Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University looks at the UK's response to the Coronavirus and asks how it will be ranked, pointing out just how ignorant we still are about Covid-19. He considers how the NHS will manage to catch up with the colossal backlog of patients, hoping that some of the lockdown contingency practices might become more permanent. And he discusses what it is actually like to work in the UK's university sector.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson highlights Warner Brothers' news that it plans to release Christopher Nolan's Tenet on July 17th worldwide, come what may. He reviews the surprisingly topical Irish-set film Sea Fever and looks at two restored movies making their Blu-Ray debut, Roger Corman's 1963 The Man With X-Ray Eyes starring Ray Milland and the British 1966 Boulting Brothers social comedy drama The Family Way.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Tech expert Steve Caplin highlights the Tokyo aquarium using FaceTime to help its eels remember what people look like. He also discusses a movie to be made on the ISS, the name of Elon Musk's child, the CAA's lifting of the ban on drones, a WhatsApp hoax debunker, a camera fast enough to capture lightwaves, an app-controlled music box, a music generator and how people are now using Zoom for silent meetings to help focus the mind.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Political commentator Mike Indian considers what difference it will make to control of the crisis having Boris Johnson back in harness. He considers the wisdom of Matt Hancock's testing target, where blame lies with the shortages of PPE, asks whether NHS bureaucracy will be cut back after the pandemic and marvels in how well the virtual Parliament has been working.
Guests: Mike Indian
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Steve Caplin talks all things tech, marking the 25th anniversary of GPS. He tells us about a robot dog triaging patients in a Boston hospital, at Channel 4's idea for dogs snooping Through The Keyhole and how, in lockdown, a new app can help you connect with random strangers. He offers advice for having parties on Zoom, discusses a robot that eats metal, a bit of PPE kit that resembles a large beekeeper's helmet and carbon threads that can store mechanical energy.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson looks at the often-surprising list of the most-streamed movies on Netflix in the United States. He looks at the online premiere of exciting action thriller Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth, as well as the unsettling Dutch drama We. His DVD of the week is Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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Original Broadcast: The Week That Was and The Week Ahead
Ian Forrest of The Share Centre discusses the recent strength of the stock market. With company reports in full flow, he looks at the contrast between BP and Shell, which has cut its dividend for the first time in 87 years. He also discusses International Consolidated Airlines (parent of BA) and its gloomy outlook and the perkier report from Hikma. Looking ahead, he ponders what we might hear from Intercontinental Hotels and BT.
Guests: Ian Forrest
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Original Broadcast: The Bigger Picture
Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University asks what the unlock will look like and which nations have got right their response to the coronavirus pandemic - if we can yet tell. He examines the power war between China and the United States within the World Health Organisation. And he highlights the project that is keeping track of government interventions and the impact they are having around the world.
Guests: Professor Tim Evans
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Original Broadcast: Gadgets and Gizmos
Tech maven Steve Caplin delves into the launch of the hugely-funded phone entertainment service Quibi, with some bizarre initial offerings. He recommends some theatre shows to view at home, including the original Fleabag show that became such a hit on TV. He warns of hackers taking advantage of the lockdown situation, explains the origin of the word "phishing" and points out that Google Maps has been updated to show restaurants that do deliveries and takeaways.
Guests: Steve Caplin
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Original Broadcast: The Business Of Film
James Cameron-Wilson examines the UK box office chart for 2020 before the lockdown began, which contains a few surprises. Moving online, he looks at Netflix's Taiwanese film Tigertale and the Australian perspective of the Vietnam War in Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan. And for his DVD of the week, he reviews the controversial film Blue Story, which was banned from his local cinema.
Guests: James Cameron-Wilson
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