Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20250324 | 20250325 (R4) |  In the introduction to his new book, The Economist journalist and author, Joel Budd describes himself as middle class by every conceivable measure. He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 3 in 10 of the UK population is white working class. What do those three words mean today? Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. Three in ten of the UK population is white working class. The Economist journalist Joel Budd asks what those words mean in Britain today.
He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 3 in 10 of the UK population is white working class. What do those three words mean today? Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. Three in ten of the UK population is white working class. The Economist journalist Joel Budd asks what those words mean in Britain today. 3 in 10 of the UK population is white working class. The Economist journalist Joel Budd asks what those words mean in Britain today. |
| 02 | 20250325 | 20250326 (R4) | In the introduction to his new book, The Economist journalist and author, Joel Budd describes himself as middle class by every conceivable measure. He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 In the 1960s, a wave of Londoners left the capital to live and work in Norfolk. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. The offer of new council homes and secure jobs led to a wave of emigration in the 1960s, from London to the declining town of Thetford in Norfolk.
He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 In the 1960s, a wave of Londoners left the capital to live and work in Norfolk. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. The offer of new council homes and secure jobs led to a wave of emigration in the 1960s, from London to the declining town of Thetford in Norfolk. |
| 03 | 20250326 | 20250327 (R4) | In the introduction to his new book, The Economist journalist and author, Joel Budd describes himself as middle class by every conceivable measure. He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 The vibrant sub-culture of car modification is rarely celebrated. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. The vibrant sub-culture of car modification is rarely celebrated in the mainstream media but it has been a key part of working class life for decades.
He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 The vibrant sub-culture of car modification is rarely celebrated. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. The vibrant sub-culture of car modification is rarely celebrated in the mainstream media but it has been a key part of working class life for decades. In working-class Britain, car modification and organised meet-ups cross cultural divides. Car modification in working-class Britain has been popular for decades - cruises are where a mid-price car can be changed beyond recognition and admired by fellow enthusiasts. |
| 04 | 20250327 | 20250328 (R4) |
He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 The author examines why 'working class' crimes like armed robberies have declined. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. With smart technologies now able to track cash stolen in bank raids, and other anti-theft measures, the once working class crime of armed robbery is becoming a thing of the past. Joel Budd looks at ethnicity, class and attitudes to race and immigration across Britain. In working-class Britain today, who exactly feels threatened by immigration? It is more complicated than it might first appear. Joel Budd looks for an answer. |
| 05 | 20250328 | 20250329 (R4) |
He goes on, 'I am interested in white working-class Britons not because I want to understand myself but because I want to understand Britain. I cannot see how anybody, from any class or ethnic group, can claim knowledge of the country if they overlook three in ten of its inhabitants. And if that is not enough reason, consider that important decisions affecting everybody in Britain are taken with white working-class people primarily in mind. No large group of people in Britain is as badly misunderstood as the white working class. Its members have been caricatured as grumpy and backward-looking, as incorrigibly xenophobic, even racist – a tired and simplistic narrative perpetuated by commentators and the media. The truth is entirely different. Thirty years ago, almost nobody talked about the white working class - in the House of Commons and the House of Lords the term had been used just three times in the previous two decades. Brexit helped to turn the group into a towering social and political force. But, in the aftermath, one-third of the population has been reduced to a cartoon. Underdogs explores the myths around the stereotype and visits some of the places where Britain's white working class live. From heartland towns such as Rhymney in South Wales to the idiosyncratic enclave of Theftord in Norfolk, Joel Budd meets people who although they vary in age and income, are proudly working class. Along the way the subculture of car modification and the decline of the armed robber (due to changes in workplace conditions) are both analysed and celebrated. Music : Opening song – Oi Oi by Franko Fraize, closing song – Underdogs by Franko Fraize Written by Joel Budd Read by Daniel Weyman Abridged and Produced by Jill Waters The Waters Company for BBC Radio 4 Joel Budd looks at age, class and attitudes to race and immigration across Britain. Joel Budd explores the myths around the stereotype of the 'white working class'. In working class Britain today, who exactly feels threatened by immigration? It is more complicated than it might first appear. Joel Budd looks for an answer. The author examines why 'working class' crimes like armed robberies have declined. With smart technologies now able to track cash stolen in bank raids, and other anti-theft measures, the once 'working class' crime of armed robbery is becoming a thing of the past. |
In the introduction to his new book, The Economist journalist and author, Joel Budd describes himself as middle class by every conceivable measure.