Do more expensive dishwasher tablets clean better? And how do eco versions stack up? We are back with a new series of Sliced Bread and even more investigations into your suggested wonder products! We'll also be hitting a significant milestone during this batch of programmes so look out for more on that. First up - dishwasher tablets. Listener Deborah got in touch after hearing our deep-dive into dishwashers themselves and had some burning questions about the tablets we put in them. Do more expensive ones give you a better clean? Do they protect glasses better? And what about the eco brands that promise to be kinder to the environment? Listener Graham sent a voicenote asking whether buying an 'all-in-one' tablet is better than using separate components, either for cleaning or the environment. Greg's joined by Deborah and a panel of experts in our studio at Media City in Salford to run all these questions through the wash. 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 voicenote to our WhatsApp number 07543 306807. PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Could fridges make way for kitchen cabinets that don't just keep food fresh but actually grow it? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products, assessing where the smart money is going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of refrigeration including: Federica Torelli – Head of Product Management with Smeg which makes fridge freezers. Emir Lasic - Principal Analyst with the industry analysts, Omdia. Jason Hirst - CEO and founder of EvoGro which makes plant growing cabinets. Also joining them is the technology expert and applied futurist, Tom Cheesewright, who offers his insight and predictions on what might be coming beyond the current production pipeline. Together, they explore fridge freezer trends and inventions chatting about their own choices for game changing, and pointless, innovations. We hear how energy efficiency labels are not always as accurate as you might think and assess the chances of indoor incubators providing a new home for vegetables and leafy greens away from the fridge. Produced by Viant Siddique & Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in August when Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Dough is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

Will anyone iron clothes in the future? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products, assessing where the smart money is going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of garment care including: Leonor Carneiro - the category leader for garment care at Versuni which owns the Philips brand and is famous for making products including steam irons. Veronika Kandusova - a consultant with the market researchers, Euromonitor International. Frej Lewenhaupt - the CEO and co-founder of Steamery, a company which makes garment steamers. Also joining them is the technology expert and applied futurist, Tom Cheesewright, who offers his insight and predictions on what might be coming beyond the current production pipeline. Together, they explore the products that are replacing traditional irons, explain why fewer people in the UK tend to iron today and chat about their own choices for game changing and least effective ironing innovations. We hear why clothes iron manufacturers are yet to crack battery power and get a tantalising glimpse of how even more of us might avoid ironing in the future. Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in August when Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Dough is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

How do modern hairdryers protect against damage from excessive heat? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products and considers how they might evolve in the future. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of hairdryer manufacturing, namely Robyn Coutts, a senior design manager at Dyson and Andrew McDougall, director of beauty and personal care research at the analysts, Mintel. Also joining them is the technology expert and applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, who offers his insight and predictions on what might be coming beyond the current production pipeline. Together, they explore how hairdryers went from gas-powered chimneys to handheld devices, examine some of the latest trends and technology before giving their expert opinions on game-changing - and pointless - hair drying innovations. Dough looks at where the smart money's going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. Produced by Viant Siddique and Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in August when Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Dough is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sound

Why do we buy so many vacuum cleaners? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products and considers how they might evolve in the future. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of vacuum cleaner manufacturing, including: Grahame Capron-Tee - who has seen many significant changes during his long career in the industry; Nick Grey - the inventor and founder of Gtech; Anthony Williams - a global director at the data insights company, GFK. Also joining them is the technology expert and applied futurist Tom Cheesewright, to offer his insight and predictions on what might be coming beyond the current production pipeline. Together, they explore how vacuum cleaners went from exterior, horse-drawn contraptions to interior, automatic robots scuttling around on the floor, explain why UK households buy so many vacuum cleaners and give their expert views on game-changing - and pointless - product innovations. There's a debate about bagged versus bagless vacuum cleaners and a discussion on when robotic vacuum cleaners might be able to clean more than just the floors. Dough looks at where the smart money's going now and what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in August when Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Dough is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

What might our TV sets be like in the future? Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products and considers how they might evolve in the years to come. In this episode, the entrepreneur Sam White speaks with experts from the world of television manufacturing, including Brian Palmer, who has seen many interesting and amusing changes during his long career in the industry. Brian is now the founder and chief executive officer of Cello Electronics (UK) Ltd which makes televisions at its factory in County Durham. He gives a candid account of some of the ups and downs he has faced, while explaining how his business has always managed to make a profit, despite competition from global rivals. Paul Gray is a Research Director for Consumer Electronics and Devices at the analysts, Omdia. With a background in TV manufacturing, he has considerable knowledge on how the business has changed. Brian and Paul offer their views on game-changing - and pointless - TV innovations before considering where companies are investing their money now. Tom Cheesewright, a technology expert and applied futurist, then offers his predictions on what might be coming beyond the current production pipeline. TVs have come a long way in a relatively short space of time and where they are going next might surprise you! Produced by Jon Douglas. Dough is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in August when Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Dough is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds

Dough is a new series from BBC Radio 4 which looks at the business behind profitable, everyday products and considers how they might evolve in the future. In each episode, entrepreneur Sam White, futurist Tom Cheesewright and a host of technology experts take on a popular product, look at where the smart money's going now and then try to predict what that could mean for all of us in the years ahead. The series starts on BBC Radio 4 and will be available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds weekly from Thursday, 18 July 2024.

Listener Chris from Suffolk recently took a DNA ancestry test, and after getting some interesting results back, he wondered how accurate they really were? Greg Foot finds out by taking two tests himself – and has the results and his family tree revealed to him by DNA Genealogist from Finding Families, Louise Baldock. He also speaks to Professor of Genetics at Leicester University Mark Jobling to find out what these companies are looking for, what they can or can’t determine from our DNA in terms of where we came from, and asks the question – is sharing our DNA with these companies safe? All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we’re always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener, and want to know if it is SB or BS, then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voice note on WhatsApp to 07543 306807. PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

Are the latest ear plugs better for gigs, focus and sleep? In this special edition of Sliced Bread, recorded at the Hay Festival in South Wales, Greg Foot investigates the newer style of ear plugs. He's joined by listener Marni who's seen adverts for brands like Loop, which promise to protect your hearing at higher volumes while still allowing you to enjoy music at gigs. Other models in their range claim to give you better focus, shutting out extraneous noise but still allowing you to hear conversation. Or, in the case of their 'Quiet' model, sleep better. As ever Greg's joined by two experts to deep-dive into the science and find out if the evidence backs up the marketing claims. And with the help of a special dummy head fitted with microphones, they carry out a series of tests to hear the difference between traditional foam ear plugs and the newer models. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCERS: Kate Holdsworth and Simon Hoban

Can fortified drinks and spreads really reduce cholesterol? Almost half of UK adults have raised cholesterol, according to the charity Heart UK - and Sliced Bread listener Cathy is one of them. She found out after taking a test at her GP and wants to do something about it. Her first plan of action is to make changes to her lifestyle, such as diet and exercise. As part of that, Cathy wants to know if the spreads and drinks that claim to lower cholesterol really do work. Greg Foot is joined by Cathy and a panel of experts at our studios in Salford to investigate. What are the ingredients that are proven to lower cholesterol? How effective are they compared to widely-prescribed statins - and are the supermarket own brand versions of these drinks and spreads just as good as branded ones? All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

This episode has been edited since broadcast. Twelve year old Bradley got in touch with Sliced Bread after trying out his mum Jennifer’s acupressure mat. Jennifer says she swears by it, it relaxes her, and she even falls asleep on it! But after testing it out himself, he was less than convinced. He asked us to find out what these mats are meant to do, whether they work or if they’re a placebo effect, and whether paying more for one could mean better results? Joining Greg in the studio to discuss them, is Clinical Acupuncturist Phil Trubshaw from the Manchester Movement Unit based at Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as the Director of Research at the Northern College of Acupuncture, Dr. Karen Charlesworth. Have you seen a product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it is SB or BS? Then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807. PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Kate Holdsworth

What's the best - and most humane - way to get rid of pests? For some of us Tom and Jerry might be the sum total of our knowledge of the struggle between domestic life and unwanted rodents. But for listeners Colin and Mary, things are getting much more real! Colin wants to know if the plug-in devices he's seen that promise to deter rats and mice using ultrasonic actually work. Mary has caught mice and then released them back into the wild in nearby woodland, believing it's the more humane way to deal with the problem. But is it? With the help of Natalie Bungay from the British Pest Control Association and Rob Young, Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Salford, Greg Foot sets out to find the answers, hoping to nibble at the metaphorical cheese without getting caught in the figurative trap (or something). All of the ideas for our investigations come from you, our listeners, and we're always on the lookout for more. If you have seen a wonder product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Listener Jennifer is considering switching contact lenses, if there's an alternative that's more eco friendly. She's not alone - we've had lots of questions about eyecare options, and whether the fancy features some lenses offer are worth the extra cash. Joining Greg and Jennifer in the studio to talk all things contact lens are Daniel Hardiman-McCartney, a clinical adviser to the College of Optometrists, and Sarah Smith - a research optometrist who's studied the environmental impact of these tiny pieces of plastic. Have you seen a product that claims to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it is SB or BS? Then please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Is it worth paying more for premium car tyres? There's a huge range of car tyres to choose from and the price differences between them can be significant. So do you really need to pay more to get a good tyre? Listener Ian runs a car maintenance business and wants to know if the budget tyres he's been fitting are the right choice. Will they last as long and be just as safe? What do the different ratings on the labels you can see online mean? And as he moves towards electric cars he's also keen to know whether they need a special sort of tyre. With the help of two experts in the field, Greg Foot 'treads' through the studies and the science to find out more. It's how he rolls (we'll stop now). As ever we are still looking for your suggestions of products to look into. If you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN

