Will Self Takes The Waters

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

The Ultimate Refreshment?

20210217

20210927 (R4)

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

How did mineral water become such a valuable commodity and is it a luxury the world can no longer afford?

Will's a confirmed fan of mineral water - yet he's puzzled by its enduring appeal when H2O flows freely from the tap.

Over five episodes, he investigates the history of five different mineral waters and the spa towns from which they spring. He's joined by 'water sommelier' Martin Riese who believes that mineral water should be regarded as a connoisseur product, just like wine. Riese serves 20 varieties of mineral water in his boutique hotel in Los Angeles.

Today, the story of Perrier, which comes from the south of France and sold 1.6 billion bottles in 2019. Perrier was first marketed by Englishman St John Harmsworth who bought up the spring in 1903.

Will investigates why Perrier took the world by storm and asks Nestl退, the brand's current owners, what they're doing to address widespread concerns about the environmental impact of their product.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

How did mineral water become such a valuable commodity and is it a luxury the world can no longer afford?

Will's a confirmed fan of mineral water - yet he's puzzled by its enduring appeal when H2O flows freely from the tap.

Today, the story of Perrier, which comes from the south of France and sold 1.6 billion bottles in 2019. Perrier was first marketed by Englishman St John Harmsworth who bought up the spring in 1903.

Will investigates why Perrier took the world by storm and asks Nestl退, the brand's current owners, what they're doing to address widespread concerns about the environmental impact of their product.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Something In The Water

20210224

20210928 (R4)

Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for mineral waters. When water flows freely from the tap, why are we so attached to the bottled variety?

Today, how Buxton rose to prominence as a spa town in the 18th and 19th centuries and what it owes to the grand spas of central Europe.

Over five episodes, Will investigates the story of five different mineral waters, and their enduring appeal.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for mineral waters. When water flows freely from the tap, why are we so attached to the bottled variety?

Today, how Buxton rose to prominence as a spa town in the 18th and 19th centuries and what it owes to the grand spas of central Europe.

Over five episodes, Will investigates the story of five different mineral waters, and their enduring appeal.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

A Kind Of Magic

20210303

20210929 (R4)

Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for mineral water and health spas.

Today, Will is transported to Scandinavia, as he samples popular Swedish mineral water, Raml怀sa. He explores the magical qualities ascribed to water - now and in the past.

He also discusses a brand of glacial meltwater, which comes with an £85 price tag.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for mineral water and health spas.

Today, Will is transported to Scandinavia, as he samples popular Swedish mineral water, Raml怀sa. He explores the magical qualities ascribed to water - now and in the past.

He also discusses a brand of glacial meltwater, which comes with an £85 price tag.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

On The Rocks

20210310

20210930 (R4)

Will Self explores the science behind mineral water in his exploration of our insatiable thirst for bottled H2O.

Will imagines himself in the Loire Valley on a water-tasting trip, accompanied by water sommelier Martin Riese.

They sample the French brand Badoit and explore the science of drinking water.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self explores the science behind mineral water.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self explores the science behind mineral water in his exploration of our insatiable thirst for bottled H2O.

Will imagines himself in the Loire Valley on a water-tasting trip, accompanied by water sommelier Martin Riese.

They sample the French brand Badoit and explore the science of drinking water.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self explores the science behind mineral water.

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

What Goes Around

20210317

20211001 (R4)

Will Self explores the environmental impact of the bottled water industry.

In this final episode Will's transported to the island paradise of Fiji - whose number one export is water.

He explores whether it's possible to justify shipping bottled water around the globe.

Closer to home, he speaks to Nestl退, the owners of Buxton Water, about their own environmental record.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Will Self explores the environmental impact of the bottled water industry.

In this final episode Will's transported to the island paradise of Fiji - whose number one export is water.

He explores whether it's possible to justify shipping bottled water around the globe.

