Sliced Bread
BBC Radio 4
Sliced Bread is the series that 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'? Science presenter Greg Foot finds out.Greg speaks to experts on a bunk-busting mission to test the latest consumer trends chosen by listeners. Do they live up to the hype? Or are they just marketing BS?Greg chats to the experts, dives into the data, performs tests and crunches the numbers before putting his findings back to the listener so they can decide if it’s worth spending their hard earned money on.New episodes of Sliced Bread are released weekly on Thursdays wherever you get your podcasts. But if you’re in the UK, you can listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds first, a week earlier than anywhere else. If you have a suggestion for a product to investigate, you can email the team on sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or send a WhatsApp voice note via the number 07543 306807.Sliced Bread is produced by BBC Audio North for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 27, 2019 • 34min
Sports pain: Gels and sprays
Do topical pain products really relieve aching muscles? Presenter Greg Foot is joined by Olympic medallist heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, along with consultant rheumatologist Dr Benjamin Ellis and Manchester United FC’s head of physical therapies Prof Michael Callaghan, to test the cooling gels and warming sprays that promise to reach deep into painful joints.Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Marijke Peters
Editor: Rami Tzabar
Sound Editing: Giles Aspen
Feb 20, 2019 • 20min
Health drinks: Turmeric
Can turmeric lattes prevent memory loss? Greg Foot is joined by Blur’s Alex James and experts to put claims about this ancient Indian spice to the test.Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Marijke Peters
Studio Manager: Sue Maillot
Editor: Rami Tzabar
Feb 20, 2019 • 27min
Health drinks: Kombucha
Does kombucha boost your immune system? Greg Foot is joined by Blur’s Alex James and experts to put this fermented wonder drink to the test.Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Marijke Peters
15 snips
Feb 13, 2019 • 25min
Winter bugs: Vitamin C and zinc
Vitamin C is one of the most popular products used to combat the common cold. But does it work? Greg Foot reviews the evidence for both vitamin C and zinc to see if they are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.He’s joined again by podcaster, rapper and actor Scroobius Pip and virologist Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London. The team will be giving you their Top Tips, backed by real scientific evidence, for beating the winter bugs.Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Michelle Martin
Researcher: Amelia West
Studio Managers: Emma Harth, John Boland
Editors: Deborah Cohen, Rami TzabarThe Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production.
7 snips
Feb 13, 2019 • 32min
Winter bugs: Hand sanitisers
With offices and schools set to a soundtrack of sniffles, science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on mission to find 'The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread' to beat the winter bugs.Joining him for this double episode is rapper, podcaster and actor Scroobius Pip, a man for whom protecting his voice is a professional priority. Under the microscope today are those handy hand sanitisers that promise to stop bacteria and viruses in their tracks.Virologist Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London and microbiologist Lindsay Hall from the Quadram Institute in Norwich are both on hand to help separate the facts from the fads, to decide if these products really are The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread.Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Michelle Martin
Researcher: Amelia West
Studio Managers: Emma Harth, John Boland
Editors: Deborah Cohen, Rami TzabarThe Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production.
Feb 6, 2019 • 20min
Skincare: Activated charcoal
Will activated charcoal, which these days can be found in everything from face creams to smoothies, really purify your pores? Science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on a mission to bust marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and challenging products’ bold claims with scientific evidence. In the second episode, Greg is joined by actress and beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth and Cambridge Professor of Chemistry, Melinda Duer to explore the science behind activated charcoal - could it act as a 'magnet' to draw out dirt and pollution from your pores as some products claim?Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Graihagh Jackson
Studio Manager: John Boland
Editor: Rami TzabarThe Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production
Feb 6, 2019 • 25min
Skincare: Collagen
Can collagen face cream reduce wrinkles and make your skin more youthful? Science presenter and YouTuber Greg Foot is on a mission to bust marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and challenging products’ bold claims with scientific evidence. In the first episode, Greg is joined by actress and beauty blogger Rebecca Humphries, consultant dermatologist Dr Emma Wedgeworth and Cambridge Professor of Chemistry, Melinda Duer to explore the science behind collagen face creams – can they really ‘boost’ and ‘support’ collagen production as some products claim?Presenter: Greg Foot
Producer: Graihagh Jackson
Studio Manager: John Boland
Editor: Rami TzabarThe Best Thing Since Sliced Bread is a BBC Science Radio Unit Production
Feb 5, 2019 • 2min
Welcome to The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread?
From kombucha to collagen, activated charcoal to sports tape, Greg Foot is on a mission to bust the marketing BS, looking for the facts behind the fads and to challenge a product’s bold claims with scientific evidence.Joined by leading experts and friends from the world of podcasting and social media, Greg investigates the latest crazes to hit the high street to work out if these wonder products really are the best thing since sliced bread.
(all subject to updates)
