There are some stories that people contact X-Ray about that we immediately know we have to try to film. This was definitely one of them.
Jean Davies was retiring from Neath Port Talbot council after 35 years. She loves The Beatles. So her team decided a trip to Liverpool would be the perfect way to give Jean the send-off she deserved. Colleagues spent months organising the weekend of a lifetime.
Now since X-Ray is involved - you've probably guessed - it didn't go according to plan.
Assistant producer Helen Ainsworth - our own Sergeant Pepper - was on the story and working on a Beatles-style treatment for the report. She could hardly contain her excitement as the props arrived, waving John Lennon style specs around the office and trying not to laugh too hard as I tried them on.
She'd also come up with some ideas for PTCs (pieces to camera) to mirror some of the most iconic images associated with The Beatles. We needed an Abbey Road style zebra crossing. But clearly, filming four of us crossing a road, while trying to time the delivery of lines, and avoid causing traffic chaos – was going to be a challenge. Help!
The X-Ray Fab Four!
Helen gave a Health and Safety briefing to the crew and contributors before we began. She told us that our researcher would be looking out at all times to ensure it was safe to continue filming. If she told us to stop filming and leave the road, we should do so immediately. And we were asked to confirm that we were happy with what we were being asked to do. We were on.
We rehearsed on the pavement at the side of the crossing several times before attempting to film. When we were sure we couldn't prepare any more, we waited for a good break in the traffic.
One usable take in the can straight away. The next, we broke off as a car approached. Then, another really good take. Job done. Even better, we managed to get a really good result for Jean too. The Fab Four would be proud.
If there's anything you'd like the X-Ray team to investigate, give them a call on 03703 334334 or email xray@bbc.co.uk.
