Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

• Men's Hour returns to look at fathers and sons
• Opinion poll on family life
• Listeners share their family secrets and nominate their family heroes
• Shelagh Fogarty traces her family line

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live lifts the lid on family life in the UK next month as it examines the role of the family in 2010 through a series of special programmes, interviews and discussions, from 6-10 December.

With the approach of Christmas, the traditional time for families to come together, the week of programmes will look at whether the family unit is in decline, threatened by the pressures of what some have called "broken Britain" or whether it is holding firm and reinventing itself for the 21st century.

On Monday 6 December, a major poll will reveal how people feel about the state of family life in Britain in 2010, including attitudes to the family friends and Christmas, parenting outside marriage and the dangers children face in 2010.

Radio 5 Live will be looking at the amount of time families spend together, asking how families relate to each other, whether they can survive break-ups and whether we blame our parents for the pressures we're now facing.

All week, the station will look at different elements of family life. Radio 5 Live breakfast presenter Shelagh Fogarty will look into her family history, the critically acclaimed Men's Hour returns to 5 live looking at the relationships between fathers and sons and 5 Live will also look at how the growth in social media has affected family relations.

On Friday 10 December, a whole day will be dedicated to airing family secrets sent to the station by listeners, including powerful revelations about abortion, divorce and family debt.

Radio 5 Live is also gathering stories sent by listeners celebrating their family heroes so we will hear about the people who cement families together, maintain their spirit against huge odds and provide life chances to future generations. These uplifting stories will be shared throughout the week.

Radio 5 Live Controller Adrian Van Klaveren said of 5 Live Family Week : "Family Week aims to tell the untold stories of the most fundamental relationships we have. We'll unpack the joys and tragedies of family life through listeners' stories, welcome back Men's Hour to 5 Live and look at the impact of social media on families – I think it will be a fascinating listen."

Radio 5 Live Family Week schedule

Monday 6 December – 5 Live's Family poll

Tuesday 7 December – Shelagh Fogarty looks into her family tree, examining how her and other families have changed throughout the decades.

Wednesday 8 December – 5 Live asks if social networks can save the family.

Thursday 9 December – Fathers' Day, where presenters talk about their relationships with their children. Richard Bacon asks listeners for "help" on new families.

Friday 10 December – All day, 5 Live listeners share their family secrets, from 5 Live Breakfast to Kicking Off With Colin Murray and Stephen Nolan.

AB