The Verdict on the Street: Your views on the hottest topics of the week
Our reporters hit the streets to talk to the public in our major cities across the UK about the news hitting the headlines this week. In this episode, we look at your favourite memories of actor Matthew Perry, a call to ban fireworks, and the diminishing popularity of the FA Cup
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:11 Welcome to The Verdict on the Street,
00:13 the show that listens to its audience.
00:17 We're going to take some of the hottest topics
00:19 out onto the streets of Britain to ask you
00:21 what you think of them.
00:24 In a world that seems full of experts,
00:26 sometimes it's the opinions of the people on the street
00:29 that really matter.
00:30 So, great British public, it's over to you.
00:34 We send our reporters out into a number of cities across the UK,
00:38 armed only with a camera and a microphone
00:40 to ask simply, what do you think?
00:42 On this week's agenda, we're asking,
00:50 what are your favourite memories of TV star Matthew Perry?
00:54 Should fireworks be banned in the UK?
00:58 And in sport, has the FA Cup lost its sparkle?
01:00 Let's kick off then with the sad news of the death of actor
01:07 Matthew Perry.
01:08 The star most famous for playing Chandler Bing on the show
01:11 Friends was found unresponsive in a hot tub
01:14 at his home in Los Angeles.
01:16 He was just 54.
01:18 He had publicly struggled with drinking and drug use
01:20 for decades and spent more than half his life in treatment
01:23 and rehab facilities.
01:25 The sitcom's creators said he was a brilliant talent
01:29 and always the funniest person in the room.
01:31 Friends, which followed the fortunes of six friends living
01:34 in New York, aired from 1994 until 2004
01:38 and became a cultural touchstone of the era.
01:42 More than 52 million viewers in the US
01:44 alone tuned in for its 2004 finale,
01:47 making it the most watched TV episode of the 2000s.
01:52 So what are your favourite memories of the star
01:54 that will be so sadly missed?
01:58 Friends, man.
01:58 He's gutted and he was a sick guy.
02:01 I read it in the paper.
02:03 Would you say you were a fan of him?
02:04 Yeah, Friends, who wasn't?
02:06 Absolutely fantastic, really.
02:08 Yeah, it was a shock.
02:10 Everyone has memorable moments for me.
02:12 All the phrase words that he uses,
02:14 the phrases and the head gestures and the jokes.
02:17 And so I was shocked to find out.
02:19 Like, when I just thought it was a joke, you see stuff,
02:21 they just put stuff up for clicks.
02:23 When I saw that, I was like, no way.
02:25 And he was only like 54.
02:26 I feel really sad, actually, about him
02:28 because he was kind of such like a energetic character
02:33 and really the funny character out of the whole show.
02:36 Always the funny character.
02:37 Yeah.
02:37 Always the funny character.
02:38 And so sad to think of what a difficult time
02:41 he was having personally.
02:42 Yeah, his own troubles.
02:44 Tragic, obviously.
02:46 But also outside of Friends, you know, he set up--
02:48 Charities.
02:49 --a charity foundation to help people struggling
02:51 with addiction and other issues.
02:55 And I think that needs to be remembered as well as
02:57 his acting on Friends, which obviously was fantastic
03:01 and brought joy to us--
03:02 To so many people.
03:03 --and so many other people as well around the world.
03:04 Yeah, just a really fun program to decompress and watch
03:07 and laugh.
03:07 I was really gutted about Matthew Perry, to be honest.
03:10 Like, I was in my life for 10 years.
03:12 It was like every week, six months of the year,
03:14 for 10 years he was there.
03:16 So it was really like--
03:18 but it was more the character Chandler.
03:20 That's who he was to me.
03:21 You know, that was the big thing.
03:23 But yeah, I really get-- and he's only two years older
03:25 than me as well.
03:26 So it was quite exciting to hear that.
03:28 I think Chandler Bing was the best character in that show.
03:32 I grew up watching Friends.
03:33 Me and my best friend growing up would
03:35 watch Friends and Buffy just on repeat, nothing else.
03:38 And I think it's really sad that we've
03:40 lost him at a fairly young age due to all the troubles
03:42 that he had.
03:43 And that's really sad.
03:44 What were some of your memorable moments from Friends?
03:47 Oh, god.
03:48 Nearly all of the ones with him, to be fair.
