Award-winning comedian Rhod Gilbert paid a special visit to the Vale Council’s visible services department recently as part of his brand new series for BBC One Wales – Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience – which sees him step well and truly out of his comfort zone.
Over the course of his visit, Rhod took on jobs with the council’s refuse team, spent the day at the civic amenity site and patrolled with the enforcement team, to find out just how difficult an average day can be.
At first Rhod was tasked with becoming a bin man, meaning very early starts, lots of walking and having to face some rather unpleasant sights and smells along the way – something that Rhod admits he wasn’t exactly relishing the thought of.
“I’m not looking forward to it,” he says. “But at the end of the day it’ll be some fresh air. Chuck a few bins on the back of a lorry – it can’t be that bad…”
Things don’t get off to a great start though as Rhod turns up late for his first shift, which is something that new boss, cleansing superintendent Tony Spear, doesn’t take lightly.
Tony laughs: “I told him off for being late on his first day – I don’t think he was expecting that. And then as a bit of a wind-up we took him up Trinity Street and made him walk up the hill. After the crew was done with all their takes he was practically crawling.
“I think he underestimated just how hard the work can be. We let him off after that though and he did a great job.”
Rhod also joined the waste enforcement team on an early morning dog poo patrol on the sea front. The team are keen to educate dog owners about the laws regarding dog fouling and senior enforcement officer Denny White was on hand to guide the Welsh star.
Denny said: “Rhod’s time with the council was completely different to anything he has done before. The enforcement team had him chasing fly tippers (one of which was spotted in the act while we were filming) and investigating illegal dumping, but he coped brilliantly and wouldn’t accept any special treatment.”
Find out how Rhod got on with the team by watching ‘Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience’ on BBC One Wales at 10.35pm, Tuesday, 19 January.
