Richard Hammond's Workshop

I come out here because I love it.

Favourite place in the world, the Lake District.

It's where I can think things over and I've got a lot on my mind.

I feel like the workshop is at a bit of a crossroads.

It started as my dream.

But turning something you love into a business

is not easy as it turns out.

I had no idea how difficult it would be.

I've got to make it work as a business

but without losing the passion.

Without losing what I love about it.

Fortunately, it's a five-hour drive on the motorway back,

so I've got lots of time to come up

with a brilliant plan!

It's nearly three years

since the Smallest Cog opened its doors.

The business still owes me a fortune.

I've been hiding bank statements.

I'm basically running a social club!

So it's time for a big shake-up.

Clock in in the morning, clock onto a job.

The dawn of a new era.

But not everyone likes change.

I'm very nervous about all of it.

This isn't going to tell me what to do!

I'll tell you that for nothing.

We make history with our most important restoration yet.

Did Montgomery or Churchill ever imagine you sitting in it?

Probably not.

The work must be completed on time.

Oh, she's eager!

Can we race into a bright new future?

With me at the wheel?

Oh, oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh!

Back from the Lakes to another day

in the factory of dreams.

Except it's not quite what I dreamt of.

Firstly, there's a notable absence

of valuable classic cars being worked on

and restored to perfection by us.

There is a lot of... stuff.

I mean, just gubbins! Look at it! Oh, there is a car. BMW.

It is weeks overdue,

which means it'll be massively over budget.

There'll be no profit in it when it is finally finished.

Mess, mess. And then there's this area.

When we designed the workshop, I remember we said, yeah,

that will be welding, fabrication.

Kind of ordered and not... that.

So the time has come.

Like reluctant teenagers, we must tidy our room, properly.

Thanks, Tony.

Right, there is the answer to us achieving a new level

of efficiency and productivity.

A skip.

Oh, what's occurring here then, Rich?

Well, I'm having a much needed clear up.

Oh, it's much needed.

Yes. Well...

I've been watching it build up from my ivory tower.

They are messy buggers.

I need to tidy.

Is that you or them?

Them!

Particularly one of them.

An older one or a younger one?

He's an older one. Oh, I know the one.

The sweary space hopper. Him. Yeah.

So, the couple of days we'll lose on the big clear-out

we will win back over the next few weeks

of increased efficiency.

You're talking the talk. I mean, yeah, can you walk the walk?

I read a book... I read a book in an airport.

Oh. Yeah.

How to improve yourself!

Right. I'm going to set to. You going to give us a hand?

Er, actually, my office chair's getting cold!

Thank you.

Morning.

You're not, are you?

It's time.

In your heart of hearts, you knew the day was coming.

It's got to be done.

There may be tears and whining, possibly howling.

Yeah, well bit of a tip.

Chuck as much as you can in before dad arrives.

Yeah. Right. OK, let's do this.

Let's be brave and face it.

Oh, speak of the devil.

Quick. Get these in before...

Nothing to see.

What's going on there? Nothing to see.

Well... we're getting rid of all the rubbish.

And then we're re-organising everything in there.

There's no rubbish in there, though.

There is some.

We have been through this

once before.

I know that.

Think what a... what a cleansing exercise it was.

Soph! Me?

Yeah, we're all on it. We got to get it done.

Right, so we just binning this rubbish first, are we?

Yeah.

What's that there off? Come on!

What about these boxes, Isaac?

You could make that into something useful.

Agh! Whoah!

That. No, seriously. That bit there.

Yeah. That's mine. Mine that is.

Hold on, that's a Porsche floor pan there.

This takes me back three years.

Dad going through stuff.

Don't wanna throw stuff away.'

That's not going in the skip.

Truth is, tidying the workshop

alone is not enough to solve our problems.

We've got to start operating as a proper business,

as a proper workshop.

We need systems in place.

And also, the sad fact is Neil's brother Andrew

has decided to leave us, go on to new things.

He's already gone.

And finding somebody with his level of skills

and craft is gonna be difficult.

It's a big ask.

So let's just... let's just call this phase one.

It's a start.

I hate it. I hate chucking stuff away.

Right, now either they've put you in there...

or you've got in and you're rummaging.

This isn't playing. There's stuff in here.

They chucked that exhaust away and I'm not being funny.

Seriously, genuine, I can't live with myself

to see it going to scrap.

Are you like some little troll that lives in the skip?

And we come up and you're, 'Rrr! You cannot put that in my skip!

Raahh!'

Let me explain this to you. And you'll see this.

You'll see this. You'll see this. You will see it.

Right.

I know we're chucking this, right. Imagine now if you had to make that.

Are you taking that out?

I was going to but I'm fighting myself.

It genuinely hurts you. It does.

I'm going to look that way.

When I look that way, you can chuck it in.

Oi. Oh look! A puppy!

A little puppy!

Don't-don't chuck that block away! Don't chuck that.

Now. Now!

It's like a young warrior going into battle.

Rawr!

No, No, no!

Oh, you're having a laugh!

It pained me to come in...

in the morning and see cobwebs,

dust, debris.

From now on, I'm definitely going to make it my life's work

to keep on top of the lads in a...

I'm going to have to re-word that. That sounds awful!

Good thing we did the workshop tidy.

Neil and I are on our way to pitch

for a very special job from some people

who are keen on spit and polish.

If we manage to get it, well, it'll be far and away

the most important car we've ever done.

I'm glad you're wearing your Sunday best pullover.

This is my Sunday best.

Well, I'm glad because

we are going to the Royal Logistic Corps

to meet a Brigadier.

Brigadier? Brigadier.

That's like...

Oh, it's not another army truck, is it?

No, it's actually a Rolls Royce.

Their history is incredible.

It was the personal staff car

assigned to Field Marshall Montgomery.

Monty? Yes, Monty's car.

And they want us to work on it. If we get the job.

If. Yeah, yeah.

And if we can do the job, and if we do it well,

it'll be seen by a lot of people.

So as a reputation builder, it's a whopper.

I mean, it really is.

Ah! Mike!

Hello, Richard.

A very warm welcome to the Royal Logistical Museum.

You're a Brigadier?

I am a Brigadier, yes.

That's quite...

I'm terrible with-with authority and rank.

I can't talk to a headmaster still. I won't be this annoying all day.

Right, lead on. That's alright.

Let me introduce you to a fabulous historical car.

Let's go.

So, of course, Richard, this is the subject...

Yeah. ..of our introduction.

Field Marshal Montgomery's Rolls-Royce,