03:51 Though he was just really--
03:52 he was cute and he was funny.
03:54 Yeah, he was really good, really good.
03:57 Do you think it was a big shock that someone--
03:59 I mean, I think he was 52 when he died.
04:00 Do you think it was a big shock?
04:01 54, yeah.
04:02 Oh, big-- yeah, big, big shock.
04:04 Big, big shock.
04:05 Bless him.
04:06 I loved his character, his sharp wit.
04:09 Yes, it's very sad.
04:12 Think he had a troubled life.
04:14 Really, really sad, yeah, indeed.
04:15 When I first heard about it, I was like, oh, yeah,
04:18 it's such a shame.
04:20 I always get sad when I hear about celebrities
04:23 who have sadly passed early.
04:25 And it's how the grass is maybe not always greener, isn't it?
04:29 It's sad times.
04:31 The particular character Chonglo, I thought,
04:35 was very--
04:37 played a very witty role, played it very well.
04:40 Very sad to hear that he died and seemingly didn't
04:44 have a very happy life, which I would never have guessed at
04:47 by watching the series.
04:49 So I'm very sad to hear that news.
04:51 Next, as we edge ever closer to Bonfire Night
04:59 and the age-old argument goes off with a bang,
05:02 should we ban fireworks?
05:05 Over 400 years on from the failure of the event
05:08 we know today as the Gunpowder Plot, the 5th of November
05:11 is still a key date in the British calendar.
05:15 But nearly 80% of us now want fireworks banned altogether
05:18 in the UK.
05:19 And the RSPCA are receiving record levels
05:22 of reports of animals in distress due to fireworks.
05:26 So do you think they should be banned?
05:29 Well, we have a dog.
05:31 So I would say yes very well, because we have him to go away.
05:33 We always have to take the dog away because of the fireworks.
05:36 But other than that, I think as long as they're organized
05:39 and they're controlled, why not?
05:40 Do you think they should be banned?
05:41 Or do you think that they should carry on selling them?
05:43 I think it should be banned.
05:44 Why do you think that?
05:45 Because just how many people get burned?
05:47 I said fires.
05:48 I've got a dog.
05:50 The dogs are terrified of them.
05:51 You now just have official displays
05:54 where people can go to and just sell them
05:56 because they're just dangerous.
05:58 That's my opinion anyway.
06:00 It should be banned.
06:01 We're asking people a bit about fireworks.
06:02 Do you think fireworks should be banned?
06:05 I don't think they should be banned.
06:07 But I think the noise should be.
06:11 There's no reason whatsoever for them to make such a loud noise.
06:17 It frightens animals, it frightens children.
06:22 Not necessary.
06:23 People, do you think that fireworks should be banned?
06:27 No.
06:28 I don't think they should be banned.
06:29 I think if it's at an event and people are aware,
06:32 like the surrounding neighborhoods and everything,
06:34 but I don't think people should be letting them off
06:35 in the back gardens.
06:37 You know, especially if it's before bonfire night
06:39 because that's like, it'll scare the dogs.
06:42 Yeah, I think if it's like an event, I think that's fine.
06:44 But I don't think people should be letting them off in the street.
06:46 Like, it could kill someone.
06:47 You know, it makes people can just go on the street.
06:49 They might just buy fireworks and just set them off
06:50 in their own garden and everything.
06:52 And it could be like idiots as well, so.
06:54 I think they're alright.
06:56 Sometimes it can be a bit overboard.
06:59 Yeah.
07:00 Other than that, if they're organized displays,
07:03 I'm with that, you know what I mean?
07:05 I'll go with that all the time.
07:06 But sometimes it just isn't there now, is it?
07:11 It's another thing that's lost its sparkle in every life.
07:14 I'd sooner still be here, probably, like as Hugh says,
07:17 you know, penning for the guy and all that.
07:19 'Cause it brought a bit of glamour to the areas, didn't it?
07:22 You know, people did get out and give the kids something
07:26 and people walked past you and always smiled and let on.
07:30 Now, it's not like that.
07:31 People have just grown out of it.
07:34 It's an addition where people have just grown out of it.
07:37 And it's too expensive as well.
07:39 With your Halloween stuff and all that.
07:43 And your firework stuff.
07:44 Especially close to Christmas, there's too many of these nights.
07:50 People are on their bums, if you like.
