Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian ponders who is able to take charge when the Prime Minister is ill. With lockdown extended by a further minimum of three weeks, he examines what this might mean for British politics and the economy. He looks at Sir Keir Starmer's reaction to the leaked Labour Party report and factionalism. And, with Bernie Sanders dropping out of the Presidential race, he considers Donald Trump's defunding of the World Health Organisation.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Joe Healey of The Share Centre looks at the current state of markets, at the attitude of companies to dividend payouts and what might happen to the oil price. He also discusses the announcement from Easyjet, currently flying no planes, and looks ahead to what we might hear from traditional defensive stock Unilever as well as Boohoo and Taylor Wimpey.
Guests: Joe Healey
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University attempts to ascertain where we are in the Covid-19 pandemic and forecast when and how we might emerge from it, believing that a vaccine could be much nearer discovery than many are saying. He looks at Kier Starmer's election as the leader of the Labour party, asking who he is and whether he can win back lost Labour voters. And he reveals why China's lies and obfuscation about the Coronavirus outbreak has undoubtedly made the worldwide effects of the pandemic considerably worse than it needed to be.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Tech guru Steve Caplin looks at the rumours of the link between 5G and Coronavirus before turning to examine ways in which tech is helping us cope with the pandemic. He also examines a mini record cutter to press vinyl discs at home, stickers that will tell you if fridge food has warmed up too much on the way home, a collapsible bike with folding wheels and a 5G phone with a hinged keyboard like the old Psion series 5 devices.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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James Cameron-Wilson reveals the chart of the most successful US movies of the year up to the moment the cinemas were closed down. Here, he looks at two new online films, the Billy Crystal, Ben Schwartz movie Standing Up, Falling Down and the challenging Finnish film Dogs Don't Wear Pants, which even he found hard to watch at times. Out on DVD and Blu-Ray, he recommends the latest incarnation of Charlie's Angels, directed by Elizabeth Banks.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Graham Spooner of The Share Centre looks at Tesco's recent announcement and its positive dividend decision, at odds with so many other companies. He looks at what widespread dividend cuts might mean for investors – particularly those needing income – and explains why the lockdown, with market-makers operating from home, is leading to increased volatility in share prices.
Guests: Graham Spooner
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian looks at the Government's response to the Coronavirus crisis, its progress with testing, its support for the self-employed and how it compares with other countries around the world, particularly Europe and the United States. He asks what sort of country, politically and economically, we might have when this is over.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
With cinemas shuttered, James Cameron-Wilson looks at what is popular with viewers marooned at home. He reviews two new home releases, Wolf Hour, an all-too-appropriate character drama starring Naomi Watts and Spanish futuristic prison drama The Platform. He also takes a look at a new Blu-Ray of John Ford's superb 1950 Western Rio Grande.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Steve Caplin looks at the way in which people stuck at home are embracing tech skills they didn't know they had, while at the same time sales of traditional board games are booming. He looks at what the restrictions mean for companies involved in teleconferencing, video streaming and newspaper publication. Even stuck at home, he explains how you can watch theatre shows and visit museums around the world. And he can't resist laughing at the Australian astrophysicist who, trying to solve a Covid-19 problem, ended up in hospital having magnets removed from his nose.
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 markets in light of oil price moves, Chinese economic data, the furlough of UK workers and the latest soaring unemployment rate in the United States. He discusses the moves to abandon dividends, particularly by the banks, and looks at recent announcements from Smiths Group and Easyjet. He looks ahead to what we might expect to hear from Tesco and ASOS.
Guests: Ian Forrest
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