Trouble at the Top Episode Guide

Episode Guide

Trouble at the Top: Season 9 (2005)

• Season 9 Episode 5: Hey Jo

  Former Romford market trader Dave West attempts to open a new private member's club in London's Mayfair district. The entrepeneur made a fortune organising trips to the Continent for purchasing cut-price alcohol and cigarettes. He hopes his new venture will allow him to mingle with the rich and well-connected, and decides to name his establishment Hey Jo after his much younger Polish girlfriend

• Season 9 Episode 3: A Hard Day's Fight

  Alison Newman narrates the story of an attempt by the businessmen behind Liverpool's Beatles tourism trade to open a hotel with a Fab Four theme. Buying up a dilapidated office building across the road from the Cavern Club, the owners were soon pushed to the brink of bankruptcy by their scheme, as one developer after another abandoned the project and more money had to be pumped into renovating the crumbling property. Part of Liverpool on the Box week

• Season 9 Episode 3: Sperm Wars

  The story of controversial sperm donor business ManNotIncluded.com, a company that is able to operate outside the regulated fertility industry as the stock is fresh, rather than frozen. However, their procedures have earned criticism from the press and lesbian campaign groups

• Season 9 Episode 2: Fighting the Pirates

  The story of Curt Stavis's scheme to launch Speedferries, a cut-price, cross-channel ferry service, despite having no experience in the industry. The business has a difficult birth, with bomb scares, technical problems and the worst summer storms in decades conspiring to disrupt his plans. Worse still, he attracts the unwanted attention of established ferry companies, who have a lot to lose if their prices are undercut

• Season 9 Episode 1: Sainsbury's New Clothes

  Cameras follow Sainsbury's attempt to revitalise their fortunes and compete with rivals Tesco and Asda by launching their own brand of clothing. Top fashion retailer Richard Jones is hired to oversee the project and £100million is invested in producing the 1,200 garments going on sale. But on the first day, all manner of teething problems threaten the expensive venture'

Trouble at the Top:

• Ace of Clubs

  Documentary following the plans of ambitious nightspot owner Piers Adam, who aims to open two 'superclubs' he hopes will change the face of raving in the UK forever : and aid the launch of a global empire selling CDs and clothing. As opening night approaches, tensions rise while he awaits the appearance of the much-vaunted celebrity guests, and wonders whether the grand scheme is destined to fail

• Blood on the Village Green

  The stories of two people who attempted to set up seemingly straightforward business interests. Rosemary Rudland dreamed of opening a cheese shop in the French village of Camembert : but the local mayor's objections soon put paid to her plans. In the sleepy Dorset countryside, a Dewlish publican is forced to close her pub due to waning customers, and is shocked to discover her neighbours have been waging a covert war against her

• Boom or Bust

  Documentary following entrepreneur Michelle Mone's crusade to push the Ultimo, the world's first liquid silicone gel-filled, cleavage-enhancing bra, onto the global market. After Michelle's initial success, the competition fights back and sales drop

• The Bounce Back Kid

  Entrepreneur Mark Goldberg, a self-made millionaire who lost his entire fortune on a bad investment, launches a new television channel for job-seekers in a bid to claw back some self-respect. Despite having no experience in producing TV programmes, he is determined to succeed : but as launch day approaches the company realise they don't have a satellite dish to watch their first transmission

• Bucks Fizz: Making Your Mind Up

  The story of the notorious feud that tore apart chart-topping group Bucks Fizz and led to two rival bands touring the country. When lead singer Bobby G recruited a new co-star from bleach-blonde rivals Dollar, he little suspected his decision would lead them to the High Court with a judge deciding who owned the name Bucks Fizz

• Business Nightmares

  Three stories of business nightmares. Rosemary Rudland builds a cheese shop in France but finds herself at war with the local mayor, Bob Banks takes over a Shrewsbury pub only to be flooded 14 times in four years and Jan Griffin is shunned by villagers after acquiring another pub in Dorset

• Business Popstars

  The ideas of billionaire John Caudwell, who has set up a competition to discover the most successful young entrepreneurs in Britain. The programme follows the progress of the four finalists, who face a gruelling test of corporate sense set by Caudwell himself, and meets the winner of a previous round, who has a week to change the fortunes of a Glasgow phone shop

• Carry on Caravanning

  Michael Hold and a team of designers embark on a mission to rescue deluxe caravan the Buccaneer. In dire need of restyling, the traditionally hand-built model needs to be mass-produced otherwise it faces obsolescence. Will they be able to meet the high standards expected by the Buccaneer Owners' Club without costing the company dear?

