Ken Cheng uses air fryers to vent his frustration with the housing market. Helen Bauer argues for affordable school uniforms. Rachel Parris gives a musical take on Halloween fears.
Language and communication can create internal conflicts within political parties, especially when using phrases like 'humanitarian pause' and 'ceasefire'.
The increasing cost of school uniforms in England poses challenges for families, with secondary school uniforms costing an average of £422 per year.
Deep dives
Language and Communication
This podcast episode highlights the struggles politicians and public figures face with language and communication. It discusses how words and phrases such as 'humanitarian pause' and 'ceasefire' can cause internal conflicts within political parties. It also explores the use of explicit language during the Covid inquiry and the impact it had on public perception. Additionally, the episode touches on the challenges faced by meteorologists in pronouncing the names of winter storms.
The Rising Cost of School Uniforms
The podcast delves into the increasing cost of school uniforms, particularly in England. It mentions research conducted by the Children's Society, which estimates that parents in England spend a significant amount on uniforms for their children, with secondary school uniforms costing an average of £422 per year. The episode also highlights the challenges faced by families in affording these uniforms and raises the issue of inequality between state and private schools in terms of uniform costs and extravagant school trips.
Technology Disappointments and Halloween Excess
The podcast section discusses people's experiences with disappointing technology, ranging from Twitter to potato peelers. It humorously portrays individuals who go overboard when celebrating Halloween, describing excessive decorations, pranks, and costumes that can leave a lasting psychological impact on neighborhood children. The episode also mentions the return of Doctor Who and its storyline involving the disappearance of the Doctor and the efforts of three friends to save the world.
Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis present the week via topical stand-up and sketches. They are joined by Ken Cheng who uses air fryers to help explain his frustration with the housing market, Helen Bauer arguing why school uniforms need to remain affordable, and Rachel Parris gives her musical take on what truly scares us at Halloween.
The show was written by the cast with additional material from Cameron Loxdale, Tasha Dhanraj, Jules Garnett and Cody Dahler.
Voice actors: Roisin O'Mahony & Ed Jones
Producer: Sasha Bobak
Production Coordinator: Katie Baum
A BBC Studios Production for Radio 4
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