The Price Of Happiness

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Children

20150517

20150621 (R4)

Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should.

Kate kicks off with a look at the subject of children.

Are we all wired to be baby-making machines? Not always, no. Some of us would rather spend our hard earned cash in Mango than Mothercare. Prospective parents are plagued by questions - Would I be a good parent? Would a child change my life beyond all recognition? Would having a child mean I could legitimately buy myself Lego and eat jelly?

Can legislation across the world be used to either encourage or discourage parenthood? And what's the cost of feeling you have to want the same things as everybody else? Kate and the audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children, and work out whether the average cost of raising a child could be better spent making our lives more fun and meaningful in other ways.

Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including "Saturday Live", "Wondermentalist Cabaret", "From Fact to Fiction", "Woman's Hour" and "Arthur Smith's Balham Bash".

Producer: Lianne Coop
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Stand-up poet Kate Fox and an audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children.

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

Children

20150517

20200318 (R4)

Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should.

Kate kicks off with a look at the subject of children.

Producer: Lianne Coop
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015.

Stand-up poet Kate Fox and an audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children.

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

A Big White Wedding

20150628

Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should.

This time, Kate looks at the subject of "A Big White Wedding". Is it every little girl's dream to be walked down the aisle feeling like a Disney Princess, looking like she's been swallowed by taffeta? What if you're more Lightwater Valley Lass than Disney Princess?

Kate got married in a lighthouse, with guests waiting to cross the causeway because the lighthouse keeper drew up the wrong tide times. The wedding cost under a thousand pounds and guests brought their own food. To Kate, it was perfect. But would this somewhat unconventional day cost other brides their wedding smiles?

Statistics show that males and females still divide domestic duties up in traditional ways, although in Kate's household these roles are almost completely reversed. Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage or is it a tradition as outdated as Morris Dancing with only slightly fewer hankies and bells?

Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including Saturday Live, Wondermentalist Cabaret, From Fact to Fiction, Woman's Hour and Arthur Smith's Balham Bash.

Producer: Lianne Coop
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015

Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage, or is it an outdated tradition?

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

A Big White Wedding

20150628

20200325 (R4)

Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should.

Producer: Lianne Coop
An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015

Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage, or is it an outdated tradition?

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

The Perfect Body

20170619

Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life (and which she's cheerfully failed to achieve)

Find out how much she's saved emotionally and financially in the process.

Kate kicks off with the subject of the perfect body.

Every day we're confronted with images of perfection, but do these unrealistic ideals actually reflect the diverse society we live in?

How guilty should you feel if you both agree that speaking out against the bodily exploitation of Miley Cyrus was an inspiring feminist move, and at the same time find yourself thinking that Sinead O' Connor would look ever so nice with a short bob?

Kate has a past of yo-yo dieting and bad make up application - and somehow missed the memo when "all the ladygardens went Kojak" back in 2006.

With personal grooming over a lifetime coming in at £234,000 for women and £75,000 for men, could this be spent in other ways that make us feel good. A season ticket to Diggerland, a Nando's Gold Card, your own private forest?

Kate Fox is from the North East of England. She's contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows like Saturday Live, Wondermentalist Cabaret, From Fact to Fiction, Woman's Hour and Arthur Smith's Balham Bash.

Producer: Lianne Coop

An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017.

Do unrealistic ideals of the perfect body actually reflect the diverse society we live in?

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

Middle Class Status

20170626

Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores more of the things she does not want in life (and which she has cheerfully failed to achieve), and how much she has saved emotionally and financially in the process.

This time she looks at the subject of middle class status. Perhaps it's partly a Northern thing, but Kate is conflicted about buying ciabatta and living life in a Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater glow.

What's wrong with putting ketchup bottles on the table and retaining flat vowels?

Although she feels this might have cost her over the course of her career, the price of keeping up Middle Class Appearances is equally costly. You've got to buy a house for a start (£272,000 on average), a middle class car like a Mondeo (£20,750) and have middle class children like Araminta and Horace (£133,000 each). However, is it hypocritical to say that you're not middle class if you've got a degree, a dog called Norbert and a Moleskin notebooks habit?

Kate asks the audience to be her Class Identity Counsellors and decide whether she is more waitress than Waitrose.

Producer: Lianne Coop

An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017.

Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores things she does not want in life.

Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	01	Children	20150517	20150621 (R4)	Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should. Kate kicks off with a look at the subject of children. Are we all wired to be baby-making machines? Not always, no. Some of us would rather spend our hard earned cash in Mango than Mothercare. Prospective parents are plagued by questions - Would I be a good parent? Would a child change my life beyond all recognition? Would having a child mean I could legitimately buy myself Lego and eat jelly? Can legislation across the world be used to either encourage or discourage parenthood? And what's the cost of feeling you have to want the same things as everybody else? Kate and the audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children, and work out whether the average cost of raising a child could be better spent making our lives more fun and meaningful in other ways. Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including "Saturday Live", "Wondermentalist Cabaret", "From Fact to Fiction", "Woman's Hour" and "Arthur Smith's Balham Bash". Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. Stand-up poet Kate Fox and an audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children. Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.
01	01	Children	20150517	20200318 (R4)	Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should. Kate kicks off with a look at the subject of children. Are we all wired to be baby-making machines? Not always, no. Some of us would rather spend our hard earned cash in Mango than Mothercare. Prospective parents are plagued by questions - Would I be a good parent? Would a child change my life beyond all recognition? Would having a child mean I could legitimately buy myself Lego and eat jelly? Can legislation across the world be used to either encourage or discourage parenthood? And what's the cost of feeling you have to want the same things as everybody else? Kate and the audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children, and work out whether the average cost of raising a child could be better spent making our lives more fun and meaningful in other ways. Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including "Saturday Live", "Wondermentalist Cabaret", "From Fact to Fiction", "Woman's Hour" and "Arthur Smith's Balham Bash". Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015. Stand-up poet Kate Fox and an audience draw up a list of pros and cons of having children. Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.
01	02	A Big White Wedding	20150628		Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should. This time, Kate looks at the subject of "A Big White Wedding". Is it every little girl's dream to be walked down the aisle feeling like a Disney Princess, looking like she's been swallowed by taffeta? What if you're more Lightwater Valley Lass than Disney Princess? Kate got married in a lighthouse, with guests waiting to cross the causeway because the lighthouse keeper drew up the wrong tide times. The wedding cost under a thousand pounds and guests brought their own food. To Kate, it was perfect. But would this somewhat unconventional day cost other brides their wedding smiles? Statistics show that males and females still divide domestic duties up in traditional ways, although in Kate's household these roles are almost completely reversed. Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage or is it a tradition as outdated as Morris Dancing with only slightly fewer hankies and bells? Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including Saturday Live, Wondermentalist Cabaret, From Fact to Fiction, Woman's Hour and Arthur Smith's Balham Bash. Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015 Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage, or is it an outdated tradition? Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.
01	02	A Big White Wedding	20150628	20200325 (R4)	Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she doesn't want and has cheerfully failed to achieve in life, despite feeling society constantly reminds her that, as a woman, she should. This time, Kate looks at the subject of "A Big White Wedding". Is it every little girl's dream to be walked down the aisle feeling like a Disney Princess, looking like she's been swallowed by taffeta? What if you're more Lightwater Valley Lass than Disney Princess? Kate got married in a lighthouse, with guests waiting to cross the causeway because the lighthouse keeper drew up the wrong tide times. The wedding cost under a thousand pounds and guests brought their own food. To Kate, it was perfect. But would this somewhat unconventional day cost other brides their wedding smiles? Statistics show that males and females still divide domestic duties up in traditional ways, although in Kate's household these roles are almost completely reversed. Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage or is it a tradition as outdated as Morris Dancing with only slightly fewer hankies and bells? Kate Fox is a comedian and poet from the North East of England. She has contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows including Saturday Live, Wondermentalist Cabaret, From Fact to Fiction, Woman's Hour and Arthur Smith's Balham Bash. Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in 2015 Is there such a thing as the perfect formula for marriage, or is it an outdated tradition? Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.
02	01	The Perfect Body	20170619		Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life (and which she's cheerfully failed to achieve) Find out how much she's saved emotionally and financially in the process. Kate kicks off with the subject of the perfect body. Every day we're confronted with images of perfection, but do these unrealistic ideals actually reflect the diverse society we live in? How guilty should you feel if you both agree that speaking out against the bodily exploitation of Miley Cyrus was an inspiring feminist move, and at the same time find yourself thinking that Sinead O' Connor would look ever so nice with a short bob? Kate has a past of yo-yo dieting and bad make up application - and somehow missed the memo when "all the ladygardens went Kojak" back in 2006. With personal grooming over a lifetime coming in at £234,000 for women and £75,000 for men, could this be spent in other ways that make us feel good. A season ticket to Diggerland, a Nando's Gold Card, your own private forest? Kate Fox is from the North East of England. She's contributed poems and comic pieces to many Radio 4 shows like Saturday Live, Wondermentalist Cabaret, From Fact to Fiction, Woman's Hour and Arthur Smith's Balham Bash. Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017. Do unrealistic ideals of the perfect body actually reflect the diverse society we live in? Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.
02	02	Middle Class Status	20170626		Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores more of the things she does not want in life (and which she has cheerfully failed to achieve), and how much she has saved emotionally and financially in the process. This time she looks at the subject of middle class status. Perhaps it's partly a Northern thing, but Kate is conflicted about buying ciabatta and living life in a Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater glow. What's wrong with putting ketchup bottles on the table and retaining flat vowels? Although she feels this might have cost her over the course of her career, the price of keeping up Middle Class Appearances is equally costly. You've got to buy a house for a start (£272,000 on average), a middle class car like a Mondeo (£20,750) and have middle class children like Araminta and Horace (£133,000 each). However, is it hypocritical to say that you're not middle class if you've got a degree, a dog called Norbert and a Moleskin notebooks habit? Kate asks the audience to be her Class Identity Counsellors and decide whether she is more waitress than Waitrose. Producer: Lianne Coop An Impatient production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in June 2017. Quizzical everywoman and stand-up poet Kate Fox explores things she does not want in life. Comedy. Stand-up poet Kate Fox explores some of the things she does not want in life.