Box

Hardeep Singh Kohli chooses a word and sets off on an exploration into its origins, meeting people for whom it has different associations. He hopes to learn 15 things along the way.

Today's word is 'box' and Hardeep joins boxing coach Naomi Gibson in the ring. Naomi runs a boxing school for aspiring women boxers and, for Hardeep, there is no hiding place.

The word 'box' comes from Greek and Latin roots, and Russell Coates is an expert on topiary, running a nursery specialising in different shapes made from the slow-growing box wood tree.

Susie Dent is on hand to explain phrases like 'box and cox', and Hardeep ends his journey at one of the many gigantic storage facilities, where Sonia Pirie tells him that a considerable part of her job is acting as a therapist for people whose relationship breakdowns mean they need to put their stuff somewhere fast.

Producer: Richard Bannerman
A Ladbroke production for BBC Radio 4.