• Cheese Wars

  West Country farmers secretly launch their own brand of cheese, and wage war against their agent Dairy Crest when they are left with £5million worth of premium Cheddar on their hands. However, when they hire David Keig, 'King of Cheese Marketing', he proves to be a hindrance rather than a help

• Chinese Takeaway

  In a bid to rescue the much-loved family business, Gerry Cottle and Brian Austin, the owners of Britain's biggest circus, invested heavily in a record-breaking troupe from China. Their move was made on the strength of a video, but when the performers arrived without a trainer, the intrepid duo began to wonder if they had made a grave error which could prove their ultimate undoing

• The Costa Nurses

  Cameras follow the fortunes of a group of nurses from Spain as they arrive in the UK to fill some of the 20,000 job vacancies in the NHS

• Degsy Rides Again

  Broadcaster John Myers prepares to launch a new commercial radio station in Manchester, with the help of controversial former politician Derek Hatton, who will host a phone-in show in his own inimitable style. However, if Degsy can't gets to grips with the equipment and boost audience figures he'll be out on his ear

• The Earl of Sandwiches

  The Earl of Sandwich cashes in on the family name and goes into the fast-food business : but faces an uphill struggle to thrive in the competitive market and prevent his upper-crust butties from biting the dust

• Eldorado: Fool's Gold

  The demise of Eldorado, the ill-fated BBC soap set in Spain which was launched as one of the most ambitious television programmes ever made, but cancelled exactly a year later. This documentary tells the story of the battle to save the multi-million-pound drama designed to bring sun, sex and sangria to British viewers

• Field of Dreams

  Cameras follow farming couple Yo and David Holland as they up sticks from their Sussex home and move to a French farm worth #250,000. But, in their desperate bid to escape the disheartening situation in Britain, they are confronted by an equally tough struggle across the Channel. False promises, financial difficulties, boundary disputes, and the nightmare of French bureaucracy are all a far cry from the sun-drenched fields they dreamed of, and it seems they have nowhere to go and nobody to turn to

• Freddie's Back

  Following failed airline boss Freddie Laker, whose Skytrain service went bust in 1982 as he returns to form with the launch of a new business - but things get off to a shaky start as, with just 12 weeks to go, he has no crew, catering staff or uniforms and his planes are still being refitted

• George, Marks and Sparks

  Documentary charting the changing fortunes of Marks & Spencer's clothing range since it was taken over by the man responsible for Next and Asda's fashions, designer George Davies. In spite of his fiery history, he is determined to rebuild the department store's reputation for making affordable and fashionable clothes

• The Ghost at Brocket Hall

  A new manager takes charge of the troubled Brocket Hall hotel following its previous owner's fraud conviction

• The Governor

  One-off special focusing on the working life of Stephen Rimmer, the newly appointed Governor of Wandsworth Prison, who has been charged with the task of improving conditions and the treatment of prisoners. He soon causes friction among the other officers, who feel that his attempts to implement quiz nights and give the inmates more time out of their cells are naive

• Hanging by a Thread

  Pringle of Scotland once created sweaters that graced the shoulders of the rich and famous, but a downturn in fortunes has led them to turn to Marks & Spencer supremo Kim Winser hoping she can weave some more of her magic and reverse their decline : as well as saving the community

• The Headless School of Rannoch Moor

  The efforts of the staff and pupils at Rannoch School in the Scottish Highlands as they try to save it from closure. Narrated by Andrew Lincoln

• Helen and Richard

  Richard Ward's bid to become British Hairdresser of the Year, a title which would make him an overnight celebrity and be worth £1million in sales of spin-off products. Together with his wife Helen, Richard runs a fashionable salon on Sloane Street and the pair have proved experts at attracting free publicity from their showbiz clientele. With Helen expecting a baby just before the awards, they hope to have cause for a double celebration. Last in series

• Hellen and Richard

  Richard and Hellen Ward run a fashionable hair salon on Sloane Street.

• Hoover Flights Fiasco

  Documentary exploring Hoover's free flights promotion which was launched in August 1992 and ended up costing the company £48million. Eager buyers had to spend just £100 to claim two free return flights to Europe, but travel agents struggled to cope with the overwhelming response and before long, disgruntled customers began taking matters into their own hands and an undercover report by BBC's Watchdog programme led to resignations among the top management

• In the Family Way

  Despite having a century-old reputation as a prestigious pram-maker, Silver Cross went into receivership at the end of the 1990s. Graham Hazell, who has made millions in the insurance business, is determined to get the company wheels moving again, but the pressure's on as his father-in-law struggles to produce a winning new design and it quickly becomes apparent the industry is no pushover

• Jodie and Tarquin

  Supermodel Jodie Kidd embarks on a new business venture with her polo-playing boyfriend Tarquin Southwell. The pair hope the lure of partying alongside A-list celebrities will snag them a wealthy sponsor, but are forced to change their plans when no-one agrees to back them. Can they realise their dream of running a business together?