07:53 Unfortunately, Bonfire Night used to be just Bonfire Night.
07:56 Now it's weeks before, you know, bang, bang, bang, bang.
07:59 And afterwards as well, so just keep it to the night.
08:03 Yeah.
08:04 Because then it's nothing special when it's happening all the time.
08:07 But it's dangerous then now, isn't it?
08:09 Some of these lads, those even girls as well.
08:13 You know, would they aspire this?
08:14 Because they sound like bums, some of them, you know.
08:17 I'd say they go, "Womp, womp, womp" all the time.
08:19 One after the other, you know.
08:20 Bonfire Weekend also brings the first round of FA Cup fixtures.
08:27 But over the last few years, there's been much talk
08:29 about the erosion of the competition.
08:31 You don't have to go too far back to find people saying
08:34 that the FA Cup was the best domestic club competition in the world.
08:37 But some of the top clubs in the UK
08:39 don't seem as enthused in the competition anymore.
08:42 So, has the sparkle of the FA Cup faded for you?
08:45 And what can be done to bring it back?
08:47 The FA Cup back in the day was a real special thing.
08:53 But yeah, to me, it's sort of lost it over the years.
08:56 Like some people say it's like Christmas.
08:57 Used to say it's like Christmas Day.
08:59 You always know what you're doing on FA Cup final day.
09:01 But it's not like it was, I don't think.
09:04 Football's not like it was anyway.
09:05 It's too commercialised.
09:06 It's too analysed on telly.
09:08 Just go, watch a game, have fun, have a few beers.
09:11 That's how it should be.
09:12 But it's not like it used to be.
09:15 Back home, I think it's very popular.
09:18 That's all the talk about.
09:20 That's why people go out to buy the jerseys.
09:23 I mean, it's very popular back home.
09:25 So I don't feel like it's more popular than ever.
09:29 Especially the big star players that are in the FA Cup.
09:32 I think it's more fashion these days and hype about that.
09:36 It kind of takes it away from the football.
09:37 I think David Beckham probably started all that off.
09:40 But yeah, no, I don't think it does.
09:42 And we watched the Newcastle match here the weekend.
09:45 And it was crazy.
09:46 There was great support for them.
09:49 And the bars were packed.
09:50 And it was just a great time.
09:52 I'll be honest with you.
09:53 When I was a kid, FA Cup was a big game.
09:57 Now it's all commercialised.
10:01 And so I used to look forward to the FA Cup.
10:05 But I don't really do it anymore.
10:07 The FA Cup, I feel like it is kind of lost.
10:10 So I mean, I'm more kind of rugby myself.
10:13 So I don't really have much of a comment on that either.
10:17 But yeah, when it comes to the FA,
10:19 I've never really had an interest in it.
10:21 And I think there's nothing to revive it.
10:24 Nothing to revive it.
10:25 I just think it's the FA Cup, all them.
10:26 All the trophies and all the brilliance.
10:28 You know what I mean?
10:29 That's just not there now, is it?
10:32 It's like if you win it, you're not remembered much.
10:35 If you win the Champions League, you go down in history
10:37 and all that.
10:38 Where's that?
10:40 I mean, I've been there and seen it
10:42 when Liverpool beat Everton a long, long time back.
10:45 And it was great then.
10:46 You know what I mean?
10:47 But it's changed in every way now, in every way.
10:50 The top clubs who are in the Champions League
10:54 tend to field weaker teams in the FA Cup.
10:59 And it does kind of reduce it to something
11:04 that it shouldn't be.
11:06 I mean, it's the most famous cup in the world, the FA Cup.
11:11 And when you walk down Wembley Way,
11:14 there's nothing quite like it.
11:17 So it's a shame that people don't treat it
11:20 with a bit more respect.
11:21 I do believe that it's all about money these days.
11:24 Now, when I hear about the extortionate amount of money
11:28 that the big, big boys are on, I just
11:31 think that's what all it's about now, isn't it?
11:33 You might be to kick football on the field,
11:35 but actually you're looking at the bank balance, I suppose.
11:38 It's not as exciting as it used to be.
11:41 Because I watch only special football matches.
11:47 I don't think it's as good.
11:48 I don't think.
11:50 [MUSIC PLAYING]
11:54 [MUSIC PLAYING]
11:58 (upbeat music)