Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson looks at the UK box office, shooting up 1,586%, but to a still-pitiful level. He reviews the new Netflix David Fincher film Mank about the making of Citizen Kane, which is already tipped for awards glory. His favourite of the week though is a more modest piece starring Paul Bettany called Uncle Frank. And he looks at the much-admired Australian teen drama Babyteeth, just out on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian discusses the progress of the last-ditch attempts to reach a Brexit agreement, asking who is responsible for the statemate. As the Covid vaccine begins its roll-out, he asks if 2021 shouldn't be seen as a chance to assess the way government, institutions and society works in the UK and make some big changes. And, picking perhaps an unlikely political Star of the Year, he looks across the Atlantic at what might happen when President Biden becomes the new occupant of The White House.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Share Radio's technology editor gives his usual end-of-the-year roundup of some suitable (and unsuitable) gifts for Christmas, from a £248,000 robot kitchen right down to a £3 device for microwaving eggs (which sometimes explode). He covers the Echo Show, the Osmo Pocket, the Oculus Quest, a Rolls-Royce shooting stick, the Tile Mate, a Zoom escape room adventure, a pocket thermal printer and top-of-the-range headphones.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Ian Forrest of The Share Centre looks at the factors that have been affecting the stock market this week. He analyses recent news from Ashtead and Ferguson, both heavily dependent upon the US, as well as BAT, with its high yield, and Ocado, one of the big beneficiaries of the pandemic. Looking ahead, he tells us what we might expect from Dixons Carphone.
Guests: Ian Forrest
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University considers whether there is light at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel or whether there's another - economic - tunnel just ahead that we're about to plunge into. He also asks if a new, cultural, Iron Curtain is descending on Europe, splitting the grouping into east and west. And he ponders whether the World's Central Banks' policies have set us up for a catastrophic fall.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Investment research analyst Helal Miah of The Share Centre looks at recent news from Topps Tiles, Iomart and AJ Bell and looks ahead to what we might expect from British American Tobacco, Rolls-Royce and Ocado. Simon Rose recommends two books for Christmas that might appeal to those interested in investment and economics: Investing for Growth by fund manager Terry Smith and Daylight Robbery: How Tax Shaped Our Past And Will Change Our Future by commentator/comedian Dominic Frisby.
Guests: Helal Miah
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson looks at the sad UK box office chart with fewer than 30 cinemas open (Home Alone is #1). He looks at new Netflix offering, Yes, God, Yes about a religious, naive young woman in the early days of online chatting. Brandon Cronenberg's Possessor, starring Andrea Riseborough, he found stomach-turning. But he was very taken with gay-themed romcom Happiest Season, starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis, which he recommends strongly.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin discusses the odd result of the South African lottery with six consecutive numbers. He also marvels at robots serving champagne, cultured meat, an end to astronauts burning their underwear, quieter helicopters and silent ion-propelled drones, a fan that follows you around the room, even smarter smart photo frames and an electric conversion kit for classic Minis, a snip at just over £10,000.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the politics behind the end of the second lockdown and the transition into a revised tier system, with its Christmas exemption. He delves into Rishi Sunak's Spending Review and the accompanying OBR figures, lamenting the lack of imagination in the directions the money spigot is spraying. And he looks across the Atlantic, where Donald Trump has finally given way and authorised the transition towards President Biden.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
With Welsh cinemas open again, as well as some in Scotland, James Cameron-Wilson looks at the latest dismal box office chart for the UK. He reviews the Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged, now out on DVD and Blu-Ray, having missed some of the film in the cinema through the unexpected absence of advertisements. He also looks at the Oscar-tipped Netflix premiere of Hillbilly Elegy, starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams and directed by Ron Howard, as well as black comedy Arkansas, starring Liam Hemsworth.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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