• John Caudwell

  Virginia Eastman reports on the progress of John Caudwell over a four-month period, as he attempted to turn around the fortunes of his high-street chain Phones 4u, which was heading into the red. He generated a lot of media coverage by banning workplace e-mail and offering his staff a million-pound bonus incentive

• The Kinky Boot Factory

  A failing family shoe business in Northampton gambles on cornering a niche market in kinky boots for men. Will a new design in steel reinforced stiletto heels and leopard skin thigh-high boots wow traders at the Dusseldorf shoe fair and monopolise the fetish trade?

• A Knight at the Opera

  Michael Bishop, chairman of D'Oyly Carte Opera, fights for the survival of the company

• Luton Kicks Off

  The mystery surrounding the sale of Luton Town Football Club, a prime site next to Luton Airport, for a rumoured £4 to a consortium represented by property developer John Gurney, who faced a fans' revolt after sacking the club's popular manager. Gurney tried to make amends by deciding the new manager would be chosen by a phone vote, but before the polls closed, he was filmed discussing terms with the eventual winner

• The Man Who Banned Harry Potter

  The struggles of a toy seller and devout Christian who refuses to open his shop on Sundays and has banned anything to do with Harry Potter and Hallowe'en. As he plans a huge expansion in his retail business, he must face the question of whether he can stick to his principles when they threaten to cost him a large proportion of his sales

• Meet the Faggot Family

  Insight into efforts to save former food staple the faggot, as Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones tries to find a family who love the meaty treats enough to make the whole country want to buy them once more. They have six months and a multi-million pound budget to complete their quest and boost flagging sales

• A Model MD

  A look at the work of Jonathan Phang and his new role as MD of the fading model agency IMG

• Nanny Boys

  The story of two bachelor brothers determined to revolutionise Britain's childcare industry. Ben and Oliver Black gave up high-powered jobs and put their homes on the line to take over Tinies, a near-bankrupt chain of nanny agencies, but are finding it tough going due to a national staff shortage and branch managers distinctly unimpressed by modernisation plans

• A New Menu

  Chef Angela Hartnett takes control of the kitchen at one of the country's most renowned restaurants, owned by her mentor Gordon Ramsay. With only two months to change the menu from its established French theme and make her own mark on the dishes, Angela pulls out all the stops in an effort to please the notoriously short-tempered taskmaster and attract new business

• Not the Nice Girl

  The commercial comeback made by the founder of a successful direct selling company

• The People v Coke

  An investigation into the effects of what has been called the biggest marketing blunder in history. In 1985 executives at Coca-Cola decided that, after 99 years, it was time to change the taste of the world's number one soft drink. Despite secret taste tests proving the majority preferred the 'new Coke', the company failed to realise that loyal customers saw the drink as sacred, and the move resulted in a consumer revolt which brought the company to its knees

• Posh Spice

  Following Iqbal Wahhab as he prepares for the opening of his sophisticated Indian restaurant The Cinnamon Club. With chefs imported from India and calves' leather menus costing £15,000, he runs the risk of using all his money before the celebrity launch

• Queen of the Airwaves

  Aristocrat Torquil Silvanus Matthew Septimus Riley-Smith's lavish lifestyle recently came to an abrupt halt when he finally managed to spend the last of his inheritance. This documentary follows his attempts to replenish the coffers as he oversees the launch of Europe's first 24-hour gay radio station : a project that faces many obstacles, not least of which is Torquil's complete lack of broadcasting experience

• Ratner Returns

  Cameras follow failed jewellery tycoon Gerald Ratner as he attempts to prove he can climb the ladder of success all over again by opening the first of a projected chain of luxury health clubs, and this time he doesn't intend to crack any jokes about the product

• Receivers Are Coming

  Lee Manning attempts to negotiate a buyer for a frozen food company

• Repeating the Pattern

  Elizabeth Emanuel, the designer of Princess Diana's wedding dress, launches a comeback onto the fashion scene after a series of catastrophic business partnerships left her bankrupt. With financial support from a millionaire entrepreneur renowned for taking on companies in difficulty, she begins work on her latest catwalk collection : but does she still have the sparkle to make her mark in the style industry?

• Restoration Comedy

  A #12million project to transform a dilapidated mansion into London's first five-star members' club, which teeters on the brink of failure as Brian Clivaz challenges Princess Diana's memorial designer Edward Bulmer to work miracles with a rapidly diminishing budget

• Robin Rides Again

  One man's enterprising scheme to reverse the ailing fortunes of Reliant Motors, the company famed for its Robin three-wheeler, which has gone bankrupt three times in five years

• Robocop's Revenge

  The story of ex-policeman Ray Mallon, who introduced zero tolerance policies within the Teesside force. While the drive was supported by the likes of Chief Supt Barry Shaw and members of Middlesbrough Council, especially when crime fell by 20 per cent, questions arose about the methods Mallon employed and matters came to a head with his decision to quit and run for mayor

• Rover's Return

  Company troubleshooter Edward Klempka takes control of Hull Kingston Rovers in a bid to rescue the rugby club from an accrued debt of #1million

• Royal Shakespeare Company

  Documentary focusing on businesses struggling to keep their edge in a competitive marketplace. This episode follows the fortunes of the Royal Shakespeare Company as plans to replace the Memorial Theatre in Stratford run into trouble

• Searching for Sex...

  Profile of teenage Internet tycoon Benjamin Cohen, whose website is valued at #5million. As he celebrates his 18th birthday and plans to expand into the morally dubious pornography business, the pressure builds and doubts grow over whether he can come of age in the precarious world of e-commerce : especially when nights out with his pals seem more tempting than the possibilities of allowing companies to advertise on his search engine

• Seeing is Believing

  A spectacle company is taken over by Derek Jones and wins a major order from John Lewis : but there's more to sunglasses than meets the eye

• Shape Up With Lord Thurso

  Lord Thurso takes over Champneys health resort : but can he whip it into shape? Updated special of the documentary series

• Side Order

  A husband takes his wife out to celebrate, but finds there's nothing to shout about when his mistress walks through the door : leaving him with a more difficult choice than just the main course. Ian Redford, Marian McLoughlin and Cathryn Harrison star

• Silver Cross
• Special

  Documentary focusing on companies struggling to keep their edge in a competitive marketplace

• Spend, Spend, Spend

  Theatre producer Andre Ptaszynski's attempt to fund a West End musical about Sixties pools winner Viv Nicholson's rags-to-riches-to-rags life story

• Stelios Goes to Hollywood

  Documentary chronicling the efforts of millionaire entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou to get a toe-hold in the movie market with the opening of the Easy Cinema in Milton Keynes. Aiming to apply his 'no frills' philosophy to the cinema industry, Stelios goes all out to ensure success, but with just three weeks to the opening night, not everything runs according to the script, as his right-hand man Stewart Niblock becomes fed up with what he sees as his boss's constant interference. Narrated by Tom Baker

• Surprises in Store

  A couple decide to re-enter retailing after a six-year break, but the comeback is fraught with hidden hassles as the business has changed so much during their absence

• Terry and Liz

  Couples in business together, beginning with forgotten genius of shoe design Terry de Havilland and his partner Liz. From their tiny studio in Dalston, the pair have been hand-making a new stock of footwear, but on the eve of their relaunch, they discover Terry's designs have been copied without him knowing, and the ensuing battle for recognition opens a whole new chapter in their business

• To Russia with Vogue

  Report on the multi-million pound launch of Vogue in post-Communist Russia, asking whether the world's glossiest fashion magazine can establish a foothold amid the country's economic crisis

• Tom and Laura

  Cameras follow Tom Aikens' bid to convince Michelin inspectors he is once again worthy of two stars, after his status as a leading chef took a setback when it was alleged he branded a worker with a hot knife. While Tom sweats in the basement kitchen of his restaurant creating culinary masterpieces, his wife Laura runs the dining room

• Too Many Cooks

  Cameras follow a group of enterprising businessmen as they stage a dramatic rescue bid to reverse the ailing fortunes of the bankrupt Pierre Victoire restaurant chain in just three months. Can they restore the company to its former glory in time for the all-important Christmas market? Last in series

• Trouble and Strife

  The story of Nicky and Lesley Clarke's hairdressing empire. Seven years after their marriage broke up, the couple are still firm business partners and this programme takes a behind-the-scenes look at their working relationship, as Lesley prepares to launch a new hair and skincare range in her own name

• Turning the Screws

  Following Stephen Rimmer in his first year as governor of London's Wandsworth Prison, which was criticised in a 1999 report for its poor conditions and treatment of inmates