A major new partnership across the BBC bringing programmes, brands and experts together to offer consumers help navigating the cost of living crisis is launching today. Audiences will be offered tips, advice and solutions on saving money as the BBC brings together expertise from across the corporation. From Rip Off Britain to The One Show/Watchdog, programmes across the BBC will be involved Cost of Living: Tackling it Together.

BBC News Online will be the beating heart of the project and the home to the best of the content whenever audiences need it. There will be cost of living specific news alerts and newsletters, including daily low cost recipes, and tips and solutions from other consumers.

The initiative will be launching online and then live from Sunderland across the day on Radio 4’s Today, BBC Breakfast, Radio 5 Live, Radio 1’s Newsbeat, News at 6 and 10 and Newsnight. Nicky Campbell will present his BBC Radio 5 Live show from Sunderland’s The Fire Station to discuss how the crisis is impacting people’s lives locally whilst exploring solutions with a 60-strong studio audience and a variety of special guests, simulcast on the BBC News Channel.

CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, Deborah Turness, says:

“At a time of great uncertainty for so many, the BBC is stepping up to help people get through the cost of living crisis. We’re bringing together a team of BBC experts who will dedicate themselves to this initiative that we are calling Tackling it Together. They will offer daily solutions, share personal finance tips and answer vital questions. We’ve also teamed up with BBC Food to deliver a daily low-cost recipe for families impacted by so many financial pressures.

“You’ll find Tackling it Together across BBC News digital, radio and TV outlets, as well as the Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2, The One Show, Money Box on Radio 4 and many more outlets. We are determined to be there for our audiences when they most need us, and to make sure the BBC is delivering value for all, as millions navigate these difficult times.”

A team of experts will be dedicated to helping audiences through the crisis:

Colletta Smith and Kevin Peachey will become dedicated Cost of Living Correspondents
Social Affairs Correspondent, Michael Buchanan will dedicate himself to tell the stories of people around the UK

Cost of Living Correspondent, Colletta Smith, will share tips and solutions for people trying to cope with rising costs

Midlands Correspondent, Navtej Johal, will follow stories of hope and resilience in the face of the odds over the course of a year in Derby

BBC Breakfast’s Business presenter, Hannah Miller, and Cost of Living Correspondent, Kevin Peachey, will advise on personal finances

Business Editor, Simon Jack, and Economics Editor, Faisal Islam, will share the latest on what the evolving crisis means for businesses and the money markets

Today will hold politicians to account and tell the real story behind their promises in a weekly segment

Employment Correspondent, Zoe Conway, will be on hand to help audiences deal with all the issues around the world of work

Martin Lewis will share his expertise and knowledge in the new, weekly The Martin Lewis Podcast
Jeremy Vine will host regular interviews and advice with experts on his Radio 2 show

And Special Correspondent, Fergal Keane, will return to the people and places he visited in 2000, and then again in 2012, in Resilient Britain, meeting some of the hardest pressed communities in the UK.

The content will tell stories from across the UK. After the launch in Sunderland, there will be special days of coverage in 11 further locations to give audiences an opportunity to tell their stories, share their tips and speak to experts. In addition to Sunderland, the places will be Dumbarton, Arbroath, Newtown, Lurgan, Hawes, Bolton, Ilfracombe, Derby, Ipswich, Croydon, and Gloucester.

The Cost of Living: Tackling it Together will also feature across programming in the nations and regions.

England

BBC Local will be supporting the launch with special coverage across all its radio stations and television news broadcasts, as well as continuing to report on issues relating to the cost of living crisis for their audiences.

Wales

Radio Cymru: As well as new content, the Gwneud Bywyd yn Haws and Bore Cothi programmes will carry cost of living content.

BBC Wales: BBC Wales News has pulled together a Cost of Living Hub to include two correspondents, a producer, planner and data journalist. Other correspondents will play in to cost of living stories as and when.

Newyddion S4C has already ‘adopted’ three families from North Wales and will follow them for a year to reflect how the cost of living crisis is having an impact.

The Wales Investigates team is working on a cost of living investigation. A new series of Wales Live returns in November with content on rural poverty, child poverty and how the cost of living crisis is affecting secondary school pupils.

Northern Ireland

BBC Radio Ulster: BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster will be broadcasting live from Newtownards, Co Down. They will be talking to staff and customers in Newtownards Library and asking if community spaces should be opening their doors for longer to allow people to stay warm.
Listeners will also hear from business owners in the town about the rising costs they are facing.

BBC Northern Ireland: BBC Northern Ireland’s flagship news programme BBC Newsline will be looking at the changing prices of common items in shopping baskets and what factors are causing price rises on essential food items.

The BBC News NI Digital team will hear about the challenges facing new parents struggling to buy the essentials and goes to a church which will be keeping its doors open throughout the winter to help keep people warm.

Scotland

BBC Radio Scotland: Mornings with Kaye Adams will have a special Cost of Living: Tackling It Together surgery. There’ll be a panel of experts to answer questions and there’ll be practical help and advice on a range of subjects including dealing with debt, paying energy bills, pension worries and keeping food bills down.

BBC Scotland: BBC Scotland’s topical debate programme, Debate Night, will be focussing on the cost of living crisis with members of the public having an hour to put their questions to a panel of politicians and other public figures.