Wake Up to Money

Will Bain hears how thousands of investors risk losing their money if BrewDog is sold. The Scottish craft beer giant is up for sale after five consecutive years of losses.With half-term week coming to an end, we'll be hearing from an independent cinema in Newcastle on whether the school holidays have provided the trade boost they hoped for.And our Friday panel will be summing up the week, from the unemployment figures to how the winter weather has wreaked havoc with Britain's agriculture sector.

Will Bain hears from the designer shaking up London Fashion Week by turning the humble shopping trolley into something chic. We’ll also look to the US, where Meta’s owner has been in court for a landmark civil trial examining the impact of social media on young people, with reaction from an investor in Silicon Valley. And we’ll bring you the latest from New Delhi as tech bosses and world leaders gather for The Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit 2026.

Will Bain has the latest on another twist in the takeover tale of Warner Bros Discovery as talks with Paramount Skydance reopen. The boss of the UK's largest commercial property company Landsec tells us he is more confident about shopping centres than any other part of his business. Plus Carling's iconic Black Label brand is set for a UK revival.

Will Bain checks in with a UK house builder to see if we are building quickly enough to meet the government target of 1.5 million homes to be built over the next decade. Also we will be hearing from a UK chocolate maker on how they will adapt as the price of cocoa drops due to oversupply. Elsewhere we will hear about the Lunar New Year economy as we welcome the year of the Fire Horse.

Leanna Byrne finds out about the latest government online safety powers designed to keep children safe from illegal content created by AI. We hear from a tech journalist on what the measures will mean in practice. Also, farmers are facing bad weather and falling milk prices. We hear from the farming community on the toll it's all taking on their businesses. Elsewhere, we bring you the latest on the civil service pension scheme and hear what Royal Mail staff told the BBC about the service they deliver.

Theo Leggett has the latest as AI doubts continue to rumble around markets. Our Friday panel digests a slightly soggy growth reading to end 2025 and a week of political turbulence. We also take a closer look at a US company's swoop for one of the City's oldest names and how supermarkets look to get Valentine's Day right.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has outlined her intentions bring down barriers to closer integration with the EU's defence industry - with an eye on its huge spending plans. We speak to the UK industry's trade body to discover what's at stake. And ahead of the publication of the UK's GDP figures for the end of last year, we speak to a businesswoman and a finance expert to hear their thoughts on what the economy needs to grow. Also, musical Billy Elliot is going on tour, more than 20 years after it left the West End. We'll be finding out why shows like this are so important to keep the arts alive outside London.

Small businesses are experiencing pressures unseen since the pandemic and the hospitality business is also finding trading tough. Sean Farrington speaks to owners from both sectors to find out why. And we'll finding out more about the latest streamer to land on these shores. What can HBO Max add to our viewing?

Sean Farrington speaks with three Manchester business leaders - Laurence Newman of Beauty Tech Group, Shaun Morton of On The Beach, and Emma Thackray of Hip Pop - to discuss why the region is growing faster than the rest of the country.

Sean Farrington weighs up prime minister Keir Starmer’s record on the economy - after a nerve-wracking start to the week for the PM. Elsewhere, three Manchester entrepreneurs tell us why they think business is booming in the city. And as Britain chases its first medal, we hear from the Scottish business that manufactures curling stones for the Winter Olympics.

Leanna Byrne finds out how the Japanese economy will fare under PM Sanae Takaichi after her resounding victory in the weekend's snap election. And we get the latest snapshot of the UK's employment figures. Also, what does it take to fill the half-time advertising slot during the US's biggest sporting event? We touchdown with the creative mind behind one of this year's Superbowl ads.

What does success in the Winter Olympics mean for the popularity of the sports in the UK? Will Bain talks to the director of British curling and the managing director of some the country's biggest winter sports venues. We'll also be hearing from the creative director of the opening ceremony in Milan. And it's a hold on UK interest rates and jitters in the US stock markets over AI. Will Bain discusses what it all means on both sides of the Atlantic with our regular Friday panel.

Sean Farrington hears about why some pharmacies are reducing their opening hours. Elsewhere, nearly half of zoos have reported financial struggles since 2022, and we look ahead to the Bank of England's latest rates decision.

As Disney chooses its next CEO, Sean learns what the appointment suggests about the company's focus. Plus, there's more on Elon Musk's mega-merger, and Sean asks what's behind Gen Z's craving for cottage cheese.

Sean Farrington reacts to Elon Musk's merger of Space-X and xAI - making it the most valuable private company ever.And, as the government tackles forever chemicals linked to harm to the environment and human health - Sean Farrington speaks to an outdoor clothing brand that's already developing alternatives.And we discuss the future of Disney as its veteran CEO prepares to leave the entertainment giant.Three coins in the fountain? Why you may need four or five coins in your pocket the next time you visit Rome's world-famous landmark.

Felicity Hannah hears how rising energy prices are affecting the cost of growing fruit and vegetables. And what President Trump's pick for chair of the Federal Reserve could mean for the global economy. Over in Los Angeles, we'll be getting reaction to this year's Grammy Awards. Is the annual music business bash as important to the industry as it once was?

Felicity Hannah rounds up a week in business news that saw the PM travel to China and most of the world's biggest companies revealed their first quarter performance. She also hears from a shoemaker in Leicester who's family business is on the brink, despite their products being worn by the Royals.And she gets some advice for those about to submit their self-assessment tax return ahead of Saturday's deadline.Download the podcast via the BBC Sounds app.

Felicity Hannah discusses rising water bills, and the FCA's new fraud-checker. Further from home, Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets President Xi Jinping in China.

Will Bain looks at a long-awaited support package for English pubs. Elsewhere, Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits China, and we hear about financial issues in the world of rugby.

Will Bain takes a look at poverty rates in the UK. Elsewhere, a pub landlord discusses the cost of screening live sports, and we speak to a business helping schools to manage phone use in the classroom.