White Van Karl

White Van Karl was a segment on the Xfm shows where Ricky and Steve ask Karl to give his opinion on selected items in the news that week. The idea was stolen from the White Van Man section in The Sun newspaper.

The feature was incepted on 19 January 2002 when Steve began asking Karl random questions, which reminded the former of The Sun's White Van Man section. From there, it was used by Ricky and Steve to help illustrate their point about Karl who, before the feature (in the earlier Xfm shows) was relatively unknown and had no major involvement in the show. Karl frequently complained of feeling under pressure by the feature and not being sure of the "right" answer. Ricky and Steve re-assured Karl that whatever his answer was it would be great. The feature was ended early in the second series but made a few reappearances in later shows

The feature wasn't used in the podcasts but the general format of asking Karl for his opinions on topical subjects and major issues is used throughout almost all Xfm and podcast shows.

Questions

19 January 2002 (unofficial White Van Man):

• What do you think of nudism?
• What do you think about Nu Metal?
• Does Karl think Waterworld, Mad Max, and Judge Dredd are accurate pictures of a post-apocalyptic world?