Lots of different types of period products claim to be eco friendly, from menstrual cups to period pants and reusable pads. But how do their environmental credentials stack up? That's what listener Sam wants to know - and she's not the only one asking about not just the impact of these so called sustainable period products on planetary health, but also on women's health too. Joining Sam and Greg for this one are Natalie Fee, founder of the non profit City to Sea, who campaigns for "plastic-free periods", and Dr Nicola Tempest, a senior lecturer in gynaecology at Liverpool University. And if you've seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

The UK market for air care products is expected to grow to £674 million this year - and for this episode, we're investigating just how these products tackle bad smells in our homes. Can air fresheners really "eliminate" stinky odours with science, or do they just smell nicer? And what does using them do for our air quality? That's what listener Conor from Manchester wants to know. He joins Greg in the studio, alongside two experts - Nicola Carslaw, a professor in indoor air chemistry‘ at the University of York, and emeritus professor of chemo-reception at the University of Manchester, Krishna Persaud. Have you seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener? Want to know if it's SB or BS? Please let us know - you can email sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807. PRESENTER: GREG FOOT PRODUCER: TOM MOSELEY

Is an LED face mask the secret to brighter, clearer, more youthful skin? Greg Foot is back with a new series of Sliced Bread to run a whole new batch of your suggested wonder products through the evidence mill. From car tyres to contact lenses, air fresheners to LED face masks, Greg will separate science fact from marketing fiction as he investigates whether each product is 'the best thing since sliced bread' or 'marketing BS'. There's a slightly new sound to this new series: having recorded most of the previous episodes remotely, Greg is going to be joined in the studio by the listener and experts to investigate the wonder products together! First to join Greg is Helen Leneghan from County Down. She’s seen LED Face Masks all over social media and wants to know if they actually work. Do they reduce your wrinkles? Will they give you a radiant glow? And can they help with some skin conditions like acne or rosacea? As ever, if YOU have seen something promising to make you happier, healthier or greener and want to know if it is SB or BS please do send it over on email to sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or drop us a message or voicenote on Whatsapp to 07543 306807 PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Simon Hoban

Why did Safeway's UK supermarkets disappear? Safeway was once one of our biggest supermarket chains, so why did it drop down the list of top performers before disappearing altogether? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, looks into it and speaks to the former Safeway director, Teresa Wickham, a former Safeway supplier, Judy Garner, and the News Editor, Ronan Hegarty, from The Grocer magazine. Alongside them all to analyse Safeway's fortunes is the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White. This episode was produced by Viant Siddique. Toast examines the brands that reached dizzy heights only to end up…toast. It is a BBC Audio North production for 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 May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest 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.

Green Shield Stamps could be traded in for 'free' gifts so why did consumers abandon them? Sean Farrington examines their rise and fall and discovers how they spawned a famous retail chain which is still trading. The stamps were the centrepiece of an early form of loyalty scheme and were collected by tens of millions of people across the UK. They were given out by shops with every purchase and could be exchanged for a wide range of household goods and luxury items from handbags to vacuum cleaners and even cars. The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, speaks to expert guests including: Sir John Timpson - chairman of the retail services provider, Timpson, who dedicated a chapter of his book on 'High Street Heroes' to the Green Shield Stamp founder, Richard Tompkins. Professor Leigh Sparks - Professor of Retail Studies at the University of Stirling. Alongside them, analysing the stamps' fortunes is the entrepreneur, Sam White. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. This episode was produced by Jon Douglas. 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 May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest 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.

Why did Mothercare have to close all of their UK stores? Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the baby goods retailer which once dominated the high street. Alongside him, analysing Mothercare's fortunes, is the entrepreneur, Sam White. The pair hear from Tim Curtis who once ran Mothercare's website, catalogue and home delivery service; Amena Khan, a loyal Mothercare customer and Richard Lim, CEO of Retail Economics. They chart the highs and the lows and learn how Mothercare continues to trade today, albeit in a different form. Produced by Jon Douglas and Shanaye Mainoo-Magnone. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for 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 May. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest 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.