kind note from Barry Koolen, Crown Worldwide’s Regional Managing Director, congratulating my efforts the day before. After arriving in Birmingham I immediately join the crew in Pasta di Piazza in St Peter’s Square for lunch. David wants to film me eating solo so we set up the shot, much to the amusement of the restaurant staff. Georgina from the filming crew has found me some glasses to help me go undercover and I decide to wear them to dinner with the crew so I can feel more comfortable when filming. It’s been another long day so I try to catch an early night to feel rested for a 5:15am pickup tomorrow. It’s my first day filming undercover tomorrow and I want to feel as fresh as possible.
Day 3 (written on the morning of day 4) (24/02/10)
After filming various opening shots in the morning, I finally meet Paul Rowntree who works at Crown and his packing crew made up of Chris, Andy and Damien (or ‘Damo’ as he is otherwise known). They’re very friendly and put me at ease immediately. A cup of tea and a chat broke the ice and I felt considerably more relaxed. Paul ran me through the usual Health and Safety training and soon we were off to Montgomery in Wales to pack a family emigrating to Australia.
Whilst travelling with Chris in the van, I found out he has worked for Crown for over 12 years. The truck is equipped with a camera so that we can capture the conversation and we discuss the job and what he might want to do in the future. He’s certainly a larger-than-life character and as the solo qualified HGV driver is very much the leader of the crew. I learn that he has long term aspirations to rise through the ranks and into management. From his charisma and personality I can certainly see that he has the potential to succeed within Crown. We have a great chat on the journey and it’s hugely disappointing when I later learn that most of it was unusable due to a camera failure.
We eventually arrive and set to work immediately. I’m shown the proper wrapping techniques and of course, I’m a lot slower than the rest of the crew initially but it’s not long before I start to build up speed. It’s an interesting diversion from my daily routine but also physically demanding. Items must be packed to export standard, a far higher standard than ordinary domestic removals. It gives me a great opportunity to see the hard work that helps Crown to achieve our high standards. After a quick sandwich at lunchtime (and a sneaky peak at the BlackBerry) it’s back to work. I work alongside Andy and find out he’s been with Crown for over 10 years, having joined initially as a temp. He speaks highly of the company and praises the above-industry-average wages.
Day 4 (25/02/10)
Feeling refreshed after a good night’s sleep we set off for the Crown Records Management site in Nottingham where we are greeted by George Burbank, the Site Supervisor. From the start it’s clear he’s a great personality. I sign in (under my assumed name which is still a strange thing to do) and we start on some basic training. George quickly takes me under his wing and I’m shown the system and how to process orders. Although it’s a relatively simple process, it does take some time to get used to and I’m impressed with George’s patience and how he puts people at ease. Today’s deliveries are in Nottingham and Derby and there is some delay whilst the cameras in the van are installed. It’s becoming more apparent that TV consists of plenty of hanging around and travelling but I’m actually starting to enjoy the process.
Finally we get going and I really enjoy chatting during the journey. Our first drop is in the city centre to a firm of solicitors who are long-standing customers. The receptionist Pam has clearly known George for some time and its heart warming to see the good nature of their relationship. We make a second drop at another branch of the same firm and it’s clear that this two-man operation provides a friendly and professional service to our customers. It makes me very proud to think that we have people like George working for us at Crown. Speaking in front of the camera is getting easier, but I have to be reminded not to look directly at the lens when filming a reaction piece, which is easier said than done. Filming finishes at around 4pm. News emerges later on the journey to Leeds that Birmingham has said my packing was so good that I must be a ‘plant’. I am now even more worried about the cover story but my greatest challenge still lies ahead: the Leeds relocation office. If ever there was a risk of my true identity being revealed it is here.
Day 5 (26/02/10)
We arrive in a rainy Leeds and I’m told I will be spending the day with the NILSC team. I’m relieved as I have been nowhere near this part of the business and am unlikely to be recognised. By now I know the routine and we film a few scene setting shots to start the day. I’ll be spending the day with NILSC Manager Deborah Matthews and I’m really looking forward to getting to know her. Everyone in the office is so friendly and welcoming that I am suddenly struck by the amount of warmth and human kindness I have experienced on this journey. I feel proud to be a part of it.
With training over, we then move into a team meeting where I take part in a role play exercise. I’m not half bad at acting as a harassed telesales person! It helps prepare me for real live customers that afternoon. After breaking for lunch we start by listening in to some of Peter’s calls. After a couple more it’s my turn. Gulp! It actually goes pretty well and I enjoy talking to the customers. What impresses me most about the staff here is their enthusiasm for doing a good job. In the afternoon I spend more time with Deborah and learn that she has clear aspirations to become a Branch Manager and as a talented and ambitious staff member, I can see this happening for her in the future. The day ends and we have a poignant farewell. It’s been a memorable and enjoyable day, and thankfully, my cover is still intact.
Day 6 (1/03/10)
With just two filming days left I face my greatest challenge yet, doing a packing job in the South with a crew that works out of Ruislip. I worry about the risk of blowing my cover but decide to go ahead. Today’s crew is Darren the driver, Rod and Wayne who turns out to be the son-in-law of the Operations Manager at Ruislip. I immediately feel nervous about being ‘revealed’! We’re packing for a lovely family today and now I have more experience I find the process much more enjoyable. The family are starting a new life in Australia and will be running a B&B near the beach, which sounds fantastic.
The team are very efficient and with the sun shining it’s a great day so far. Later in the afternoon the stills photographer arrives to take some shots of me in uniform getting in and out of the truck causing much hilarity for the packing crew. Keen to get back to work, I go to the study and get stuck in, only to then be confronted by Wayne wearing my fake glasses! Horror of horrors, I had left them in the truck during the photo shoot and had completely forgotten to put them back on. Whether he twigged that the lenses were completely non-corrective is hard to say but nothing else was said. For the rest of the day my only concern was, had my cover been blown? By about 4:30pm we wound down for the day. More reaction pieces to camera followed by a filmed call to Barry to share progress with him. It’s good to catch up and I enjoy telling him about the great work our staff do everyday. I’ve had a great day and I feel proud to have helped a family to start a new life ‘Down Under’.
Day 8 (03/03/10)
It is the last day of filming on location and I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I am keen to get back to being myself and looking forward to having a shave and removing the glasses. On the other, I’ve really enjoyed the experience and will miss the crew and everyone I’ve met. We have a few filming issues in Manchester that delay the start, but I eventually meet Paulene who takes me through health and safety information and I have more lifting training so I’m prepared for the day’s activities. I’m then introduced to Stewart who works in the warehouse who I’ll buddy with for the rest of the day. After lunch, my task is to pick boxes for tomorrow’s deliveries. After spending time at the warehouse I can see why health and safety is so vital in this area and I’m pleased to see we are comprehensive in this area. The working day comes to an end and my undercover adventure is over. I spend the evening shaving and transforming back into the real me ready for the big reveal tomorrow!
Day 9 (04/03/10)
Rose reasonably early and set off for the final leg of my homeward journey. Get home mid morning and start to unwind. I am utterly exhausted but go and pick up my son from school. This brings me back to earth in the nicest possible way…
- Narin will be starring in Undercover Boss this Thursday at 9pm on Channel 4. We are following the series with our HR on TV blog and will bring you an interview with Narin this week.
- Join us on Twitter (using the hastag #undercoverboss) during the show to join in the live conversation.
- Read more about Narin on our sister site FinanceWeek.
