More Jam Tomorrow

In 1948 Britain declared an Emergency in Malaya It wasn't really an emergency. It was a guerrilla war. And Britain would spend 12 years trying to drive communists out of its territory. What were we doing there? Ros Taylor talks to Open University history professor Karl Hack and Economist bureau chief Dominic Ziegler about what the UK did in Malaya, and why Singapore cultivates positive memories of British occupation. The Imperial War Museum's exhibition Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus is on until 26 March. Karl Hack is Professor of Asian and Imperial History at the Open University. He is the author of The Malayan Emergency: Revolution and counterinsurgency at the end of empire (Cambridge University Press). Dominic Ziegler is the Singapore bureau chief at The Economist. Faris Joraimi's writing is here. Footage of Australian soldiers in Malaya comes from a public relations film at the Australian War Memorial YouTube channel. Lee Kuan Yew's 1989 speech on immigration is on YouTube. Seth Thévoz voiced James Griffiths, secretary for the colonies, Anthony Eden (both in 1951) and Ernest Popplewell, the MP for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1952. All three speeches are in Hansard. Singapore's Heritage Trail tells the story of the second world war there. Freedom House publishes an annual report on Singapore. The British Army Review ran a special edition on the Malayan Emergency in 2018.

'Oh, bugger orf!' We all know Received Pronunciation when we hear it. But what makes this accent distinctive? Why do people still pay to learn how to speak RP – and does it really bring the advantages it used to? Ros Taylor talks to voice coach and actor Alix Dunmore and Professor of Phonetics Jane Setter about how to spot an RP speaker – and how the accent has changed over the past century. Speeches by Lord Brabazon of Tara and Lord Wedgwood are taken from a Lords debate in 1943 and are voiced by historian Seth Thévoz. Alix Dunmore runs Alix Dunmore Accent Coaching. Jane Setter is Professor of Phonetics at the University of Reading. She is the author of Your Voice Speaks Volumes: It's not what you say but how you say it, the Cambridge Handbook of Phonetics and the Oxford Handbook of Language and Prejudice, as well as co-editor of the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary. Queen Elizabeth II's 1957 Christmas speech is available at the Royal Family YouTube channel. Prince William' interview is here. 1943 BBC Archive audio is on Facebook, as is Daniel Craig reverting to Scouse. The BBC has investigated how Queen Elizabeth's accent changed during her reign. Stephen Fry, an RP speaker, hosted an entertaining episode of Fry's English Delight about spoken English.

No one dies of diphtheria or polio in Britain any more. Since World War Two, we've virtually wiped out the diseases that used to kill tens of thousands of children every year. But rolling out a vaccine isn't always easy. Ros Taylor talks to public health historian Gareth Millward and Stuart Blume, the author of Immunisation, about jabs and why some people refuse them. Gareth Millward is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and the author of Vaccinating Britain: Mass vaccination and the public since the Second World War. Stuart Blume is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Amsterdam and the author of Immunization: How Vaccines Became Controversial. Diphtheria Immunisation and Big Whoop are on YouTube. Surprise Attack is at the Wellcome Collection. Polio Diagnosis and Management is at the BFI. I also drew on the National Library of Medicine, the Science Museum and the Office for National Statistics.

It's built for cars. The buses are baffling. But it's got the most energy efficient housing in Britain. What did it take to build a city from almost nothing? And a university where there are no students on campus? With architectural historian John Grindrod, Ros Taylor tells the story of Milton Keynes and the Open University. With thanks to John Grindrod, the author of Iconicon, Concretopia and Outskirts and the presenter of Monstrosities Mon Amour. His forthcoming book, Tales of the Suburbs, on LGBTQ people in suburbia, is out in February 2026. Seth Thévoz read Lords speeches by Baron Richard Mitchison and Lord Gerald Gardiner, both in Hansard. Milton Keynes: Shopping as it Should Be and an ITN report from 1967 are available on YouTube. Clips of Harold Wilson and Jennie Lee are at the Open University Digital Archive, which explains the OU's founding. This was an invaluable source of OU history. I also drew on the vast resources at the Milton Keynes Living Archive and the original Plan for Milton Keynes.

