We've begun a week of radio features looking at all aspects of death. Have you written a will? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Do you carry an organ donation card? How much inheritance tax will your family have to pay? We'll explore all of these issues and more in our week-long series. The Sunday breakfast show will be broadcasting live from Great Stukeley graveyard, taking a look at traditional burials, the pagan approach to death and the history of burials in long barrows. During the week, the mid-morning show will investigate the cost of funerals - do funeral plans work and are they worth the money? And how exactly do you organise a good funeral? They'll also look at cremation versus burial; traditional versus green burials; Muslim burial grounds; and what rights you actually have over your own burial plot. Plus, the team will tackle the difficult but necessary subject of wills - how to go about getting one; when should you write one; and whether you really get value for money when putting together a will. In the afternoons, Sue Dougan will be getting her hands dirty - quite literally - as she tackles grave digging; finds out whether it's possible to send your ashes into space in a rocket(!); and how to help terminally ill people and their loved ones come to terms with the inevitable. Plus, on Thursday, Dougan does 'dust-to-dust' as she broadcasts live from behind the scenes at Cambridge's crematorium. If you need help... The BBC has set up a website and helpline for people who may need support. If you are affected by the issues raised during our week of broadcasts, you can find help and advice over the telephone by calling the BBC Helpline: 0800 88 88 09, and there's further information on the BBC website: www.bbc.co.uk/health. |