Synopsis

James Ellroy, author of the Underworld USA trilogy and LA Confidential, speaks to Rachel Burden who is sitting in for Richard Bacon.

Do politicians make you cringe? Gordon Brown says he loves the X-Factor but does that make him more electable or just a bit sad? Following Britain's first 1,000 pound train fare, is the cost of rail out of control?

Plus should everyone wear a poppy, and are teachers losing control of the classroom? Statistics show one in four teachers have experienced violence from one of their students.

Chapters

1. Chapter 1

   £1000 for a train journey

   You can now buy a train ticket for over £1000 in this country. Last September the same fare would have been less than £500. So are we being ripped off on our railways?

Broadcast

1. Tue 3 Nov 2009
   22:30
   BBC Radio 5 live