Closer to home, he speaks to Nestl退, the owners of Buxton Water, about their own environmental record.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

(Photo credit: Luther Self)

Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	The Ultimate Refreshment?	20210217	20210927 (R4)	Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. How did mineral water become such a valuable commodity and is it a luxury the world can no longer afford? Will's a confirmed fan of mineral water - yet he's puzzled by its enduring appeal when H2O flows freely from the tap. Over five episodes, he investigates the history of five different mineral waters and the spa towns from which they spring. He's joined by 'water sommelier' Martin Riese who believes that mineral water should be regarded as a connoisseur product, just like wine. Riese serves 20 varieties of mineral water in his boutique hotel in Los Angeles. Today, the story of Perrier, which comes from the south of France and sold 1.6 billion bottles in 2019. Perrier was first marketed by Englishman St John Harmsworth who bought up the spring in 1903. Will investigates why Perrier took the world by storm and asks Nestl退, the brand's current owners, what they're doing to address widespread concerns about the environmental impact of their product. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. How did mineral water become such a valuable commodity and is it a luxury the world can no longer afford? Will's a confirmed fan of mineral water - yet he's puzzled by its enduring appeal when H2O flows freely from the tap. Over five episodes, he investigates the history of five different mineral waters and the spa towns from which they spring. He's joined by 'water sommelier' Martin Riese who believes that mineral water should be regarded as a connoisseur product, just like wine. Riese serves 20 varieties of mineral water in his boutique hotel in Los Angeles. Today, the story of Perrier, which comes from the south of France and sold 1.6 billion bottles in 2019. Perrier was first marketed by Englishman St John Harmsworth who bought up the spring in 1903. Will investigates why Perrier took the world by storm and asks Nestl退, the brand's current owners, what they're doing to address widespread concerns about the environmental impact of their product. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self)
02	Something In The Water	20210224	20210928 (R4)	Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for mineral waters. When water flows freely from the tap, why are we so attached to the bottled variety? Today, how Buxton rose to prominence as a spa town in the 18th and 19th centuries and what it owes to the grand spas of central Europe. Over five episodes, Will investigates the story of five different mineral waters, and their enduring appeal. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for mineral waters. When water flows freely from the tap, why are we so attached to the bottled variety? Today, how Buxton rose to prominence as a spa town in the 18th and 19th centuries and what it owes to the grand spas of central Europe. Over five episodes, Will investigates the story of five different mineral waters, and their enduring appeal. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self ponders questions of health in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.
03	A Kind Of Magic	20210303	20210929 (R4)	Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for mineral water and health spas. Today, Will is transported to Scandinavia, as he samples popular Swedish mineral water, Raml怀sa. He explores the magical qualities ascribed to water - now and in the past. He also discusses a brand of glacial meltwater, which comes with an £85 price tag. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for mineral water and health spas. Today, Will is transported to Scandinavia, as he samples popular Swedish mineral water, Raml怀sa. He explores the magical qualities ascribed to water - now and in the past. He also discusses a brand of glacial meltwater, which comes with an £85 price tag. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self explores the role of magic in our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.
04	On The Rocks	20210310	20210930 (R4)	Will Self explores the science behind mineral water in his exploration of our insatiable thirst for bottled H2O. Will imagines himself in the Loire Valley on a water-tasting trip, accompanied by water sommelier Martin Riese. They sample the French brand Badoit and explore the science of drinking water. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self explores the science behind mineral water. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self explores the science behind mineral water in his exploration of our insatiable thirst for bottled H2O. Will imagines himself in the Loire Valley on a water-tasting trip, accompanied by water sommelier Martin Riese. They sample the French brand Badoit and explore the science of drinking water. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self explores the science behind mineral water. Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.
05	What Goes Around	20210317	20211001 (R4)	Will Self explores the environmental impact of the bottled water industry. In this final episode Will's transported to the island paradise of Fiji - whose number one export is water. He explores whether it's possible to justify shipping bottled water around the globe. Closer to home, he speaks to Nestl退, the owners of Buxton Water, about their own environmental record. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters. Will Self explores the environmental impact of the bottled water industry. In this final episode Will's transported to the island paradise of Fiji - whose number one export is water. He explores whether it's possible to justify shipping bottled water around the globe. Closer to home, he speaks to Nestl退, the owners of Buxton Water, about their own environmental record. Producer: Laurence Grissell (Photo credit: Luther Self) Will Self ponders the origins of our insatiable thirst for bottled waters.