Society & Culture

Toast

by BBC Radio 4

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Latest episodes

Welcome to Toast

September 29, 2026 · 3 min

BBC business journalist Sean Farrington introduces the series that uncovers the stories of brands and products that soared to success yet somehow still ended up toast. What made them so special? Why did they disappear? The series now has…
Orange

July 2, 2026 · 25 min

Orange was once one of the most recognisable brands in Britain — a mobile network with its iconic slogan “The future’s bright, the future’s Orange”, it helped turn mobile phones from elite business tools into everyday essentials. But while…
Izal Medicated Toilet Paper

June 25, 2026 · 27 min

Izal medicated toilet paper was once a staple of British bathrooms - a curious cultural icon, remembered as much for its distinctive feel as for its antiseptic promise. Produced for decades by the Sheffield‑based company Newton, Chambers &…
Paperchase

June 18, 2026 · 29 min

Why did the popular stationery chain, Paperchase, end up closing all of its shops? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates in the company of resident entrepreneur, Sam White. Paperchase was founded by two former art…
EasyCinema

June 11, 2026 · 31 min

The EasyJet founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Iannou, tried to shake up the cinema industry by introducing low-cost movie theatres. Tickets were priced as low as 20p for customers who booked in advance. So, why didn't EasyCinema take…

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Wilko

June 4, 2026 · 30 min

Wilkinson - or Wilko as it became known - was a privately-owned family business that had been successful for decades, offering low-priced household products from its chain of high street stores. So why did it falter during a…
Farepak's Christmas Hampers

December 25, 2025 · 25 min

What led to the collapse of the Christmas savings club Farepak? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him. It's our Christmas special and we're turning the clock back to the…
C&A's UK Stores

December 18, 2025 · 25 min

The fashion chain C&A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam…
Skype

December 11, 2025 · 25 min

Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him. Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of…
Dasani Water

December 4, 2025 · 25 min

Dasani water, a bottled water from Coca-Cola, proved a big hit in the U.S.A so why did it last for less than 6 weeks in the UK? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how it ended up toast, in the company of resident…
BlackBerry Smartphones

November 27, 2025 · 35 min

How did the company behind the revolutionary BlackBerry smartphone lose its grip on the handset market? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with special guest, Sir Stephen Fry, who has remained 'faithful' to the…
Homebase

July 3, 2025 · 25 min

Homebase was once one of our leading home improvement chains so, why did it have to close all of its stores? The BBC Business journalist Sean Farrington investigates. Alongside him is the entrepreneur Sam White, who at the end of the show…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

The BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, explores amazing products and brands that somehow ended up... toast. In each episode, Sean examines another great business idea, hearing how it started, what it offered and why it became successful. He hears first-hand from people who were there at the time, gathering compelling tales of what went on behind the scenes. Archive audio, industry experts, and fans of the brand are often in the mix as Sean charts its rise to dizzy heights before discovering where it may have faltered. Alongside him, offering wise and wry observations is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, who has no advance knowledge of which business is to be covered. At the end of each episode, based on what she has just heard, Sam must come up with her own conclusions as to why the brand or product disappeared and what we can learn from its story. From big tech to high street retail and, of course, food, Toast tackles the business ideas that, one way or another, ended up cooked and discovers how sometimes they manage to live on in a different form. If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.uk Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.