The Bottom Line - The Business of Dying

The Business of Dying

Download The Business of Dying

Managing the rituals of a loved one's death can be both bewildering and expensive.

And although no-one wants to think about it being like buying a holiday or car, it is a business with a supply chain involving funerals, burials and cremation.

A couple of years ago the Competition and Markets Authority - which protects people from unfair trading practices - carried out an in-depth investigation into the funeral market because of the “surprise” people experienced at the final cost of that farewell.

On average people spend about £4,000, so what do you get for that and how is the industry changing?

Evan Davis is joined by:
Gill Stewart, Managing Director, Co-op Funeralcare
Alison Crake, Senior Partner, Crake and Mallon Funeral Directors
Kate Tym, independent celebrant
And Greg Cranfield from JC Atkinson coffin makers.

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Producers: Alex Lewis, Drew Hyndman and Miriam Quayyum
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: James Beard and Hal Haines
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison and Rosie Strawbridge

Published on Thursday, 4th July 2024.

Available Podcasts from The Bottom Line

Subscribe to The Bottom Line

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the The Bottom Line webpage.