In this engaging discussion, Anna Home, a pioneering BBC producer and chair of the Children's Media Foundation, teams up with Angela Salt, an accomplished screenwriter known for her work on popular children's animations. They delve into the evolution of children's TV since the 1950s, its impact on learning and social norms, and the growing influence of digital content. Anna shares insights on how shows like 'Grange Hill' have shaped children’s perspectives, while Angela emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature amidst screen addiction.

More Jam Tomorrow is taking a two-episode break. We'll be back in less than a month, on 28th August. In the meantime, I have one big ask. Please let me know if you would support a fifth series of Jam. Just go to morejamtomorrow.com and hit the link at the top of the page that says "Have Your Say on Series 5." Or just click here: https://tally.so/r/wv85Xd See you on 28th August, when we'll be back with episode eight.

Richard Blakemore, an expert in maritime history, and Bryce Stewart, a marine biologist, dive into the complex relationship between fish and British identity. They discuss historical conflicts like the Cod Wars and how fish has shaped national pride. The conversation also touches on changes in fish consumption patterns and sustainability efforts within the fishing industry. Additionally, they analyze the implications of Brexit on fish trade and the evolving challenges faced by coastal communities. It's a fascinating exploration of fish beyond just food.

Lucy Delap, a Professor in Modern British and Gender History, and Emma Casey, a Reader in sociology, dive into the historical and modern dynamics of domestic service. They discuss how traditional roles have transformed since World War II and the ongoing challenges women face in balancing work and domestic duties. The rise of 'cleanfluencers' is examined, revealing shifting perceptions of housework. The conversation also explores the implications of migration policies on care work and the persistent class and gender disparities within domestic labor.

In this insightful discussion, Professor Toby Seddon, a leading expert on drug laws, and journalist Ian Dunt, who has firsthand experience with daily cannabis use, tackle the complexities of cannabis in the UK. They explore its historical roots, the inconsistencies in current laws, and the societal fears surrounding its use. Both guests share personal reflections on their journeys with cannabis and address the potential implications of legalization, all while intertwining humor and frustration about the ongoing debates surrounding the plant.

Seventy years ago, on an island off Australia, we started something we couldn't finish. This is the story of Britain's nuclear deterrent, Trident — why we have it and why we can't let go of it. Keep More Jam Tomorrow going by contributing to our tip jar at Ko-fi. Sweet. Prof Mary Kaldor is Director of the Conflict Research Programme at LSE IDEAS. Dr Matthew Grant is Reader and Head of the School of Philosophy, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Essex. His forthcoming book Britain's Cold War Home Front: Citizens and the State will be published by Oxford University Press, and he is the author of National Service Life Stories: Masculinity, Class, and the Memory of Conscription in Britain. The Operation Hurricane public information movie (1953) is available on YouTube, as is Bertrand Russell's 1959 speech at the Manchester Free Trade Hall and The Prime Minister's TOP SECRET trip to a nuclear submarine (10 Downing Street). Parliamentary speeches read by Seth Thévoz are in Hansard. The extract from the West Australian newspaper is in the National Library of Australia. I also drew on Suzanne Doyle's Preserving the Global Nuclear Order: The Trident Agreements and the Arms Control Debate, 1977-82 (International History Review), Matthew Grant's Upgrading Britain's nuclear deterrent: from V-Bombers to Trident replacement (History and Policy), Nick Ritchie's Trident and British Identity: Letting go of nuclear weapons and Ian Davis' The British Bomb and NATO: Six Decades of Contributing to NATO's Strategic Nuclear Deterrent (SIPRI/ Nuclear Education Trust). The Commons library briefing Replacing the UK's Nuclear Deterrent: Progress of the Dreadnought Class was also useful.