0:00:02 > 0:00:07Hello and welcome to the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations for the show
0:00:07 > 0:00:12that asks the top professionals what you should be spending your money on.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17I'm Cherry Healey and in this series,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21I'll be visiting iconic locations across Britain to ask
0:00:21 > 0:00:27the country's best experts to show you how to shop like a pro.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30From cosmetics to power tools,
0:00:30 > 0:00:33trainers to bullet blenders,
0:00:33 > 0:00:37our experts will push the most popular products to their limits,
0:00:37 > 0:00:41to help you choose what to buy and why.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Tonight, we're talking TVs -
0:00:45 > 0:00:504K, HD, curved - so many to choose from but what do they all mean?
0:00:50 > 0:00:54Our experts will tell you which is the best value for money.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Well, that's not brilliant,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58cos the sound just seems to be coming from behind the television.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01Also, Naga Munchetty jumps into bed to investigate
0:01:01 > 0:01:04whether bedding thread counts are accurate...
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Or are we having the cotton pulled over our eyes?
0:01:08 > 0:01:12..and some decorators share their money-saving tricks of the trade.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15To stop your lenses getting smothered in paint,
0:01:15 > 0:01:17simply put some cling film over the top.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20If you want the inside track on the latest products
0:01:20 > 0:01:25from the people really in the know, then look no further.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27This is What To Buy & Why.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39Here in Blackpool, the Illuminations have been an annual fixture since 1879.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Back then, the display consisted of just eight lamps,
0:01:44 > 0:01:48but it's fair to say things have moved on quite a bit since.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Now, more than 3.5 million visitors descend on the town each year,
0:01:54 > 0:01:58to enjoy Britain's most popular free light show.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00And this year, for the first time,
0:02:00 > 0:02:05the centrepiece of the Illuminations is the Tower itself,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08thanks to this stunning projection show.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11It was created by tonight's experts,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15husband-and-wife team Karen Monid and Ross Ashton.
0:02:15 > 0:02:20With over 20 years' experience designing spectacular audiovisual presentations,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23they're the perfect people to test TVs for us.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27How on earth do you get something that big to be that clear?
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Above our heads, we have 14 high-power video projectors.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33It's quite a big system we've got in here.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36It's pretty powerful. The sound is incredible as well.
0:02:36 > 0:02:37It just booms out.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40The image and the sound work very closely together,
0:02:40 > 0:02:41so they are interlinked
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and then it creates a very complete experience for people.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49So you really know your way around audio and visual?
0:02:49 > 0:02:50We like to think so, yes.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54It must be a nightmare for you when you go shopping for a telly.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57THEY LAUGH
0:02:57 > 0:03:02But that's exactly what I'm going to make them do.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07FRENCH POP SONG PLAYS
0:03:07 > 0:03:10This is the world-famous Empress Ballroom.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Normally it hosts international dance championships but today,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18it's home to, well - a bunch of the very latest tellies.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24Despite the move towards online viewing,
0:03:24 > 0:03:2695% of us still own a TV
0:03:26 > 0:03:32and over 9 million new sets are sold every single year.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35But buying a television isn't as simple as it used to be.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39There's all sorts of different formats available,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43all sorts of different prices and lots of different sizes.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45It's a minefield.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Luckily, our top audiovisual engineers have come down from the Tower
0:03:49 > 0:03:54to help us decide which type of telly represents the best value for money.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55If you look at that one over there...
0:03:55 > 0:03:58On the high street, there are three main formats
0:03:58 > 0:04:00but which should you go for?
0:04:02 > 0:04:03HD...
0:04:05 > 0:04:06..4K...
0:04:07 > 0:04:09..or curved 4K?
0:04:11 > 0:04:16So what are the main characteristics of an HD television?
0:04:16 > 0:04:19So up until very recently, this has been the cutting edge
0:04:19 > 0:04:21of what you can get in your home as a TV.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26Not that long ago, HD was special but a bit of an expensive purchase.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27Things are moving incredibly fast.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32- And the price is constantly, I think, moving in the right direction for the consumer.- Yeah.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- And the picture is great. It looks fabulous.- Absolutely.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The next option is 4K.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42And what does the 4K refer to?
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Well, 4K means that there are more pixels then you have on HD.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50You've actually got four times the number of pixels.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- So if you took any quarter of this screen...- Yes.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57..then you have the same resolution as you've got in that entire screen.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00As someone whose face is sometimes on the television,
0:05:00 > 0:05:01I find that terrifying,
0:05:01 > 0:05:06because people can see every blemish, every makeup mistake...
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- Yeah.- They can be pretty unforgiving.- Wow!- Yeah.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I must remember to exfoliate every single night from now on!
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Currently, most programmes are televised in HD
0:05:16 > 0:05:20but it's thought this will change to 4K within a few years.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23So that's something our experts need to take into account.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27There is the idea of future-proofing yourself, for in the future
0:05:27 > 0:05:29when we will start broadcasting in 4K.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33I'm going to have my television for an average of about seven years.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35- I'm future proofing it...- Yes.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37..so that I'm not going to have to replace it in two years,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40if everyone starts broadcasting in 4K.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Right now, the content you can get that's truly 4K is generally
0:05:44 > 0:05:48through streaming services, so for films or for sport.
0:05:48 > 0:05:514K TVs do cost more than HDs, though,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53and the latest format to hit the shops,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56the curved 4K, is even more expensive.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59They take a little bit of getting used to.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- It's quite an unusual effect.- Yes.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04The theory is that because you're curbing the extremities in,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07instead of the image being stretched into the corners,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09it's been pushed towards you
0:06:09 > 0:06:13and this is supposed to give you a better viewing experience.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17But while the cheapest 4K is £300,
0:06:17 > 0:06:21the curved 4K start at around £700.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25That leap in price is huge.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I mean, it's a holiday for me and my kids.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31As a consumer, you need to really make a decision about whether that extra money is worth it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:41So which format will they save and which will they eliminate
0:06:41 > 0:06:44to help us choose what to buy - and why?
0:06:44 > 0:06:48You've had lots of time to discuss it. Which one is going first?
0:06:51 > 0:06:53BOTH: HD.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56Buying a TV is an investment buy and HDTV, you know,
0:06:56 > 0:06:59might be more obsolete in two or three years' time.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04So which is the next television that is going down?
0:07:04 > 0:07:06BOTH! The curved!
0:07:06 > 0:07:09In the interest of getting something that's going to be
0:07:09 > 0:07:12value for money, we think that that has more of a limited appeal.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- It's more niche.- Yeah.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18- As the experts, you would spend your money on the 4K?- Yes.- Yeah.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It's ready to take 4K and can already deal with the 4K
0:07:21 > 0:07:24that's currently streaming into people's homes.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27It will be something that will last you seven, eight years.
0:07:27 > 0:07:314K's not going to go away. A better picture is a better picture.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35So now we know which format to choose, there is another vital question -
0:07:35 > 0:07:37what size telly should you buy?
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Many of us waste money on a TV that's too big.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So later, we'll tell you what you need to know.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51# Just about to lose my mind... #
0:07:51 > 0:07:55In this series, we want to introduce you to top professionals who
0:07:55 > 0:07:57really know their stuff -
0:07:57 > 0:08:01passionate specialists with years of experience, whose ingenious
0:08:01 > 0:08:05shortcuts and money-saving tips could make us all smarter shoppers.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10My name is Daniel. I'm head butler here at the Lanesborough,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13one of London's most prestigious hotels.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15If you drop wax on your clothing or carpets,
0:08:15 > 0:08:17there's an easy way to get rid of it.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20All you need is a brown paper bag,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24an iron - put it over, press it.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26The wax is gone.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Stick it in the wash and it's as good as new.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32I'm Glynn, kit manager of Leeds Rhinos.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36It's up to me and my team to ensure the kit is gleaming for the next game.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Grass stains are hard to remove but by no means impossible.
0:08:39 > 0:08:44Soak the shorts in water for around 15 minutes, add some white vinegar.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47The acid should start to break the grass stains down.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49Scrub with a toothbrush.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52If needed, add some detergent.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Put the garment in the wash - the stains will be gone.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58I'm Will. I'm a furniture restorer.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01There is a cheap and easy way to restore the French polish finish
0:09:01 > 0:09:05to your furniture, using products you can find around your own house.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Simply by applying some baby oil onto
0:09:08 > 0:09:14the surface of the furniture, along with methylated spirits
0:09:14 > 0:09:18and a clean cloth, working it in the direction of the grain
0:09:18 > 0:09:22of the wood, will leave you with a lovely, shiny piece of furniture.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Still to come here in Blackpool...
0:09:27 > 0:09:31We find out how the Illuminations have slashed their electricity bills
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and how you can do the same at home.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38But first...
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Our reporter Naga Munchetty investigates if we're getting
0:09:41 > 0:09:44the full picture when it comes to the quality
0:09:44 > 0:09:47of one of life's unavoidable purchases - bed linen.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Check the packaging and you'll find, aside from the size, pretty much
0:09:53 > 0:09:57the only thing prominently displayed is the thread count of the cotton.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02This can range from 100 to 1200 and it tends to be that the higher the number,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05the more expensive the product.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09Does anyone understand what those numbers really mean?
0:10:09 > 0:10:11'I've come to Covent Garden to ask.'
0:10:11 > 0:10:13If you were buying linen, which would you buy?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- Er, 1000.- Why?
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Better quality, I suppose.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Probably the 1000.- Why?- You're going to be more comfortable, I think.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22If it's a higher thread count,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25doesn't it mean that it's better quality?
0:10:25 > 0:10:26'That's an assumption many of us make
0:10:26 > 0:10:30'and it seems to completely determine which linen we buy.'
0:10:30 > 0:10:34It's like a science behind it that says it's definitely better.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35'But is it right?'
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Where better to find out than Derbyshire
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and one of Britain's oldest textile mills.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Now a working museum,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48material has been produced here for more than 100 years.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Over to head weaver Andrew Martin.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54Weaving is actually interlocking the threads together,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57from the back to the front and the left to the right.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02The thread count is literally the number of threads in a square inch of cloth.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05The more you get in, the better quality the cloth is.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11So the people I met in Covent Garden were right.
0:11:11 > 0:11:16The higher the thread count, the higher the quality and that's why we pay a higher price.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19But how do you and I know if the numbers we're given are accurate?
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Should we trust what the packaging tells us?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Or are we having the cotton pulled over our eyes?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31To find out, I've brought eight high-thread-count sheets
0:11:31 > 0:11:33sold by the biggest bedding retailers to Leeds,
0:11:33 > 0:11:38where they'll be examined by leading textile analysts Shirley Technologies.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43Ian Strudwick and his team count the threads in a sample square inch of each sheet.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48It's a laborious, meticulous process but one that turns out fascinating results.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49So, Ian, what have you found?
0:11:49 > 0:11:53In four cases, the thread count is calculated on an incorrect basis,
0:11:53 > 0:11:58which are from Dunelm, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01House of Fraser's Luxury Hotel Collection sheet is
0:12:01 > 0:12:04marketed as having a thread count of 1000.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Yet Ian's test revealed the thread count is 780.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Dunelm's Dormer sheet has 452.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17And John Lewis's Egyptian Cotton sheet just 402.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Whilst on Ian's count, the Sheridan Palais Lux sheet sold
0:12:20 > 0:12:25in Debenhams as having a 1200 thread count has just 346.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27So what's going on?
0:12:27 > 0:12:31The term thread means one individual shot of yarn
0:12:31 > 0:12:32inputted into the fabric.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36In the four cases, what we're finding is that there are multiple
0:12:36 > 0:12:41individual threads which are then twisted together to form a yarn.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Ah, so you could have three or four threads and then they twist them
0:12:45 > 0:12:48together and that's one yarn but they're saying that's four?
0:12:48 > 0:12:49That's correct.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54Take the Dunelm sheet. Technically, 1,000 threads are present.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58But it will feel little different from one with 452.
0:12:58 > 0:12:59So why do they do this?
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Why not just use single threads all the time?
0:13:03 > 0:13:06It's harder to weave, it's more delicate and it takes longer
0:13:06 > 0:13:08and is less efficient than
0:13:08 > 0:13:12if you twist those four individual ends into one yarn.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14And then weave it in as a fourfold yarn.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17It's just a simply more cost-effective weaving process.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Yet they're still charging us extra.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22All four retailers deny misleading customers,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25maintaining their products are high quality
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and that the use of twisted yarns is an established practice.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33House of Fraser says as there is no legal definition of thread count,
0:13:33 > 0:13:37it stands by its numbers, as does Dunelm and John Lewis.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Sheridan, the makers of the Debenham sheets,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42says using this technique is the only way to make sheets with
0:13:42 > 0:13:46thousand-plus thread counts of sufficient quality.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48As a result of our findings,
0:13:48 > 0:13:54John Lewis has decided it will now make clearer that its sheets include twisted yarns.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's very confusing, isn't it?
