Neil: I'm Neil.
Beth: And I'm Beth.
There's a famous English saying,
'a friend in need is a friend indeed', and it's true -
everyone needs friends to share life's ups and downs.
Do you have many friends, Neil?
Neil: Yes, I have some close friends,
but maybe not as many as I'd like.
Beth: That's interesting because often it's women who have many friends
while men find it harder to maintain strong friendships,
especially as they get older.
In fact, according to one recent survey,
only 27% of British men say they have a least six close friends.
Neil: So, is it true that men find it difficult to make friends?
We'll be hearing from, Max Dickins,
author of a new book on male friendships called, 'Billy No-Mates',
and, as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary as well.
Beth: But first I have a question for you.
We know that close friends are important,
not just for having fun but for good mental health as well.