Sliced Bread

What led to the collapse of the Christmas savings club Farepak? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.It's our Christmas special and we're turning the clock back to the mid 1960s…. and looking at a business which started from humble beginnings in a Peckham butcher's shop, and went on to change Christmas for tens of thousands of families all over the UK.So, why did Farepak end up toast? Sean interviews:-David Goodhart - founder of Prospect Magazine, journalist, commentator and author. David tells us more about the man known as Farepak's founder, Bob Johnson and how his passion for philanthropy influenced the business.-Suzy Hall - Former Farepak customer and agent who went on to become a national campaign coordinator for Unfairpak- a campaign set up in the wake of the Farepak collapse.-Dermot Power - Former senior partner with the accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, Dermot was appointed as joint administrator to the Farepak business and can talk us through what happened and how he worked to help get customers' money back.Produced by Linda Walker. A BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Contact: toast@bbc.co.uk

The fashion chain C&A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.C&A used to be one of the biggest fashion retailers on the UK's high streets until a shock decision in 2000 led to the stores' sudden closure.To help explain what happened, Sean and Sam delve into the BBC archives and hear from expert guests including Donna Bevan - fashion historian, lecturer and course leader at the School of Creative Industries at Southampton Solent University and Stephen McDermott who worked at C&A for 35 years.Produced by Jon Douglas, Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.uk

Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of Toast, she gives her off-the-cuff and authentic professional opinions on why a brand disappeared based on what she has just heard and her own business knowhow. In this episode, we learn how Skype worked by using Voice Over Internet Protocol to send audio and video data over the internet. It connected users through a centralized, cloud-based service which allowed free voice and video calls between Skype users. It really changed the game when it came to keeping in touch with friends and family around the world. It helped grandparents meet their grandchildren for the first time without leaving the house and gave us a way of cutting our phone bills.Sean interviews:- Peter Raeburn - an award-winning composer who worked with Skype’s founders to create the iconic sounds that became the familiar sound track to Skype which, at its peak, was used by over 300 million people worldwide. - Andrew Sinclair - a General Manager for Skype for Business who offers his insight into what happened after Skype was sold by Ebay, and snapped up by tech giant, Microsoft.-Sam Shead - a journalist who witnessed how Skype changed the world of communication, soaring and then sinking and has taken an in depth look at the names behind the brand, so what did he uncover?Produced by Linda Walker.Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.ukFeel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes.

Dasani water, a bottled water from Coca-Cola, proved a big hit in the U.S.A so why did it last for less than 6 weeks in the UK?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how it ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.In the early 2000s, Coca-Cola had entered the growing bottled water market and was hoping to turn its hit new brand in America into a global sensation. But shortly after Dasani water was launched in the UK, things quickly went awry, derailing plans for expansion into Europe. To help explain what happened, Sean and Sam delve into the BBC archives and hear from expert guests including Graham Hiscott, the journalist whose story shone a new light on to the brand, and Conor Carroll a lecturer and marketing expert who has written about the Dasani debacle. They also hear from Toast listener, Chris Leversha, who remembers buying Dasani water and suggested we cover it on the show.At the end, Sam has to come up with her own professional conclusions about the fate of Dasani UK based on what she has just heard. If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.ukProduced by Jon Douglas, Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

How did the company behind the revolutionary BlackBerry smartphone lose its grip on the handset market?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with special guest, Sir Stephen Fry, who has remained 'faithful' to the BlackBerry brand. Alongside them is the entrepreneur, Sam White, who at the end of the show has to reach her own conclusions on why BlackBerry handsets disappeared, based only on what she has just heard and her own business acumen. The first BlackBerry device freed business executives from their desks, allowing them to easily write, send and receive emails from almost anywhere. But that was not the only thing that made the BlackBerry, and its later iterations, extraordinary. The actor, comedian, author and broadcaster, Sir Stephen Fry, also used to be a tech blogger and wrote in glowing terms about BlackBerry devices...until they took a turn for the worse. Stephen explains why he was disappointed by a brand he loves and how he still hopes it might make a return. Jim Balsillie was a co-chief executive officer at Research in Motion, the company that created BlackBerry, and offers his insight into how it quickly became a $20billion business and why he felt compelled to resign from such a tremendously successful venture. The entrepreneur and tech blogger, Kevin Michaluk, witnessed how BlackBerry handsets soared and then sank. He's made a successful career out of building "spiritual successors" to them but can his attempts to bring them back under the original brand prove successful? The podcast version of this episode, available on BBC Sounds, includes a bonus interview at the end with Sir Stephen Fry on how he feels about technology and social media today.Produced by Jon Douglas / BBC Audio North

This festive special dives into the top five gift-worthy products of the year! Discover the science behind nail polish durability and the truth about gel nails from experts. Learn why wood chopping boards are superior for hygiene, and what really makes lip balm effective (hint: it’s not always about natural ingredients). The team also explores the mysteries of smart scales and their limitations. Plus, tips for better sleep and the functionality of sleep headbands add to the holiday cheer!

Are cough medicines any better than just taking honey and lemon?When Listener Sally sent in a croaky voicenote to our Sliced Bread Whatsapp number (07543 306807 - put us in your contacts!) we knew we had to tackle this one. Sally didn't think the medicine she used for her cough did very much, so she joined presenter Greg Foot and Jacky Smith, Professor in Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, to get some answers.Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT

Join Dr. Beatriz Mingo, a materials scientist and vehicle coatings researcher, alongside car enthusiast and TV presenter Tim Shaw, as they break down the science behind car care. They dive into the effectiveness of various car shampoos, the importance of pH for gentle cleaning, and whether washing-up liquid could suffice. Discover the real differences between polishes, waxes, and ceramic coatings—are they truly protective or just cosmetic? Tim shares practical car washing tips, while they critically assess the hype around products like snow foam and graphene coatings.

Listener Julie has been reaching for the fake tan every spring to add a "bit of colour" to her legs, but after much trial and error with foams, lotions and gels, she got in touch with Sliced Bread to ask what is actually IN fake tan? How does it work - and is there a particular kind that might suit her best?Greg Foot is joined by Consultant Dermatologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester Dr Jean Ayer, as well as Cosmetic Scientist and Science Communicator who runs the blog LabMuffin Dr Michelle Wong, to find out. Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?At Sliced Bread, we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: KATE HOLDSWORTH AND GREG FOOT

Can anything stop toenail fungus in its tracks?It's one of the most-requested but least-talked-about topics, so listener Julia speaks for many as she joins us to ask about treatments for toenail fungus. She's keen to know if the laser-light devices shes's seen on social media really do work, as well as over-the-counter lacquers and prescription drugs. To get the answers Greg and Julia are joined in the Salford studio by Dr Ivan Bristow, who's on the British Association of Dermatologists' Foot Fungus Task Force.Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and greener. Are they really 'the best thing since sliced bread' and should you spend your money on them?At Sliced Bread, we're hungry for your suggestions so we can keep making fresh batches! If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807.RESEARCHER: PHIL SANSOM PRODUCERS: SIMON HOBAN AND GREG FOOT