Wake Up to Money

Sean Farrington discusses reports that LIV Golf is on the verge of collapse. The breakaway tour - heavily backed by Saudi Arabia's Sovereign Wealth Fund - split the game in two when it launched in 2022. Also - we hear from the governor of the Bank of England who's in Washington alongside the world's leaders in finance at the Spring meeting of the IMF and World Bank. Earlier this week, the IMF singled out the UK as one of the countries set to suffer a “large negative effect” from the energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.

16/04/2026 • 51:17

Sean Farrington analyses the potential impacts of Anthropic's new AI engine, which the company says can expose vulnerabilities in every operating system and web browser.Plus - what's in store for the UK video gaming industry as its leaders gather this week for London Games Festival?

15/04/2026 • 52:36

Sean Farrington get the latest following the US blockade of Iran's Ports. We bring you the legal reaction to the US and Iranian operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, a Gulf-based business owner tells us how the conflict is affecting there chain of pubs and cafés in the region.Elsewhere we gets the Trade body reaction to the EU's new Entry-Exit System became fully operational on Friday. And hears from one company who are putting specialist artificial intelligence robots into its boardroom.

14/04/2026 • 53:13

Will Bain hears the latest on the war in the Middle East, its impact on UK households, the British steel industry, and farmers. Elsewhere, a ban on Premier League football clubs featuring gambling companies as their main shirt sponsors begins next season.

13/04/2026 • 51:47

With attacks on Lebanon signalling peace in the Middle East is yet to be guaranteed, Sean Farrington will be discussing what it all means for the economy at home and abroad. In Ireland, anger at fuel prices rises has turned into blockades of depots and roads. We'll be hearing from an industry boss about what's at the heart of the protests. And why sneaking out of the office to watch the cricket no longer means dodging work. We'll be finding out all about the cricket stadium that doubles as a co-working space.

10/04/2026 • 51:26

A tentative two-week ceasefire in the Middle East has seen global oil and gas prices cool, but how easy will it be to convince shipping companies the Strait of Hormuz is now safe to navigate? Sean Farrington investigates. The conflict has also sparked an interest in electric vehicles in the UK. The boss of the country's biggest car sales platform tells us why Chinese EV manufacturers could be the biggest beneficiaries. And, running a Marathon is quite a feat. But that's not enough for the boss of London's big race. He tells us why they're expanding abroad.

09/04/2026 • 52:32

Sean Farrington looks at the impact of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US. Plus, what could the takeover of Universal Music Group mean for the music industry?

08/04/2026 • 52:40

Sean Farrington gets the latest analysis as the US deadline for Iran to make a deal approaches. We’ll also explore how the ongoing war is affecting one company’s ambitions to expand in the Middle East.Elsewhere, we’ll have insight into the latest six-day strike by resident doctors in England, which begins today, and the potential impact on patients.And as spring arrives, we hear from a farmer offering the public the chance to pick their own tulips.

07/04/2026 • 51:51

Sean Farrington brings all the reaction to Presidents Trump's Iran address while back at home, we look ahead to the Prime Minister hosting a meeting of 35 countries to work of getting the Strait of Hormuz fully open.Elsewhere, we'll hear how the government's new rules on subscription services will affect customers and the companies that offer them.And with Easter just round the corner, we couldn't resist a visit to Cadbury's - we'll hear from some of those making our Easter Eggs.

02/04/2026 • 53:04

As tech giant Apple celebrates its 50th birthday, we hear from the man behind the "i" in iPhone. Sean Farrington also brings the latest on oil prices, and we hear from the Chancellor about what kind of help the government might announce for those facing higher bills.

01/04/2026 • 53:20

Millions of drivers should receive billions of pounds in compensation this year. We hear from the law firm that took one of the first misselling cases to the Supreme Court. With prices for aluminium hitting a four-year high because of the war in Iran, we also check in with the UK's only primary aluminium smelter. And we're joined by the boss of a renewable energy technology company about how the rise in oil prices is driving customers to their door.

31/03/2026 • 53:22

Leanna Byrne hears about the extra cash the government will be spending on apprentices.Elsewhere, she'll talk to a Middle East expert on the latest from Iran ahead of the Prime Minister hosting industry leaders from the world of shipping, energy, finance and insurance for an emergency meeting at Downing Street.And she'll hear from a tourism body about whether recent tensions in the Middle East are making people rethink about travelling abroad and having a staycation instead.

30/03/2026 • 52:32

Will Bain talks to Eva Longoria about what consolidation could mean for the entertainment industry. The expert panel discusses the picture for UK growth and we get a closer look at what the future could hold for NS&I customers.

27/03/2026 • 51:47

Sean Farrington has the latest as millions of pounds look set to be paid back by NS&I. Plus, we hear from the British Chamber of Commerce as it urges businesses "not to retreat" in light of the conflict in the Middle East.

