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In the wake of the deepest recession in decades, a new ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two current affairs series will examine the state of the nation's family fortunes and offer practical financial advice for living through the tough times ahead.

Money Watch presented by Sophie Raworth and Justin Rowlatt will investigate whether we're getting richer or poorer; our financial prospects over the coming years; and what, if anything, we can do about it.

The three-part magazine series airing in July will focus on personal finance and family budgeting, each episode taking a particular theme. It will also feature practical advice from leading personal finance experts.

The first programme of the series, Earning it (7 July 2010 at 8pm), presented from Birmingham, tackles pay, tax and jobs, and ways of boosting income. The Money Watch team will assess what's happened to pay in the recession and why top earners in the private sector are more likely than the rest of us to get a rise in the recovery; they'll look at the role of part-time work in keeping unemployment lower than expected so far and which jobs may be facing the axe in the recovery; and for those worried about how to match their family income to expenditure, money saving expert Martin Lewis offers some practical financial advice.

The second programme, Spending it, presented from Liverpool, will explore expenditure - including mortgages, spending, and debt - and offers inventive ways of managing our household budgets more prudently.

Growing it, the final programme in the series, presented from London, will focus primarily on saving, pensions and investing.

Presenter Sophie Raworth says: "We're setting out on a journey to find out where we all are now financially and what the recovery might bring. Whether you're worried about jobs, debt, mortgages, saving or pensions, we'll be trying to help you stay afloat during this financial storm." 

Justin Rowlatt says: "The idea is that it should be a travel guide into the unexplored world of the new British economy.

"By the end of the series we hope we'll have a better idea of just what kind of mess we are in, and how we can protect ourselves and our families from its worst effects."

Executive producer Lucy Hetherington adds: "We've had a severe recession, an election fought on the economy and now chilling predictions about the squeeze ahead. We want to give viewers clarity about some of the main issues affecting their personal finances, so they can take informed decisions."

FS

Information for viewers

More content about Money Watch will be published, as transmission approaches, on: