Archives for November 2008
The changing face of the British high street?
There are concerns this morning for two big high street retailers - MFI and Woolworths. Shares in Woolies have been suspended, and there are reports that MFI is struggling to avoid collapse. Both employ thousands of people - employees are still turning up for work as far as we know this morning; we're going to investigate what the future is for these two institutions.
My husband's secret debt
Have you discovered your partner has hidden debts from you? We spoke to Isabel today. It's not her real name, but we're calling her that to protect her identity.
Her husband admitted to her that he had run up debts of 400,000 pounds, many of which he'd taken out in her name - he then ran off to Australia, leaving her bankrupt. You can listen to the interview below:
Would you visit a lap-dancing club?
We took a 5 live listener, Nina de la Mer, to a lap-dancing club in Brighton after its owner, Les Pearce, issued an on-air challenge.
Have a listen to how Nina got on:
And here's Nina's own account of her visit:
"As a Brighton local I'm concerned by the proliferation of lap-dancing clubs in my area. I visited Spearmint Rhino, in Brighton, to offer a 5 live listener's perspective on the clubs.
The biggest shock for me was the financial aspect: the dancers pay the club a fee to perform a near-nude pole-dance, in order to advertise themselves to the customers. I felt the arguments offered in favour of lap-dancing by Les, the club-owner, and Robin, the dancer, to be spurious, and that neither seemed concerned by the effect a lap-dancing club has on the local environment and society in general.
My conclusion: my visit to the club only confirmed my worst fears about the industry. I won't be visiting again."
Tax: VAT down and taxing the rich
Morning. So a 2 and a half per cent cut in VAT and a plan to tax the rich at 45 per cent: just two of the proposals expected to be announced by the Chancellor in his mini-budget this afternoon.
The temporary reduction in VAT will mean 11p off a packet of 20 cigarettes, 353 quid off a new Ford Focus car, 31p off a 5.99 bottle of wine.
Is it enough to get you spending in the shops? And will THAT be enough to make the recession less vicious? That's what the government hopes anyway.
Plus if you earn £150,000 or more you're likely to be taxed at 45 per cent if Labour win the next election. What effect will that have on you?
Watch some footballers hitting stuff
Our reporter Rowan Bridge was given a rather strange assignment this week, we'll let him tell you more.
By Rowan Bridge, 5 live Reporter
It's a cold and somewhat wet Monday evening at AFC Wimbldeon's training ground. Hardly the most inspiring conditions to get the troops fired up. That, however, is no object to 5live listener and motivational coach Tom Bushnell who's here to help the reserve team improve their performance.
His choice of weapons? A marker pen, a two centimetre thick piece of pine, the theme from Rocky and a lot of SHOUTING. Watch the video below to see him in action.
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Why do we take TV so seriously?
David Cameron says he's devastated; Lord Mandelson spoke of his shock and Bruce Forsyth was invited onto Newsnight for the first time in his career. The BBC's received thousands of emails and texts about John Sergeant pulling out of Strictly Come Dancing and they've offered to refund money to people who voted for him. John Sergeant said he was leaving to avoid a "bloody battle" and revealed how serious things were getting when someone rang his wife to say he should apologise for staying in the show.
Hannah Jones
What a brave and bright intelligent girl Hannah is. A role model for young teenagers. Best wishes to her and her family.
Paul in Bristol's text was just one of many in response to our interview with Hannah Jones this morning. The 13 year old hit the headlines last week after refusing a heart transplant.
Health bosses had tried to force her to have the operation - but she insisted she'd had enough of hopsitals and wanted to die with dignity at home. You can listen to the interview below.
Sir Alan Sugar
Sir Alan Sugar is taking your calls this morning. There's lots for us to talk about - not least the economic downturn, Tottenham and the Apprentice. If you want to talk to him give us a call during the programme or post a question here.
Ashley update
One story that prompted a huge reaction from you this week was Ashley's story: "She chose me over the baby"
He's a 5 live listener and he told us that he was vehemently against having children.
When his girlfriend became pregnant, they took the decision to give their daughter up for adoption. They've since split up.
Today we spoke to Ashley's ex-girlfriend, Victoria. You can hear the interview here:
Who'd be a social worker?
After the fall-out from the Baby P case, we've been contacted by a social worker who's employed by a local authority in the South East of England.
He wants to blow the whistle on a case he's dealing with.
It involves a 15-year-old boy who the social worker believes is at risk in his family home.
He wants to speak out because he's frustrated with senior managers who he says won't remove the teenager from the family home because it costs too much.
In the following interview his voice has been disguised to protect his identity:
How would you change English football?
It pays a six figure salary and is one of the most influential jobs in football. The job of new Chief Executive of the FA is advertised today.
If you think you've got what it takes, feel free to apply here.
To get it, you don't necessarily have to come from a football or sport background but you need to be able to manage the annual turnover of £240 million and have a proven track record in "delivering organisational change." So how would YOU change English football?
"She chose me over the baby"
Have you ever been in a relationship where you and your other half disagreed vehemently about having children?
We spoke to Ashley this morning. He didn't want children and when his partner had an unplanned pregnancy she gave the baby up for adoption.
In his words, she chose "me over the baby".
They've now split up and he spoke movingly about the effect the decision had on him. You can hear the interview below.
======== UPDATE: FRIDAY 14 NOVEMBER ========
Today we spoke to Ashley's ex-girlfriend, Victoria. You can hear the interview here:
Poems for Armistice Day
We'll be pausing for two minutes at 11 o'clock today to mark Armistice day.
When we talked about the importance of remembering and the wearing of poppies a few weeks ago, we had such a big response that we kept in touch with some of the listeners we spoke to - many of whom were under 16.
Joshua Peters is nine years old and he has written some poems about remembrance. He'll be on the radio at about 10.50am today, and two others, both called Olivia, will read their poems about World War 2 after the silence.
Here's one of Joshua's poems I thought you might like to see:
Heaven is all around, Life in War 1914-1918
Lying without motion on the ground
The lost ones have been found.
The dead have been crowned.
Heaven is all around.
Those soldiers fought in war
With the Devil at their doors.
Now without a sound,
Heaven is all around.
Don't leave them there, for God's sake,
End their loved ones ache.
Heaven is here.
By Joshua Peters
Aged 9 yrs (March 2007)
A chance to influence a new radio show
In January you'll hear the biggest changes to Five Live's morning schedule since the day the station was launched back in the early 90s.
Our programme moves to 10am and ends at 1pm. There'll be no more Midday News and Breakfast will last until 10am - with a 'phone-in between 9 and 10, which Nicky will host.
As you'd expect our remit remains news and sport - but it's an opportunity for the two million of you who listen to our show to help shape the new 10 - 1 programme. For what it's worth, I'd like to concentrate on original journalism - stories brought to the programme by our reporters and from listeners across the UK. Some on our team would like to do more outside broadcasts - like the ones I presented from the Conservative and Labour Party conferences with a live audience made up of listeners and others. I loved presenting those, and meeting you.. .
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