Reporters: Jeremy James, Jeanne La Chard, John Pitman, Jack Pizzey, Desmond Wilcox, Harold Williamson

This week: Born to Fail?

John Wise, Manchester signalman, has had a lifetime of dull, boring jobs. At school his abilities largely escaped notice and he was written off when he failed the 11-plus. Now, 31 years later, he has proved he deserved a better chance - he's won a place at university.

Jimmy May left school just two years ago. He wanted to be an artist and some of his drawings were published in a book about London's East End. But he's ended up in a butcher's shop and he hates every minute.

They say that everyone, these days, has the chance to get ahead. But the Jimmy Mays of the world still fear they are born to fail.