Radio News

There's something wonderfully British about a heatwave. For months, we complain that it's too cold, too wet and too grey. Then the temperature climbs into the high twenties and, within about 24 hours, we're complaining that it's too hot. The fans come out. The barbecue gets dusted off. The supermarket shelves empty of ice cream. And suddenly nobody can remember how to sleep. Britain isn't exactly famous for its ability […]

We all know the famous heroes. The firefighters who run towards danger. The emergency workers who keep us safe. The people who dedicate their lives to helping others. But what about the everyday heroes? The people who quietly make British life work without expecting a medal, a round of applause or even a thank you. They're everywhere. You probably know several of them. The person who lets you out at […]

There are some films that seem to exist in a strange sort of time capsule. You remember them being absolutely everywhere. Everyone was talking about them. They were on posters, in magazine adverts, in the TV listings and eventually on the shelves of every video rental shop in Britain. Then, somehow, they disappeared. They're not necessarily bad films. Quite the opposite. Some were massive box-office successes, had famous actors and […]

Getting older is often presented as something we should try to avoid. There's an entire industry dedicated to making us look younger, feel younger and pretend we're not getting any older at all. But growing older isn't all bad. In fact, there are plenty of things that can actually get better with age. You may have more grey hairs, but you also tend to have a better idea of who […]

Technology moves quickly. Every few months there's a new phone, a smarter television, a faster laptop or a gadget promising to make life just a little bit easier. We're constantly being encouraged to upgrade. But sometimes, you simply don't want to. Maybe the thing you've got already works perfectly well. Perhaps you know how to use it without reading a 47-page manual. Or maybe you're just not convinced that the […]

Take a look around your home. Among the modern gadgets, new furniture and recently decorated rooms, there's probably something that's been with you for decades. It might not be valuable. It might not even get used very often. But somehow, it's survived house moves, clear-outs and changing fashions. Every home seems to have those items that have stood the test of time. The reliable kettle It might not be the […]

Take a drive around Britain today and you'll notice something. The roads are full of SUVs, crossovers and cars that, while perfectly capable, often look remarkably similar. There was a time when every journey was a little more colourful. British roads were filled with quirky designs, family favourites and cars with real personality. Some were brilliant. Some were terrible. But many are remembered with enormous affection. Here are some of […]

Ask almost anyone what they paid for something 20 or 30 years ago and you'll probably get the same response. "You wouldn't believe what it costs now!" While wages have changed over the years, it's hard not to notice that many everyday things seem far more expensive than they once were. Some prices have risen steadily, while others have left us wondering whether we've accidentally added an extra zero. Here […]

If you've ever stood in a queue, waited for a train or met someone you haven't seen for a while, there's a good chance the conversation began with exactly the same topic. "The weather's changed, hasn't it?" Talking about the weather has become one of Britain's favourite pastimes. We know it's predictable, we know everyone does it... and yet we keep coming back to it. But why? Because our weather […]