26/03/2026 • 26:50

Sean Farrington unpacks the biggest themes from this week’s Big Boss Interview with Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. He also delves into the latest developments in the US–Israel conflict involving Iran, and rounds up the day’s key market news.

25/03/2026 • 52:47

Sean Farrington gets the latest updates on the US- Middle East. Closer to home, he takes a look at the latest government measures aimed at tackling late payments to small businesses. Plus he sits down with a Grammy-winning songwriter that reinvents some of the world's biggest tracks.

24/03/2026 • 52:01

Will Bain looks at how the US–Israel conflict with Iran is affecting people at home. He examines the latest movements in the energy markets and assesses what rising fuel prices mean for hauliers. We also hear from a media analyst on the reaction to the UK version of Saturday Night Live.

23/03/2026 • 58:54

Felicity Hannah learns how surging gas prices are impacting energy intensive businesses in the wake of the US-Israel war with Iran. In the wake of a big week for the UK economy we are joined by the Friday panel to discuss the weeks events. And as millions of Muslims mark Eid al-Fitr we'll speak to a business owner behind a London markets celebration of the end of Ramadan.

20/03/2026 • 53:13

The world's biggest facility for producing liquified natural gas in Qatar has been hit by Iranian strikes - Sean Farrington looks at how much it could drive up oil and gas prices.The government launches its strategy for the UK steel industry today - one producer in Cardiff tells Wake Up to Money how it looks from their perspective.And could ube, a sweet purple yam popular in the Philippines, be the biggest viral food craze since matcha?

19/03/2026 • 53:06

The country's regional leaders could get a bigger say over what to do with money from central government - Sean Farrington hears what that and some new funding could do for parts of Britain outside London.The meningitis outbreak in Kent has seen pharmacies overwhelmed with demand for vaccines and advice, according to the National Pharmacies Association. Its boss speaks to Wake Up to Money.And as Disney's twice-chief executive Bob Iger makes way for a new successor, we'll find out what that could mean for the global entertainment company.

18/03/2026 • 53:04

On Wake Up To Money, we talk a lot about jobs, wages and the labour market. And we often hear from the bosses of some of our biggest recruitment firms.One of those is the Reed Group.Sir Alec Reed started the company 65 years ago and made it into one of the UK's biggest private businesses. He was knighted for his services to business and charity in 2011.He'd long stepped down as Chief Executive of Reed by then, handing over the reins to his son, James, in 1997.Sean Farrington sat down with James to look back on the life of his Dad - and how they navigated being part of the same team at work as well as at home... something that will sound familiar to so many across the country.

30/12/2025 • 26:58

Sean speaks to chief executive of British cycling brand Rapha, Fran Millar, and former World Cycling Road Race Champion and four-time British Road Race Champion Lizzie Deignan.

23/07/2025 • 34:13

Will Bain presents a review of the business year with some of our best interviews from 2024, featuring the biggest stories in money and business this year.

26/12/2024 • 55:58

Sean Farrington sits down with Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton, who doesn't hold back on Shein. Plus The Friedkin Group has agreed a deal to buy Premier League club Everton.

24/09/2024 • 53:16

What do a football club, a media mogul and a social media giant all have in common?Fresh from another victory, Manchester City faces the start of hearings into its 115 alleged financial fair play charges today - Sean Farrington finds out what's in play.An American court will hear arguments on whether the US government can ban the Chinese social media giant TikTok from the country.And the children of an ageing media mogul fight for their stake in his news empire - no, it's not a smash-hit TV drama, but a court case involving Rupert Murdoch that gets under way on Monday. We hear what it could mean for the future of News Corp.

16/09/2024 • 53:14

Felicity Hannah finds out if the private sector should fund a new rail link. And, after the success of the first spacewalk, is the sky the limit when it comes to space tourism?

13/09/2024 • 52:37

it’s just 8 weeks till the American Election and Trump and Harris go head to head in their first live TV debate. Plus the skills Olympics finally gets underway in Lyon, France.

11/09/2024 • 53:10

Sean Farrington takes a look how Apple's latest gadgets will feature all things AI. Plus we find out why ASOS has been getting a lot of backlash online.

10/09/2024 • 53:01

Will Bain looks at what has to change in construction following the Grenfell Inquiry.Elsewhere, the Chief Executive of Mountain Warehouse speaks about the company's latest acquisition and broader plans for US expansion, and live music's contribution to the UK economy topped £6bn for the first time last year.

05/09/2024 • 50:53

Will Bain looks back at some of the highlights from Wake Up To Money in 2023. There's the story of the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft including an interview with the Microsoft President Brad Smith which made headlines around the world. Former England and Manchester United footballer Gary Neville explained why he's investing in property and the UK boss of Google Debbie Weinstein told us how AI is changing the world.

01/01/2024 • 56:11