Should I get my friend to refer me for a role at BB in London

Hello guys, I love the content on here and have a dilemma I felt someone here would have an educated guess on.

I have read on here that Analysts have a very good chance of getting you an interview if they give a referral (especially in the US).

I have had a year long internship at a Big 4 in Audit so I am technically still very junior. However, recruiters say I am too senior for grad roles, since I graduated in 2018 was unemployed for a year before securing my current off cycle role, but too junior to lateral as an experienced hire that usually happens when people do 1+ years in Big 4 audit (as a full time staff) with CFA 1 passed.

A very good friend of mine just got an offer at a BB M&A in London and he offered to refer me for an Analyst role when he's been there for a year so around 2021 and by then I would've passed CFA L2 (assume I pass).

From your experiences with London referrals is this possible??? I have heard its not done in the UK and handing in someones CV at a BB is more of an American thing.

Would someone with only 1 year experience like him even be able to make this happen. Or would I get an interview but get dinged after regardless of how well I do because of my background. I was thinking about doing a masters but cannot afford for at least the next 2 years. The way audit is conducted at my firm is basically banking hours for less than half the pay (lots of all nighters through out the year I've been here because clients are all ***holes) and little MBA prospects. Thats why I want to get out fast.