Branded products and services that appropriately talk to and engage this market is likely to be profitable. After all, a good number in this segment also have the buying power.

“We like the Goodbye, 9 to 5 format very much,” said producer Chris Gosling, “and it seems that many viewers like the show, too – we’ve had an encouraging amount of feedback from TV viewers.”

The show’s first batch of programmes, 16 in all, have given SLTV some experience in producing a weekly programme, as well as the fortnightly shows which have made their name in the leisure industry – The Caravan Channel and UK Boating.

The Caravan Channel is probably the UK’s longest-running continuously produced satellite programme, with over 80 half-hour shows broadcast over the past 3 years on Information TV, Sky channel 166 and Freesat 402.

In an article for the Daily Mail, he said that the current system was not “fit for purpose”, and that Labour will propose free care at home for 280,000 of the frailest people and help for others to stay in their homes. Mr Brown also said how a country looked after its elderly was a “hallmark of a civilized society”.

A rapidly ageing population and higher expectations of care meant policymakers were now facing a bigger challenge that ever before.

“We will begin to set out our bold plans for reform because our current system is simply not fit for purpose,” he wrote. “It is not right that people already struggling with the loss of independence, who have worked hard all their lives, saved for their retirement, are being forced to run down their savings or sell their homes to fund their care.”

But the Conservatives described the as “confused and short on detail”. They said they did not address the needs of the thousands of people already in residential homes and those likely to enter them in the future.Many pensioners have been forced to use up their entire savings and, in some cases, sell their homes to pay for care.

In his conference speech in September, Mr Brown announced plans for a new service across England providing free care for the most needy.

Mr Brown said proposals in the Queen’s Speech – which traditionally outlines the government’s legislative programme for the year ahead – would “protect those with the greatest needs” from having to pay for their care while enabling them to stay in their own homes.

The government will also pledge to provide six weeks of at home personal support for about 130,000 people who have not previously received assistance, Mr Brown added.

“This is just a first step,” Mr Brown adds.

“In the New Year we will publish detailed plans for a new National Care Service and I am clear that this will be the first domestic priority of a new Labour government.”

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HMRC has launched a campaign called TaxBack, which aims to encourage pensioners who have overpaid tax on interest from savings to claim it back, and register for savings interest to be paid gross in future, if they are non-taxpayers.

Banks and building societies are required by law to deduct 20 per cent tax from the interest on everyone’s savings before it is paid.

But pensioners – and other savers – who are non-taxpayers, or people who qualify for the 10 per cent savings rate, will be entitled a repayment if their savings have been taxed at 20 per cent.

HMRC says it is simple to claim back this tax and can be done using HMRC Form R40.

In addition to claiming any overpaid tax back, non-taxpayers can also get future savings interest paid deduction of tax, by filling out the R85 form and sending it to their bank or building society.

Exchequer secretary to the Treasury Sarah McCarthy-Fry said, “We know times are tough for many pensioners, and we do not want anyone paying tax they do not need to. If you think you might have been overpaying tax on your savings, check the figures, and make a claim if you’re eligible”.

She add, “If it does not affect you, but you know someone it might – spread the word.”

HMRC is writing to some 3.4 million pension credit recipients, asking them to check if they have overpaid tax on their bank or building society interest. The letter will be accompanied by a helpsheet, which pensioners can use to help them calculate their annual income and allowances and whether they may be due some money back.