New series goes behind the scenes at Stansted Airport

23 million passengers pass through Stansted Airport every year.

Making sure such a fantastically busy travel hub runs smoothly is a huge logistical task. Behind the beautiful Norman Foster designed exterior, a hidden world operates to keep the airport ticking over.

Nearly 11,000 staff work 24/7 to keep passengers happy and planes flying safely.

This series lifts the lid on the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

Who gets the bags onto the plane, who keeps the runways safe, who cleans and maintains the landing lights, who refuels aircraft and how fast can they do it? Who keeps the loos clean, who spots smugglers, who safely launches and lands planes?

And we reveal the monster machines that keep the runway moving from cherry pickers to specialist snow clearers.

Stansted runs like a small city with its own fire station and police station.

There are plenty of human interest stories as well as a full insight into the technical logistics that keep Stansted up and running.

STANSTED: THE INSIDE STORY: LIVING CHANNEL – Saturdays from 17 September, 8.30pm