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Of the other four sheets we tested,
0:13:58 > 0:14:02the thread count of two was spot-on, one was slightly overestimated,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04one was dramatically underestimated,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08saying it was 645 when in fact it was almost 1000.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14So what have I learned from this?
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Well, I'm going to take Ian's advice.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18I'm going to buy what I can afford, what feels good,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and I'm not just going to focus on that thread count.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Back in Blackpool, we're testing TVs.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27We typically keep tellies for seven years.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32So our experts have decided the best value format for the future is 4K -
0:14:32 > 0:14:34which poses another question.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37How do you know how big a telly to buy?
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Well, it turns out it's all about the size of the room you're going to put it in.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46And because bigger TVs cost more,
0:14:46 > 0:14:50you don't want to waste money on a set that's larger than you need.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54The right size depends on the distance between where you sit
0:14:54 > 0:14:56and where the TV will be placed.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59If you're six feet away,
0:14:59 > 0:15:03the space can comfortably take up to a 26-inch television.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08If you're perched about nine feet away
0:15:08 > 0:15:10get yourself anything up to 39 inches.
0:15:12 > 0:15:1513 feet away means a 46-inch telly
0:15:15 > 0:15:18won't have you straining your eyes to watch.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22If your sofa is 15 feet away,
0:15:22 > 0:15:26you can comfortably view a 55 inch set.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32And if you live in a palace and luxuriously sit
0:15:32 > 0:15:3817 feet or more away, then go as large as you can afford.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Now that's what I call a big telly.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44So now you know about the format and the size,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48can you get away with picking a cheaper model?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We'll be back with the answer a little later.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56But first, we're heading outside to the Illuminations.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02The displays run the length of the seafront, using more than
0:16:02 > 0:16:08200 miles of electrical cabling and more than a million light bulbs.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09But here's the thing.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Even though this display is becoming bigger, brighter
0:16:13 > 0:16:18and more elaborate, the electricity bill is going down.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19How can that be?
0:16:22 > 0:16:25I've been invited behind the scenes to the factory
0:16:25 > 0:16:30where it all happens, to find out if we can make similar savings at home.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33I've been with the Illuminations 26 years now.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Richard Ryan leads a team of engineers that work
0:16:37 > 0:16:39all year to design and build the show.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41My interest started when I was seven.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43So it's some form of illness for me.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45That's pretty sad, isn't it?
0:16:45 > 0:16:47No, it's not. It's wonderful.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50It's wonderful because the Illuminations are so magical,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52and I love that you are so passionate about it.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Like any job, there are days when you wake up and you go,
0:16:55 > 0:16:56"I don't fancy this."
0:16:56 > 0:16:58But there are far more days when I think,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01"Brilliant, let's get stuck in and do something."
0:17:01 > 0:17:05With this level of enthusiasm, surely Richard's the man to
0:17:05 > 0:17:09shed some light on their falling electricity costs.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11These are the old lights.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12This is traditional Illuminations.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15The big problem with those from an energy point of view is basically
0:17:15 > 0:17:19when it's on it's kind of warm here, you can warm your hands on it.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Therefore, five times the cost of running it.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24They look amazing, but they cost a fortune to run.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28That's the problem with them, basically.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31But technology has very much changed.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36So on this desk there are four different types of lamp.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39This is an old school filament lamp, they're almost obsolete now.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41And this one here is a halogen lamp.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44This is sort of the next generation.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46So that's pretty widely available. I recognise that.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49In the supermarket those are the cheapest.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Yeah, but they don't tend to last as long, you see.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54So a lot of people have gone to this type,
0:17:54 > 0:17:56this is called a compact fluorescent.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59To me, that's an energy-saving light bulb. Is that the same thing?
0:17:59 > 0:18:01Yeah. It was sort of one of the first types of
0:18:01 > 0:18:04energy-saving light bulb, but on the left
0:18:04 > 0:18:06this is the way we've gone in the Illuminations.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09All these lights behind us here, these are all LED.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I remember when the LED light bulbs first came out,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14they were very, very expensive.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17As with all new technologies, they're expensive at first
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and gradually they'll come down.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23You know, if you compare the brightness of this.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I mean, if you look at them all together,
0:18:25 > 0:18:2960 watt, 33, 11, 5.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32That's five watts?
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Which one do you think is the most efficient?
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Well, that is five watts,
0:18:36 > 0:18:40it came on immediately, it's as bright as the others.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44- That's incredible. - You've got your answer, haven't you?
0:18:45 > 0:18:50And that's precisely why the Illuminations have switched to LED.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53This is an example of LED.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55It's using a fraction of the power.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57It's not warm at all.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00No, most of the energy that goes into making that flash
0:19:00 > 0:19:03literally turns it into light and not heat.
0:19:03 > 0:19:08By switching from the traditional bulbs to LEDs
0:19:08 > 0:19:10how much have you saved?
0:19:10 > 0:19:13We've cut our consumption by a third.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16A third? That's a huge amount of cash.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20You can take it into the domestic environment and save yourself a fortune.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25On average, we have 34 bulbs in our home.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29Using halogen will cost £203 a year.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34Energy-saving CFL bulbs, just £72.
0:19:34 > 0:19:40But switching to LED will see your annual lighting bill slashed to just £48.
0:19:40 > 0:19:45There is an initial outlay for the bulbs - around £5.50 each.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49But, given the savings, you'll quickly recoup the costs.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52So I'm using energy-saving light bulbs at the moment.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Should I go out tomorrow and replace them with LED light bulbs?
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Am I going to save a lot of money?
0:19:57 > 0:20:02I think that what you should do is let those fail, and when they fail
0:20:02 > 0:20:03replace them with those.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06And then gradually you'll see your bills will start to drop.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08And you're going to save the planet as well.
0:20:08 > 0:20:09So what's better than that?
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Question.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Most of us shave,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24so why are women's razors routinely more expensive than men's?
0:20:24 > 0:20:27On average, disposables are about 20p more.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30For reusables, it's £1.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Yes, we get fancy smells and moisture strips,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36but does the extra cost make female razors better?
0:20:36 > 0:20:40MUSIC: Judy Is A Punk by Ramones
0:20:45 > 0:20:49Let's find out, with the help of the Harlequins Ladies Rugby Team.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55Each of our volunteers will shave one leg with a woman's razor...
0:20:55 > 0:20:59and the other with an equivalent, but cheaper, men's.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- I do feel like I need to be more cautious with this one.- Yeah.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04So, what's the consensus?
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I found that the shave feels pretty much the same afterwards.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11It seems to take longer to shave with the man's one than
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the female one, but it does the exact same thing, really.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17The men's razors did have a close shave,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21but I'd probably pay the little extra to have the women's one,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23just for a bit more comfort.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I wouldn't be opposed to buying the men's razor.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29It really isn't that much of a difference.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32So it's three to one in favour of saving some dosh
0:21:32 > 0:21:34and switching to men's razors.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38Guardian beauty columnist Sali Hughes thinks they've reached the right conclusion.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41You're paying more money for all that stuff
0:21:41 > 0:21:45they stick on it to entice you to buy, and you simply don't need it.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50I think women would rather a product that worked and cost a decent price.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53And anyway, whichever marketing person decided that as a woman
0:21:53 > 0:21:56I want everything to be bright pink is completely deluded.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Now, top tips from our decorators
0:22:09 > 0:22:12to help you get more value out of the gear you buy.
0:22:12 > 0:22:17I'm Helen and I've been in this business longer than I care to mention.
0:22:17 > 0:22:18My daughter's in it now.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20I followed my mum into the business,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23so you could say I'm a chip off the old block.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26When you're using emulsion paint and you're not quite finished
0:22:26 > 0:22:32and you want to keep the brush, pop it in a plastic bag...
0:22:32 > 0:22:35wrap it up, and that should keep for a good few days.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38If it's really airtight, then you can keep it for a good few weeks.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43If you've got some old, lumpy paint, don't throw it away.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48Simply put a pair of tights, old tights, over a pot, pour it through
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and you'll have lovely smooth, creamy paint, no lumps,
0:22:51 > 0:22:52ready to use again.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55When preparing woodwork, you'd usually use sandpaper,
0:22:55 > 0:22:57but if the woodwork is next to glass,
0:22:57 > 0:22:59the sandpaper will scratch it,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02so the best thing to do is use wire wool.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05It will do exactly the same job, but it won't scratch the glass.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10If you've got paint on your white fittings, this is a great way
0:23:10 > 0:23:13of getting them off, even if it's been there for months.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Methylated spirits on an absorbent cloth,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19wipe it away, and great. Bob's your uncle.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20All off.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31Back inside the Empress Ballroom, it's round three of our TV tango.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Earlier, our audiovisual experts,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39Ross and Karen, decided what format you should be spending your money on.
0:23:39 > 0:23:434K's not going to go away. A better picture is a better picture.
0:23:43 > 0:23:454K was the clear winner.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47But what kind of cash are we talking?
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Does spending more guarantee you'll get a better TV,
0:23:51 > 0:23:54or can some of the cheaper models
0:23:54 > 0:23:58deliver a viewing experience that's every bit as good?
0:23:58 > 0:24:02We've selected three 55-inch TVs from across the price range.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06A Hisense at £699,
0:24:06 > 0:24:11an LG at £1,099,
0:24:11 > 0:24:14and the most expensive we could find,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17the Sony Bravia, at £1,899.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Now our experts are going to compare the sound and picture quality
0:24:22 > 0:24:26of each set, to decide which one to buy and why.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31It's the cheapest one that we have in the test.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33First, the Hisense.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37I think the colours look a bit false and not very naturalistic.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40I mean, you're getting a 4K television for that money.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42For the price you are getting a very nice image.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Sound expert Karen is assessing the audio.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48Let's turn it up and see what the speakers are like.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50'It's his first chance to mate...'
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Well, that's not...
0:24:53 > 0:24:54Well, that's not brilliant
0:24:54 > 0:24:59because the sound just seems to be coming from behind the television.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03So if this was against your wall the sound would just hit your wall.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06Next, the mid-priced television.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07The LG.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Image, for me, looks a lot more naturalistic.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14I think the colour depth is absolutely fantastic.
0:25:14 > 0:25:15It's a really nice image.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19'It's time to separate the men from the boys.'
0:25:19 > 0:25:21OK, well, this one's not much better.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23It's not got a lot of power to it.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27Because it's thin they're trying to install small speakers into it.
0:25:27 > 0:25:33So the quality of the speakers in both of these don't really match the picture.
0:25:35 > 0:25:41So, finally, the most expensive television - the Sony Bravia LED.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Again, very naturalistic colours.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Not much to choose between these two.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Right, this one is quite interesting because the speakers seem
0:25:48 > 0:25:50to be mounted on the front and coming towards me.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54A much better quality of sound.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56And it works much better with the picture as well.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01The sound is now coming from the picture,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03and I can hear it much more clearly.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06So it's decision time.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09You've had a chance to fully interrogate the televisions.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Which do you think gives you the best value for money?
0:26:15 > 0:26:21Is it our most expensive set, the Sony, at £1,899?
0:26:21 > 0:26:25I think the increase in price is probably more to do with
0:26:25 > 0:26:29the audio than it is to do with the picture quality.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33How about the budget option, the £699 Hisense?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35I'm tempted by the cheaper one,
0:26:35 > 0:26:40but if you had that bit extra to spend I would go for the mid-range.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44So the £1,099 LG is our experts' top value TV.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47I think you can get the mid-price set and you can
0:26:47 > 0:26:52do what you want with the audio, at a far more reasonable cost.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55So, follow Karen's advice
0:26:55 > 0:27:00and get good external speakers or a sound bar for as little as £85.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Far less than the extra £800 you'll pay for the Sony.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07So we have a clear winner.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11Yes, the LG, the mid-priced 4K.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13In response, Hisense said,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15"This is an entry-level set,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17"so shouldn't be compared to more expensive ones."
0:27:17 > 0:27:20But it's confident its products stand up to competition.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23It says, "The downward speakers improve audio by reflecting
0:27:23 > 0:27:25"sound off solid surfaces."
0:27:25 > 0:27:30Sony says its TVs provide clear pictures, no matter the definition.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33And their enhanced audio gives a more immersive,
0:27:33 > 0:27:35lifelike listening experience.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Job done.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39Popcorn time, obviously. Yeah?
0:27:41 > 0:27:43That's it from Blackpool.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Next week we'll be in the West End's biggest theatre,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49and home of the English National Opera.
0:27:51 > 0:27:57Their wardrobe department test the latest steam generator irons.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00So the fiddly bit. Ah!
0:28:00 > 0:28:04We ask the prop builders if you can get away with buying a power drill...
0:28:05 > 0:28:08..that costs less than £75.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Just hanging in there.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13And we'll have more invaluable tricks of the trade.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16If you've got a pair of shoes at home that are too stiff and pinch,
0:28:16 > 0:28:17a few seconds with a warm hairdryer
0:28:17 > 0:28:21will soften the leather, making them much more comfortable to wear.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25MUSIC: I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock Of Seagulls