Southwark LBC's chief executive Eleanor Kelly was recently asked by Channel 4 to be one of its subjects in the series Undercover Boss when in heavy disguise she spent a week on the front line. She talks to Michael Burton about the experience and the lessons she learned.

There was good news and not-so-good news when Channel 4 contacted Southwark LBC about a forthcoming prime time series Undercover Boss. The good news was the TV station wanted to run a programme on the council's frontline services. The not-so-good news was it wanted to film the frontline services as seen through the eyes of Southwark's chief executive so heavily disguised she could not possibly be recognised. There was a risk attached. Would the frontline workers slag off their employer on camera, would the services be exposed as poor and would the TV producers want to sensationalise? Southwark and its chief executive Eleanor Kelly decided it was worth the risk as they had nothing to hide. The council felt it was ‘a very rare opportunity to showcase the amazing work to a potential audience of millions that council staff do every day serving the people of Southwark.'