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 (23 February 2002). 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?

16 February 2002 (first official White Van Man):

• What is your view on Will Young beating Gareth Gates on Pop Idol?
• What is your view on the rise in street time?
• What is your view on former New York mayor becoming Sir Rudy?
• What do you think about Michael Greco's character Beppe being axed from EastEnders?
• What do you think about the cat that's been cloned in a $2.5 million research project?
• What do you make of city working bonking in the glass life of the Loutsberg?

23 February 2002

• What do you think of the 'battle' to be Queen of the Brits; Dido versus Kylie?
• What do you make of taxes rising in the next budget for NHS improvements?
• What do you make of the real life Mowgli living in the Transylvania countryside?
• What do you make of the British Olympic curling team winning the gold?
• What do you think about the world's tallest man living in a semi in Neasden?
• Global warming will bring sizzling summers and weird wildlife to Britain; are you worried?

02 March 2002

• What do you make of Russell Crowe's appalling behavior at the BAFTAs?
• What about this big debate over if Kylie Minogue has had a bum job?
• What do you think about Will Young's single?
• What do you make of our scientists getting the go ahead to clone embryos for research?

09 March 2002

• What do you think about skier Allen Baxter testing positive for drugs?
• What do you make of Posh Spice's documentry?
• What about the fact that the pension crisis is going to force Britons to work into their 70s?
• What about Tony Blair turning trendy with his Paul Smith designed naked lady shirt?
• What do you make of Top of the Pops banning Will Young from singing both of his single tracks?