Investors

Our long-running talk and debate shows cover the most pressing issues of the day in an accessible way. They reach millions of people who may not watch factual programmes addressing similar subjects.

This Morning

Our everyday chat show, This Morning covers a wide range of social issues throughout the year through a blend of topical chat and features. Below is a selection from 2009:

Going behind the headlines

This Morning investigated and debated topical news stories covering issues such as knife crime, teenage pregnancy, victim support, domestic violence, failing hospitals and debt.

For example the show covered the story of Fiona Pilkington who killed herself and her daughter because their lives had been made unbearable by neighbourhood bullies. As part of our coverage we featured the story of Asher Nadone who, like Fiona, is the mother of a disabled child and is being targeted by neighbourhood bullies.

This Morning followed Asher’s story over several months, each time talking to key decision makers about what they were going to do to tackle the problem. Guests included Chris Grayling MP, Sir Hugh Orde from the Association of Chief Police Officers, David Hanson a minister from the Home Office and even Gordon Brown who promised to look into Asher’s story.

A focus on adoption

This Morning collaborated with the British Association of Adoption and Fostering to raise the profile of Adoption Week (9th – 15th November). Each day during the week the show featured a different child who needed to be adopted. Guests came to the studio each day to talk about various adoption issues including adopting as a single parent and adopting as a gay couple. Teenagers who had been adopted came on the show to talk about their experiences.

Highlighting health issues

With the help of our regular doctor, Chris Steele, This Morning constantly features discussions of important health issues. In 2009 the show raised awareness of breast, bowel, ovarian and cervical cancers as well as other health issues including alcohol abuse, diabetes and weight loss.

In December three people told viewers how they had saved their life after following Dr Steele’s advice on the show. One took aspirin when he got chest pains to minimise a heart attack and two checked themselves for cancer and discovered it early.

Protecting consumers

Donal MacIntyre works tirelessly to expose and warn This Morning viewers about consumer scams. In 2009, he uncovered scams involving mobile contracts, pet adverts, teeth whitening and weight loss free trials, phoney tax rebates, fake lotteries, sham cold callers and dating websites.

Loose Women

Loose Womenis a light hearted and accessible debate programme, broadcast each weekday at 12.30pm. Topics debated in 2009 included:

• Attitudes towards asylum seekers.
• Whether society should penalise the fat and reward the healthy.
• Can we trust the British people to be given a European referendum?
• Is prison the best punishment?
• Will the Government’s suggestions to deter smoking work?
• Should soldiers have a choice whether they go to war and do they have a duty to serve their country at any cost?