Sliced Bread

BBC Radio 4
Sliced Bread

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. For this brand new series of Sliced Bread, episodes will be 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.

  1. The Sliced Bread Christmas List

    16 DEC

    The Sliced Bread Christmas List

    The team has gone through over 100 episodes of Sliced Bread, and carved out five popular products that may well be heading down a chimney to you this Christmas. Greg Foot will share with you the key points from experts we’ve spoken to on Air Fryers, Mascara, Perfume, Running Shoes, and DNA Ancestry Tests - as well as their conclusions in one handy festive slice! We’ve also updated some of the topics too. (The information in this episode was correct at the time of recording.) And as always, all of our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number, 07543 306807. PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

    42 min

  2. 12 DEC

    Hair Loss Products

    Can wonder products halt hair loss and grow back luscious locks? We're back with a new series of Sliced Bread and a fresh batch of investigations into your suggested wonder products. First up this time are lotions and pills that promise to stop hair loss - and even grow it back. For this episode Greg is joined at our Salford studios by two listeners, Ian and Kimberley. Ian got in touch about two products he's seen - Minoxidil and Finasteride - which he hopes can help with male pattern baldness. And listener Kimberley is keen to know whether there's anything she can do about hair loss which is caused by menopause. To get the answers Greg speaks to one of the most cited researchers in the hair loss world - Ralf Paus - as they deep-dive into the studies to separate the science fact from the marketing claims. As ever this series it's YOUR suggestions that are the start of all our investigations. If you've seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807 PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

    36 min

  3. 5 DEC

    Toast - Phones 4u

    The mobile phone retailer, Phones 4u, was hugely profitable, so why did it have to close all of its 700+ shops? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington and the entrepreneur, Sam White discover how Phones 4u ended up toast with help from expert guests including: John Caudwell - Phones 4u founder Nikki Barrow & Chris Papageorgiou - former Phones 4u staff members Ian White - editor of Mobile News magazine Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.uk Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

    25 min
  4. Toast - Dan-Air

    28 NOV

    Toast - Dan-Air

    Dan-Air was one of Britain's biggest airlines and took millions of people on their first package holidays. So, why did such a successful business end up 'toast'? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White look into it. They are joined by: -Graham Simons - Dan-Air historian and author of the book 'The Spirit of Dan-Air' -Jackie Stacey & James Hoffmeister - former Dan-Air cabin crew Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.uk Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

    25 min
  5. Toast - Our Price Records

    21 NOV

    Toast - Our Price Records

    Our Price Records was one of Britain's biggest music retailers offering cut-price albums at over 300 local high street stores. So, why did the chain disappear even before the internet transformed the music industry? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White, examine the retailer's fortunes. How did it manage to become so successful? And why did it end up 'toast'? The pair are joined by expert guests including: -Neil Boote - former commercial director at Virgin Our Price -Phil Cokell - former marketing director at Chrysalis Records -Alison Warner who worked at Our Price Records in the 1980s Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.uk Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

    25 min
  6. Toast - Kodak

    14 NOV

    Toast - Kodak

    Kodak made photography mainstream so why did it falter in a digital age? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers how Kodak rose to become a massive global enterprise best known for its cameras and film. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. Kodak is still trading profitably but is now a much smaller business than it once was. Sean and Sam hear from expert guests including: Kamal Munir - Professor of Strategy & Policy at Cambridge Judge Business School which is part of the University of Cambridge Don Strickland - Kodak's former Vice President of Digital Imaging Paul O'Sullivan - who runs a film processing business in London Andrew Long - who worked in Kodak's consumer products division in the UK. Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.uk Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.

    25 min
  7. Toast - Reader's Digest UK

    7 NOV

    Toast - Reader's Digest UK

    Why did we lose Reader's Digest magazine when it is still going in America? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers what happened to the brand which started over a hundred years ago and became the most widely read magazine in the world. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. How did a magazine which pinched articles from other publications become so successful? And why did it end up toast in the UK? Sean speaks to: - Sir Alexander McCall Smith, the best-selling author of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency who also wrote for The Reader's Digest - Richard Junger, Professor of Communication at Western Michigan State University - Tom Browne, a former editor of Reader's Digest UK - Gary Hopkins, a former owner of the business's UK division - Jason Buhrmester, Chief Content Officer for Magazines & Books at Trusted Media Brands which owns the Reader's Digest brand, still publishes it in America and licenses it for publicaiton in other parts of the world. Produced by Jon Douglas. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. You can email the programme at toast@bbc.co.uk Feel free to suggest topics which could be covered in future episodes. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in December, where Greg Foot investigates so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.

    28 min
  8. Coffee Pods

    31 OCT

    Coffee Pods

    Listener Liz has recently switched to a coffee pod machine, that promises to deliver her a quick, convenient and delicious cup of coffee when she wants at the touch of a button. But she started to wonder about how the pods can be recycled, and whether her decision to swap to them had a greater impact on the environment? Greg Foot ‘filters’ through the research on coffee’s carbon footprint alongside two experts, to find out where pods fall. He tastes the difference between a few different brewing methods, finds out how easy it is to recycle our pods, and what effect recycling them (or not) can have on their environmental impact. (The information in this episode was accurate at the time of recording.) All our investigations start with YOUR suggestions. If you’ve seen an ad, trend or wonder product promising to make you happier, healthier or greener, email us at sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk OR send a voice note to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807. PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: KATE HOLDSWORTH

    28 min
See All (136)

Hosts & Guests

About

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. For this brand new series of Sliced Bread, episodes will be 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.

Information

  • Creator
    BBC Radio 4
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © (C) BBC 2024
  • Show Website
    Sliced Bread
  • Provider

    BBC Studios Distribution Limited has identified itself as a trader for this podcast and confirmed that this product or service complies with European Union law. Address 1 Television Centre 101 Wood Lane London London W12 7FA United Kingdom Phone Number +44 7590176301 Email bbcstudiosaudiodistribution@bbc.com

More From BBC

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada