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The Story

The cost of being ugly

The Story

The Times

Current Affairs, Daily News Podcast, News Analysis, Politics, News, Audio Storytelling, Uk News, Exclusive Interviews, Investigative Reporting, In-depth Journalism, Daily News, Long-form Audio, Global News

3.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2024

⏱️ 27 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Do looks matter? Pulchronomics, the study of economics and beauty, says they do. But just how much impact does being attractive have on your love life, career and happiness? Are our fortunes really determined by our looks? 

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: thetimes.com/subscribe


Guest: Tom Whipple, Science Editor, The Times. 

Host: Luke Jones. 

Producer: Priyanka Deladia.

Times Poll: How attractive are you? Rate yourself out of five

Clips: Britain’s Got Talent ITV/Thames. 

Photo: Times Design, Getty Images.

Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

Ancestry is marking remembrance with free access to global military records until Wednesday.

0:06.9

Uncover your family stories of courage and resilience.

0:11.0

Simply register at Ancestry.co.uk with just your name and email.

0:16.2

No payment details needed for unlimited free searches of our vast collection of global military records.

0:23.3

This remembrance honour their memory with ancestry. Free Access M's 13th of November.

0:32.5

This episode of The Story is brought to you by PWC, who for years have been helping businesses get to grips

0:38.7

with emerging technology. PWC was one of the first used drones to improve audits, and they've

0:44.9

been pioneering business-ready AI solutions for around a decade. PWC has empowered more than 15,000

0:51.8

of their UK staff to solve business challenges with AI skills and tools.

0:57.7

And the business was named a leader in the IDC Marketscape Worldwide Cloud Professional Services 2024 vendor assessment.

1:05.6

This is human-led, tech-powered. Learn more at pwc.co.uk.

1:12.9

From The Times and the Sunday Times, this is the story. I'm Luke Jones.

1:20.9

I don't know quite how to describe it emotionally, whether it was heartwarming or horrible.

1:30.1

What's your name, darling?

1:31.4

My name is Susan Boyle.

1:33.1

Okay, Susan, and where are you from?

1:35.7

I am from Blackburn, near Bathcake, Westalloyan.

1:37.9

It was that moment in 2009 where Susan Boyle appeared on Britain's Got Talent,

1:43.7

and she turned up on stage and she was,

1:48.0

you know, I think we can say she was a dowdy, frumpy woman and she did not look like she

1:54.3

should be on the Britain's Got Talent stage.

1:57.8

How old are you, Susan?

...

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